- 2nd Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry during the Great War -
Great War> Allied Army
Site Home
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site you agree to accept cookies.
If you enjoy this site please consider making a donation.
Great War Home
Search
Add Stories & Photos
Library
Help & FAQs
Features
Allied Army
Day by Day
RFC & RAF
Prisoners of War
War at Sea
Training for War
The Battles
Those Who Served
Hospitals
Civilian Service
Women at War
The War Effort
Central Powers Army
Central Powers Navy
Imperial Air Service
Library
World War Two
Submissions
Add Stories & Photos
Time Capsule
Information
Help & FAQs
Glossary
Our Facebook Page
Volunteering
News
Events
Contact us
Great War Books
About
2nd Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
4th Aug 1914 All ready.
14th Aug 1914 2nd Ox & Bucks proceed to France 2nd Battalion Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry departed Aldershot to sail to Bolougne.
29th Aug 1914 Day of Rest
24th Sep 1914 Hell cannot be Worse
25th Oct 1914 An Unnerving Effect
28th Oct 1914 A Game of Hide and Seek
29th Oct 1914 Writting from Hospital
1st Nov 1914 Enemy All Around
2nd Nov 1914 Holding the Line
11th Nov 1914 In the Field
14th Nov 1914 Relief
5th Dec 1914 Hardly a Row of Houses Left
22nd Dec 1914 Things are Better Now
27th Dec 1914 Christmas at the Front
26th March 1915 Instruction
27th March 1915 Instruction
28th March 1915 Instruction
29th March 1915 Instruction
9th May 1915 On the march
10th May 1915 2nd Ox & Bucks in the line.
11th May 1915 Bringing in Wounded
16th May 1915 Attack made
27th May 1915 Tour of new Trenches
30th May 1915 Relief Completes
12th Aug 1915 King and country come first
9th Sep 1915 When are you Coming Over?
25th Sep 1915 2nd Ox & Bucks in Action
1st Jan 1916 Festivities
2nd Jun 1916 Reliefs Complete
1st Jul 1916 In Reserve
2nd Jul 1916 Reliefs
3rd Jul 1916 Quiet
4th Jul 1916 Quiet
5th Jul 1916 Trench Mortars
6th Jul 1916 Reliefs
7th Jul 1916 Trench Raid
8th Jul 1916 Quiet
9th Jul 1916 Mine
10th Jul 1916 Expectations
14th Jul 1916 Reliefs
19th Jul 1916 Brave Deeds of the 2nd Bucks Battalion at Fromelles
26th Jul 1916 Reliefs
27th Jul 1916 Heavy Shells
28th Jul 1916 Reliefs
29th Jul 1916 Preparations
30th Jul 1916 Attack Made
30th Jul 1916 In Action
31st Jul 1916 Reliefs
10th Aug 1916 Reliefs
10th Nov 1916 Conference
11th Nov 1916 Reliefs
12th Nov 1916 Preparations
13th Nov 1916 Preparations
13th Nov 1916 Attack Made
15th Nov 1916 Withdrawal
17th Nov 1916 Into Billets
16th Apr 1917 Shelling
15th May 1915 Ready to Attack
21st of May 1917 Quiet Night
26th Dec 1917 Reliefs
4th Jan 1918 In Reserve
5th Jan 1918 In Reserve
6th Jan 1918 In Reserve
7th Jan 1918 Training
9th Jan 1918 Snow
10th Jan 1918 Snow
11th Jan 1918 Poor Weather
12th Jan 1918 Training
13th Jan 1918 Snow and Frost
14th Jan 1918 Training
15th Jan 1918 Training
16th Jan 1918 Bad Weather
17th Jan 1918 Poor Weather
19th Jan 1918 Orders
20th Jan 1918 Orders
21st Jan 1918 Heavy Rain
22nd Jan 1918 Reliefs Complete
24th Jan 1918 In the Line
25th Jan 1918 Artillery Active
26th Jan 1918 Orders
27th Jan 1918 Fog
28th Jan 1918 Artillery Active
29th Jan 1918 Artillery Active
30th Jan 1918 Artillery Active
31st Jan 1918 Thick Mist
1st Feb 1918 Trenches Improved
2nd Feb 1918 Trenches Improved
3rd Feb 1918 Orders
4th Feb 1918 Shelling
5th Feb 1918 Warmer
6th Feb 1918 Orders
7th Feb 1918 Fraternisation
8th Feb 1918 Quiet
9th Feb 1918 Reorganisation
10th Feb 1918 Shelling
11th Feb 1918 Quiet
12th Feb 1918 Quiet
13th Feb 1918 Some Shelling
14th Feb 1918 Patrols
15th Feb 1918 Artillery Active
16th Feb 1918 Artillery Active
17th Feb 1918 Enemy Aircraft
18th Feb 1918 Misty
19th Feb 1918 Quiet
20th Feb 1918 Gas Shells
21st Feb 1918 Reorganisation
21st Feb 1918 Reliefs
22nd Feb 1918 Patrols
23rd Feb 1918 Shelling
24th Feb 1918 Shelling
25th Feb 1918 Shelling
26th Feb 1918 Artillery Active
27th Feb 1918 Artillery Active
28th Feb 1918 Shelling
1st Mar 1918 Raids
2nd Mar 1918 Snow
3rd Mar 1918 Patrols
4th Mar 1918 Quiet
5th Mar 1918 Patrols
6th Mar 1918 Gas
7th Mar 1918 Enemy Active
8th Mar 1918 Enemy Active
9th Mar 1918 Mist
10th Mar 1918 Enemy Active
11th Mar 1918 Gas
12th Mar 1918 Gas
13th Mar 1918 Raids
14th Mar 1918 Artillery Active
15th Mar 1918 Intense Fire
16th Mar 1918 Trench Raid
17th Mar 1918 Patrols
18th Mar 1918 Raids
19th Mar 1918 Patrols
20th Mar 1918 Reliefs
21st Mar 1918 Arrangements
21st Mar 1918 In Action
21st of March 1918 Intense Barrage
22nd Mar 1918 Fighting Withdrawal
22nd Mar 1918 Messages
23rd Mar 1918 Messages
23rd Mar 1918 Fighting Withdrawal
24th Mar 1918 Messages
24th Mar 1918 In Defence
25th Mar 1918 Fighting Withdrawal
26th Mar 1918 Fighting Withdrawal
27th Mar 1918 In Defence
27th Mar 1918 Moves
31st Mar 1918 Shelling
29th of April 1918 In a German Tunnel
7th Jun 1918 ReliefsIf you can provide any additional information, please add it here.
Want to know more about 2nd Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry?
There are:5381 items tagged 2nd Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.
Those known to have served with
2nd Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
during the Great War 1914-1918.
- Barnet Charles. Sgt. (d.16th May 1915)
- Bennett James.
- Blackwell Albert Christie.
- Cross Horatio Nelson. Pte. (d.14th Mar 1915)
- George Claude. Pte. (d.17th Dec 1918)
- Harding George. Pte. (d.3rd Nov 1914)
- Johnson Charles Edward. Sgt. (d.22nd August 1917)
- Lyman MM. James Jesse. Pte. (d.11th Sep 1918)
- Lyman MM. James Jesse. Pte. (d.111th Sep 1918)
- Matthews Frank. Pte. (d.21st Oct 1914)
- Pithers Herbert. Pte. (d.28th Feb 1917)
- Relf Lionel B. L/Cpl. (d.10th June 1916)
- Thomas Samuel Augustus Stewart. Pte. (d.19th July 1916)
- Turner Frank Edward. Pte. (d.26th Nov 1914)
- Vale Edward Charles. Pte. (d.9th Oct 1917)
- White Frederick John. Pte. (d.22nd August 1918)
- Wilson Job. Pte. (d.8th October 1918)
All names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List
Records of 2nd Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry from other sources.
- The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website.
- 1st of September 2023 marks 24 years since the launch of the Wartime Memories Project. Thanks to everyone who has supported us over this time.
Want to find out more about your relative's service? Want to know what life was like during the Great War? Our Library contains many many diary entries, personal letters and other documents, most transcribed into plain text.
Looking for help with Family History Research?Please see Family History FAQ's
Please note: We are unable to provide individual research.
Can you help?
The free to access section of The Wartime Memories Project website is run by volunteers and funded by donations from our visitors.If the information here has been helpful or you have enjoyed reaching the stories please conside making a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise enough funds to pay for our web hosting or this site will vanish from the web.
If you enjoy this site please consider making a donation.
Announcements
- 27th April 2024
Please note we currently have a massive backlog of submitted material, our volunteers are working through this as quickly as possible and all names, stories and photos will be added to the site. If you have already submitted a story to the site and your UID reference number is higher than 264001 your submission is still in the queue, please do not resubmit.
Wanted: Digital copies of Group photographs, Scrapbooks, Autograph books, photo albums, newspaper clippings, letters, postcards and ephemera relating to the Great War. If you have any unwanted photographs, documents or items from the First or Second World War, please do not destroy them. The Wartime Memories Project will give them a good home and ensure that they are used for educational purposes. Please get in touch for the postal address, do not sent them to our PO Box as packages are not accepted.
We are now on Facebook. Like this page to receive our updates, add a comment or ask a question.
If you have a general question please post it on our Facebook page.
World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great battalion regiment artillery
Did you know? We also have a section on World War Two. and a Timecapsule to preserve stories from other conflicts for future generations.
Pte. James Jesse Lyman MM. 2nd Btn. Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry (d.111th Sep 1918)James Lyman was killed in action on the 11th of September 1918, aged 24 and is buried in the Hermies Hill British Cemetery in France. He was a resident of Gayhurst, Buckinghamshires flynn
Pte. Herbert Pithers 2nd Btn. Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (d.28th Feb 1917)Herbert Pithers was my maternal great-grandfather.
Pte. Frederick John White 2nd Btn. Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (d.22nd August 1918)Frederick White's name is on the war memorial in Shabbington Churchyard. Shabbington is 3 miles from Thame, Oxon but is itself in Bucks. I am researching the names on the memorial and would welcome any information, no matter how small.Peter Sawyer
Pte. Samuel Augustus Stewart Thomas 2/1st Btn. Oxfordfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (d.19th July 1916)Stewart Thomas served as a signaller with the the 2/1st (Buckinghamshire) Battalion, Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (TF) during the Great War. He was born in Moss, Wrexham on 8th of March 1899, the son of Alexander Augustus Stewart and Florence Helena (nee Williams) Thomas. His father, a native of Worsley in Manchester was a regular soldier, who rose to the rank of regimental sergeant major in 4th Battalion, Grenadier Guards. His mother was originally from Bryn Mally, Summerhill. Siblings: Hephzie Florence (b 1897, Moss; d 1905), Leslie Victor (b 1902, London; d 1978, Macclesfield), Francis Lloyd (b 1903, Aldershot; d 1986, Wrexham), Vera Mary (b b 1906, Aldershot), Alun Robert (b 1908, Windsor; d 1983, Havering), Meryl Eileen (b 1910, Slough; d 1975, Wrexham), Frederick Glyn (b 1912, Windsor; d 1988, Wrexham) and Brian Alexander (b 1913, Windsor; d 1991).In 1901, the family was living in the Victoria Barracks in Windsor and by 1911, in Langley, Berkshire where Alexander, having retired from the army, was employed as a clerk manager in a copper mining business until his death on 15th of March 1915, after which Florence returned to live in Wrexham, residing at 15 Maesgwyn Road. Stewart was educated in army schools in England and India, and at Langley Council School and Slough Secondary School. He volunteered for military service and was enlisted in the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry on 8th of February 1915, aged only 15 years and 11 months. At this time the official age for recruitment was 18 years. Clearly under-age, Stewart must have volunteered with the consent of at least one parent and, as his father died only a month later, his efforts must have been supported by his mother.
He was posted to 2/1st Battalion (TF) which had been formed at Aylesbury, in September 1914 as a second-line unit. It moved to Northampton in January 1915 and was part of 184 Brigade, 61st (2nd South Midland) Division. It then moved to Writtle and them Broomfield in Essex in April. In January 1916, it moved to Parkhouse Camp on Salisbury Plain before embarking on active service to France on 25th of May 1916.
With the battalion being originally designated for home defence, it was not intended that it should go on active service, therefore, when it did so, all those men under-age should have been retained at the depot. Stewart however, embarked with the battalion in May, aged 16 years and 2 months. In the first week of July, the battalion moved to the right sub-section of the Somme front at Ferme de Bois in the area around Richebourge St Vaast. On the 15th in moved back to Laventie in preparation for an attack that took place on 19th of July.
During the last phase of the bombardment the infantry moved out through Rhondda Sap at 17.40 hours into No Man's Land in four waves. At 18.00 they assaulted the German trenches. An RFC observer described the advance as "Magnificent", adding that no man was seen to waver. The German defensive fire was, however, lethal and their machine guns mowed down the advancing men and by 18.30 it was clear that the attack had failed.
2/1st Oxs & Bucks casualties were 4 officers and 62 other ranks killed, 1 officer died of wounds, 8 officers and 180 other ranks wounded, 2 officers and 65 other ranks missing (believed killed). Stewart Thomas was serving as a signaller in the battalion and was declared missing, believed killed in action during the attack. The officer commanding the signalling section wrote to Mrs Thomas: "Your son (who by reason of his smartness at work and cheerful good nature was loved and respected by all) died as unselfishly and nobly as he lived. Your boy had before him on the 19th about the hardest task a man could be called upon to do, viz., to go into the thick of a fearful action as practically a non-combatant, and consequently with none of that excitement and lust to get at the Hun, to help and banish fear. But he banished fear without that, and went out cheerfully with his comrades in order that when it became necessary for them to ask for help or more ammunition, he might be on the spot to do it for them with his telephone." [De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour, v3]
Stewart Thomas has no known grave and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial to the Missing. He was aged 17 and was awarded the British War Medal and the Allied Victory Medal. His name is recorded on the Borough War Memorial, the Parish Church Memorial, the Wrexham & East Denbighshire War Memorial Hospital Roll of Honour, the North Wales Heroes Memorial and the Langley War Memorial (Berkshire).
Alister Williams
Pte. Frank Edward Turner 2nd Btn. Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (d.26th Nov 1914)Frank Turner has known grave. He is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial.Valerie Mabbs
Sgt. Charles Barnet 2nd Btn. Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry (d.16th May 1915)Charles Barnett was my grandfather. I have a letter from CQMS Beare, A Coy, 2Bn Oxf&Bucks (the letter is not in good condition) which describes how my grandfather died.Phillip Davies
Pte. Job Wilson 2nd Battalion Ox & Bucks Light Infantry (d.8th October 1918)Job Wilson joined the Army in summer 1915, under intense pressure from society for all fit men to enlist. Job was 32 years old and had a wife, Rose and two children, Rosa (4) and George (2). He went to Oxford to join up, being given the number 18561 in the 2nd Battalion of the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry.Remarkably, Job Wilson survived for three years of horrific combat, when most of the men around him were being killed or wounded. He experienced many episodes of intense trench warfare including the Battle of the Somme in July 1916. By the following year he had become officer's batman (a personal servant) and is credited with saving Second Lieutenant P H R Whitehead, 'his' officers life when he was seriously wounded on 28th of May 1917. He then became batman to Captain G Field MC, who became Major Field in charge of the Regiment. Job would have had very little leave, but he did return to Great Missenden to see his family for a few days leave in early October 1918 and on his way back to the front line he wrote immediately to his wife Rose to try to cheer her up. "I am not surprised at you feeling a bit down, but chin up, better days in store, tell Rosa and George to cheer up, dad is alright, best and fondest love from your loving husband xxxxxx". By the time she read it, he had been blown up by a German bomb and died of his wounds very soon after. The war was all over only a month later, on 11 November 1918.
Sending the sad news of his death, Major Field wrote to his widow Rose "I miss him very very much indeed. As you probably know he had been my servant for the last 3 months and a more cheerful, hard-working, excellent fellow would be very difficult to find." Rose remained living at Office Cottage (now known as Peppercorn Cottage) in Great Missenden for 40 years and worked hard to provide for Rosa and George both eventually went to Grammar School.
Job was buried in a war cemetery in France. No-one from the family has ever visited Job's grave in Flesquieres Hill British Cemetery, but this is planned for the centenary of his death. And on Sunday 8th October 2017 the "ghost" of Job Wilson will be seen again in WW1 uniform in the village of Great Missenden, around the church and High Street war memorials, the station, and his cottage, re-enacted by his great-grandson, Mark Smith.
Mark Smith
Sgt. Charles Edward Johnson 2/1st Btn., B Coy. Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry (d.22nd August 1917)All I know is that Charles Johnson was my great uncle and that he was killed on 22nd of August 1917 at Ypres. He is remembered with honour at the Tyne Cot Memorial. I have but one photo and treasure it very much. I wish that I knew more.Mary Andrews
Pte. Edward Charles Vale Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry (d.9th Oct 1917)Edward Vale was born in 1890 at Ely, Cambridgeshire, son of William and Ellen Vale. He previously served with 2nd Royal Fusiliers and 2nd and 6th Battalions Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry before transferring to the 1/4th Battalion. His name appears on the War Office Daily Casualty List (Wounded), 24th September 1917, Edward died at Knightshayes V.A.D. Hospital, near Tiverton, Devon, of wounds received in France, 9th of October 1917. Buried in Chevithorne (St Thomas) Churchyard, Devon, he is remembered on the Stretham, Cambs War Memorial.Colin Green
Pte. Claude George 2nd Btn. Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry (d.17th Dec 1918)Claude George was the son of the late Henry and Jane George, husband of Harriett George of Kelvistow, 6 Garsington Rd., Cowley, Oxford. He was born in London. He was 32 when he died and is buried in the Prague (Olsany) Cemetry in the Czech Republic. His grave is located in the main Cemetery and is commemorated by a grey slate headstone.S Flynn
James Bennett 2nd Btn. Ox & Bucks Light InfantryMy great grandfather, Bugler James Bennett, served with the Ox & Bucks Light Infantry between 1892 and 1919. He was appointed bugler on 5th May 1904 when he was with the 2nd Btn. I would like to trace a photo of him. Can anyone help?Joanna Haycroft
Pte. Frank Matthews 2nd Battalion Oxfordshire and Bucks Light Infantry (d.21st Oct 1914)Unfortunately no details known about Frank Matthews service with the 2nd Battalion, Oxfordshire and Bucks Light Infantry.Nicholas Crampton
Pte. James Jesse Lyman MM. 2nd Btn. B Company, 8th Platoon Oxfordshire and Bucks Light Infantry (d.11th Sep 1918)Before enlistment James Lyman worked at Cox’s Dairy Farm in Gayhurst,Buckinghamshire. He was one of seven brothers to serve in the war and was the only one to die. Most of his brothers joined up within a year after war had broken out, but his eldest brother Harry was below the required height for recruitment. James enlisted at Bletchley on the 18th March 1916 and then proceeded to France in the following July. James was moved to the 2nd Ox and Bucks Light Infantry were he got his first taste of battle in Bethune.On the evening of 11 September 1918 the men of 8th Platoon, 2nd Ox and Bucks LI were advised that they were going to go over the top after the artillery barrage had finished. The weather was terrible and the floor was thick with mud. The companies were to attack with a frontage of 1,500 Yards and 100 Yards between each wave. B company (8th Platoon) went too far to the left during the attack resulting in a considerable gap between B and D Company and therefore the Germans were able to hold off the two companies in the gap. Communication was very difficult and all signal lines gave at once.
Jim Lyman was heavily wounded during the push for Lock 7 on the evening of the 11th, He was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field. It was unknown what he did but from what we know from the war diaries and a letter received from the Brigade Chaplin it seemed he could have volunteered to be a runner and was injured doing so. James was brought back to the advanced field hospital where he was unconscious and beyond all human help. He died a few minutes later. The brigade Chaplin, Rev. George Galbraith, buried James in a shallow grave behind the lines where he then read a short personal service at James’ graveside.
In November 1918, the ribbon of the Military Medal was awarded posthumously to Private Lyman and would be sent to his mother by the Colonel, who wrote; "I knew him well. He was a good soldier, a credit to his regiment and to himself." Major General C. Pereira, C.B., C.M.G., Commanding the 2nd Division, also wrote, congratulating Mrs. Lyman on the bravery of her son.
Thomas James
Albert Christie Blackwell 2nd Battalion Oxfordshire& Buckinghamshire Light InfantryIn the 1911 census my grandfather, Bertie Blackwell was based at Shorncliffe Camp, Elham, Kent. He enlisted with the 2nd Battalion of the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. During WW1 he served as a navigator with the Army Flying Corps before being shot through the foot. I believe he was invalided out to the North Staffordshire Regiment.Robert Blackwell
Pte. Horatio Nelson Cross 2nd Battalion Ox & Bucks Light Infantry (d.14th Mar 1915)Horatio Cross was my Great-grandfather whose history I am just learning about. Unfortunately, his medals have been mislaid over the years but his wife had had them framed along with a regimental photo of which I have a small copy. I have information stating he is buried in Bethune Town Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Bethune is 29km north of Arras. I would love to find out if this is near where he fought, or if he was taken there after being injured. As I said this is early days for me in my quest for info so if anyone can be of any help I'd be really grateful.Marsha Smedley
Recomended Reading.
Available at discounted prices.
Links
Suggest a link
The free section of The Wartime Memories Project is run by volunteers. This website is paid for out of our own pockets, library subscriptions and from donations made by visitors. The popularity of the site means that it is far exceeding available resources and we currently have a huge backlog of submissions. If you are enjoying the site, please consider making a donation, however small
to help with the costs of keeping the site running.
Copyright MCMXCIX - MMXXIV - All Rights Reserved - We do not permit the use of any content from this website for the training of LLMs or for use in Generative AI, it also may not be scraped for the purpose of creating other websites. |