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Remembered Today:

2/Lt O.C. Stokes Royal Munster Fusiliers


Doug Lewis

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I'm halfway through reading "Storm of Steel" by Ernest Junger. On page 125 he refers to the death of 2 Lt Oliver Chetwode Stokes Royal Munster Fusiliers,I have CWGC and ODGW information. Does any pal have anymore information on him.

Regards Doug.

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Doug,

He was gazetted from Sandhurst in 1916.

Roy

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I am pretty sure there was an article about him in the WFA journal Stand To! some years ago: you can check the index on line now, I believe.

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Thank you all for your help :D

Regards Doug

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  • 9 years later...

Doug started this thread in 2005 so I has only taken me 8 Years to Get here.

I was on page 125 too and thought I would have a look at Oliver.

AND as always the Web always has a lead back to this forum.

post-103138-0-75510600-1396434038_thumb.

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  • 2 months later...
Guest oconnom2
Hi,


I also came across the reference to Oliver Chetwode Stokes on page 125 and was curious what else I could find out about him.


I have found the 1901 Census of Ireland return for his family.


You can see his entry in line 7. Unfortunately the handwriting is not that clear.


in 1901 he was 3 years old. This would make him 19 at the time of his death. He was born in Queenstown, Irleand. This is now called Portlaoise. In 1901 he was living in Ballygarran, Co. Kerry. This is a townland about 8km outside Tralee, Co. Kerry. The Royal Munster Fusiliers were headquartered in Tralee.


I searched for a return for the household for 1911, however, there is none. I'm surmising that Oliver and his father may have moved the England at that stage.


In 1901 he is living with his Father and Grandparents. It would appear that his mother was dead. Possibly died during his birth?




Mark

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In 1911 the family was living at 32, Waterloo Road, Bedford.

Oliver Stokes (head) 53 retired banker born Kent, Woolwich [His full name was Oliver Sawyer Stokes]

Joan C. C. wife 37 married 14 years 2 children born Cork [so she was not dead at the 1901 census, but apparently not in the family household]

Oliver Chetwode Stokes son 12 school born Cork, Queenstown

Geraldine Stokes dau. 10 born school Co. Wexford, Gorey

+ one servant

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Morning researchers !

I think it is interesting to add items to follow the book.

This is a screen grab from Google Earth.

Is shows Oliver's final resting place and a basic overview of the battle area.

post-103138-0-79731600-1402387052_thumb.

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Guest oconnom2

Hi,

One correction in my post. Queenstown is now called Cobh, County Cork. I was getting mixed up with Queen's County which was renamed County Laois after 1922.

I've attached Oliver Stokes' medal card. I found the writing hard to read. Would be grateful if anyone could interpret it.

I could make out that he entered the French theatre on 15 July 1916.

Mark

The_National_Archive_Order_()_09-06-2014T19_46_25.zip

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Hi Mark,

This is my understanding of his medal card.

It has his name - and Army shorthand for Munster Fusiliers and 2nd Lieutenant

He was awarded The Victory medal and British War medal.

He did not go out to France until September 1916 so he did not get the 1914-15 Star.

Viz

Victory…………………..

British………………...

Star…………………...

I do not know what notations in the remarks section mean.

I am happy that we can breathe life back into these soldiers.

Now they are remembered in the Digital world they are immortal. They will be found by internet searchers.

We honour them with our research.

Even though Ernst and the invading German army were responsible for Oliver's death they appear to have respected him.

They buried him and gave him a cross with his name in boot nails.

post-103138-0-12638600-1402429568_thumb.

Now carry on with the book - there are more things to study

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  • 9 years later...

https://ourheroes.southdublin.ie/Serviceman/Show/17051

Second Lieutenant Oliver Chetwode Stokes
Regiment: Royal Munster Fusiliers
Date published: 04/05/1917
Killed in action: Yes
Date of death: 04/03/1917
Cemetery: Assevillers New British Cemetery, Somme, France
Plot: II. G. 7.
Information: Second Lieutenant Oliver Chetwode Stokes, Royal Munster Fusiliers, was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Stokes, of 44 Waterloo Road, Bedford, and grandson of the late Major-General O. R. Stokes, R.A., of Lassinagh, Tralee, and, on his mother's side, of the late Crewe Townsend, Esq., of Firmount, Co. Cork. He was educated at Hydneye House School, Willingdon, Eastbourne, and Bedford School, from which he passed into Sandhurst in 1915. In April, 1916, he received his commission in the Royal Munster Fusiliers, and went to the front in the following September. He was wounded a few days later, and on recovery rejoined his battalion. He was killed on the night of March 4th.

 

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