Leigh Oakley was born in Southampton on 11 Mar 1896. His parents were James Oakley and Annie Pike.

Sadly, Leigh’s parents died when he was very young and by the time of the 1901 Census, he was living in the Muller orphanage in Bristol with 3 of his brothers.

By 1911, Leigh had left the orphanage and gone to work as a Grocers assistant to David Thomas at 6 Station Road, Llanmorlais, Llanrhidian Higher. He would go on to live around Llanmorlais for the rest of his life.

In February 1915, he enlisted in the Welsh Howitzers, and from that time until the end of the War, he would have seen little of his Llanmorlais and his friends, other than a few short periods of leave until he returned home, most likely in early 1919.

In 1924, Leigh married Elizabeth E Oakley. Unfortunately, Elizabeth died just 3 years later in 1927 and there are no records of them having any children together.

On 11 March 1929, Leigh travelled to Canada, arriving at St Johns, New Brunswick Canada on the SS Metagama. On his forms, he gave his birthplace as Winchester, address as Marsh Farm, Llanmorlais, Swansea, his occupation as a Miner and said he would be staying with his Brother-in-law, Mr Trinder in Kimberley BC. It does not appear that he remained in Canada for long as he returned to Liverpool on the SS Athenia on 24 November 1929.

Shortly after returning home Leigh married again in Swansea. His new wife was Elsie Ward and together they went on to have 2 children, Martha (1931) and Annie (1935).

In the 1939 register, he is shown living at living with Elsie and his 2 daughters at Glasfryn Gower Rd, Llanmorlais. On the form, his occupation is given as Colliery repairer and it also states that he was a Special Constable – No 2261.

Leigh Oakley passed away on 19 December 1961 at the Morriston Hospital, Swansea.

His Grand-daughter added; I remember my grandfather to have been a devout Methodist, a very good gardener and he could knit - having been taught in Mullers Homes in Bristol!

Leigh Oakley enlisted as a Gunner in the 1st Welsh (Howitzer) Brigade some time between 13 and 22nd Feb 1915 and was given the service number 1203.

Unfortunately, his Service Record was destroyed during the Blitz and there is little other surviving information. However, it is still possible to provide an outline about what it is likely that he did during the War.

After enlisting, Gnr Oakley would have undertaken basic training at the Brigade Depot in Swansea, where he would have focused on fitness, drill and theory because weapons and uniforms were still in short supply.

At some point during 1915, after completing his basic training, Gnr Oakley joined the Brigade (most likely in Bedford) where he continued his training, readying himself for Active Service.

The Brigade finally received orders to move to France in November 1915, and according to surviving records, Gnr Oakley was one of the 401 men who travelled from Southampton to Le Havre on 22 November 1915.

From Le Havre, the Brigade travelled to the Somme to undertake frontline training in an area close to Albert opposite Mametz. This area would mark the Southern edge of the Somme battlefield just 6 months later and be the scene of bitter fighting.

Shortly before Christmas 1915, the Brigade withdrew from the front-line and received orders to rejoin the 53rd Welsh Division in Egypt. Two sources confirm that Leigh served in Egypt (his family and the Gower Chruch Magazine Roll of Honour, December 1916) so, whilst there are no official records confirming this, it is reasonable to assume he made the dangerous 5 day crossing from Marseilles to Alexandria with the rest of the Brigade in February 1916.

From Alexandria, the Brigade travelled to Beni Salama, 40 miles south of Cairo where they rejoined the Welsh Division and acclimatized to the desert conditions. They also were given the opportunity to visit Cairo and many of the men had photos taken in front of the Sphinx and Pyramids.

In May 1915, the Brigade took over a section of the Suez Canal defences in the area of Ismailia where they remained until November. Conditions were difficult and little happened.

Later in the year, General Murray concluded that attack was the best form of defence and the Brigade, along with the rest of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force began a march through the Middle East that would last for the next 2 years.

After the difficult crossing of the Sinai desert, the Brigade fought in the 3 battles of Gaza and reached Jerusalem by Christmas 1917.

In 1918 the Brigade continued their advance against the Turkish Armies through Palestine and the Judean Hills until the armistice with the Turks at the end of October 1918.

Following the armistice, the Brigade then returned to Alexandria and started shipping back to the UK, with most of the men arriving and being demobilised around March and April 1919.

For his service in the Great War, Gunner/Signaller Leigh Oakley was awarded the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

His grand-daughter added; Leigh Oakley was my maternal grandfather. He passed away when I was 7 and unfortunately I know very little about him.

I have a booklet written by Ann Roberts called 'Theirs Not To Reason Why' - The communities of Penclawdd, Gwernffrwd, Llanmorlais, Crofty and Penuel in the Great War 1914-1918. There is an entry therein as follows - Gunner Leigh Oakley, Llanmorlais, Royal Field Artillery, Egypt.

I do remember my mother telling me he had been to Egypt and I remember hearing that he had some kind of injury on his shin which never really healed when he came home.