Richard Oakley

Richard Oakley was commissioned in the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) from the Militia on 12 December 1894. He saw active service on the North-West Frontier of India (1897-8) with the Tochi Field Force and the Tirah Expeditionary Force. From 1907-11 he was Adjutant of the 4th [Militia] Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment.

When the war broke out he was a major in the 1st Battalion Cameronians. His battalion was originally used on the BEF’s Lines of Communication before joining the 19th (Independent) Brigade in October 1914. Oakley briefly commanded 1st Cameronians, still in the rank of major, from 18 March to 26 April 1915.

He was CO 10th Queen’s, 141st Brigade, 41st Division, from 9 February 1916 to 20 December 1917, when he became CO 12th Battalion Machine Gun Corps. On 26 September 1918 he was promoted brigadier-general and given command of 63rd Brigade, 37th Division. He led this formation for less than a month, when he returned home as Course Superintendent, Machine Gun Corps Training Centre, Grantham.

Oakley remained in the army after the Armistice, commanding 2nd Battalion Cameronians from 1919 until his retirement on 3 November 1923. Brigadier-General Oakley was twice wounded and twice mentioned in despatches during the war.