Oscar James Dean
Two photographs, portrait and group.
Enlistment & discharge certificates.
Oscar was working as a civil servant in Whitehall, when aged only 16 years and 2 months, he accompanied an older colleague and enlisted into the London Rifle Brigade. On 2nd August 1916 he was present on the first day of the battle of the Somme. He had previously walked the battle line in search of his older brother, Frank, who was a member of the London Scottish Brigade, only to be told that he was no longer there. He feared the worst, but it turned out that Frank had been badly wounded and returned behind the line. Frank, whilst in the military hospital, contacted his parents and persuaded them to send Oscar's birth certificate to the War Office, to prove that he was under age. Oscar was subsequently recalled behind the lines and discharged.
The London Rifle Brigade was involved in the battle of Combles, which was part of the Somme offensive. On the second day, they suffered horrendous losses and the colleague Oscar had enlisted with, possibly Norman Harrison, lost his life.
As soon as he could legally enlist, Oscar joined the Royal Flying Corp where he worked in accident investigation, based at Doncaster Racecourse.
Oscar James Dean
Photograph
Group photograph
Enlistment & discharge certificates.
Official document
CONTRIBUTOR
Malcolm Dean
DATE
1916-01-24 - 1916-09
LANGUAGE
eng
ITEMS
6
INSTITUTION
Europeana 1914-1918
PROGRESS
METADATA
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