Strickland, Oben

Oben was born in January 1883 at Ashwell, Hertfordshire, the third son of Charles and Annie (nee Stamford) Strickland.  He was a pupil at the Merchant Taylors School in Ashwell.

Oben enlisted at Bedford in March 1915 with the Bedfordshire Regiment, Regimental Number 6422) and on 10 March 1916 was drafted to the Leicestershire Regiment, 7^th Battalion, Regimental Number 33087. He served in the Western European Theatre of War, France and Flanders and was wounded in action on 10 December 1917.  He died of his wounds the same day at a casualty clearing station.

Oben was awarded the Victory Medal and the British War Medal.

He is buried in the Tincourt New British Cemetery, Tincourt-Boucly, Departement de la Somme, Picardie, France and commemorated on the St Mary’s Church Ashwell Roll of Honour and the Ashwell War Memorial.

Before enlisting he was a builder’s labourer employed by EK & H Fordham in Ashwell

All four of Oben’s brothers – Bertie Charles, Eugene, Percy,  and Victor – served during WWI and all four came home.