Dec 25, 1893

Born in Dublin, Ireland to George William and Bridget May Oak

Sep 8, 1915

Attested into the 64^th Battalion CEF in Sussex, New Brunswick

Ø  Number 470081

Ø  Next of kin given as Mrs. Bridget Oak, mother, 28 Russell St., Halifax, Nova Scotia

Ø  Previous occupation given as Labourer

Ø  Previous military experience given as 63^rd Scouts

Ø  Religion given as Church of England

Mar 1, 1916

Sentenced to 5 days detention for being absent

Mar 31, 1916

Embarked the SS Adriatic in Halifax, Nova Scotia

Apr 9, 1916

Disembarked in Liverpool, England and proceeded to the East Sandling camp where the battalion was absorbed into the 40^th Reserve Battalion

Jul 12, 1916

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Jul 14, 1916

Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France as part of a draft of 78 reinforcements from England and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21^st Battalion

Aug 8, 1916

After leaving the base depot he joined the 2^nd Entrenching Battalion in the Halifax Camp near Reningelst, Belgium

Aug 22, 1916

After leaving the entrenching battalion Private Oak joined the 21^st Battalion resting in the Quebec Camp near Ridgewood, Belgium

Sep 15, 1916

During the battalion’s advance on the sugar factory near Courcelette, France, Private Oak received a shrapnel wound to the back of his neck.  He was evacuated to the nearby field ambulance for first aid before being transported to a casualty clearing station for treatment

Sep 16, 1916

Transferred to the No. 3 Stationary Hospital Boulogne

Sep 17, 1916

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Maheno

On arrival in England he was admitted to the Military Hospital in Hilsea, Hants and Scabies was added to the diagnosis

 
Posted to the CCAC (Canadian Corps Assembly Centre) for pay purposes while in hospital

Oct 4, 1916

Transferred to the convalescent hospital in Bearwood Park, Wokingham

Oct 18, 1916

Discharged to the care of the CCAC

Oct 24, 1916

Attached to the CCD (Canadian Convalescent Depot) and admitted to the St. Leonard’s Hospital in Stonehaven, Scotland to continue his recovery

Jan 17, 1917

Discharged from hospital and posted to the newly formed 6^th Reserve Battalion in East Sandling.  Shortly after the formation of the battalion it moved to Seaford to train reinforcements for the front

Mar 6, 1917

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion and arrived at the Canadian Base Depot in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France as part of a draft of 26 reinforcements from England and was TOS the 21^st Battalion

Apr 2, 1917

After leaving the base depot he joined the 2^nd Canadian Entrenching Battalion in Hersin as part of a draft of 53 reinforcements destined to join the 21^st Battalion

Apr 14, 1917

Private Oak rejoined the 21^st Battalion in billets in Bois des Alleux, France. 

Aug 17, 1917

Proceeded on a course of instruction (type not specified)

Aug 28, 1917

Rejoined the battalion from course

Nov 9, 1917

During the heavy fighting in the mud of Passchendaele, Private Oak was killed in action.  Because of the severity of the fighting, his remains were not located for a couple of days and he is officially listed as being killed between November 9 and November 11.  He was buried in a nearby field, but when the war ended the remains could not be located to be moved to a proper cemetery.  As a result, his name is honoured on the walls of the Menin Gate, Ypres, Belgium for those killed during the war in Belgium with no known grave

Following the war the British War Medal, Victory Medal and Memorial Cross were sent to his mother, Mrs. B.M. Oak, 28 Russell St., Halifax, Nova Scotia

 
The Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny) and scroll were sent to his father, George William Oak, at the same address