Arthur James Oakes was born in the St Rollox District of Glasgow, Scotland, on the 16th December 1884. His parents, Walter Oakes (born 8th September 1863) of Tunstall, Staffordshire, and Mary Ann Oakes nee Smith (born 17th June 1863) of Chell, Staffordshire, married on the 5th February 1882 at Tunstall, Christchurch. From Arthur's birth certificate, we can see his father, Walter, was a Journeyman Potter.

All Arthur's records show him to have been born in Glasgow, Scotland, and he was, in fact, the only one of his siblings who was born there. It isn't clear how long his parents were in Glasgow, somewhere between his older brother George Henry's birth on the 31st May 1882 in Tunstall and the birth on June 1st 1887 of Mary, his only sister, also born in Tunstall. Arthur, however, was baptised at Hope Trinity, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, on the 27th November 1889. 

A possible explanation for Arthur being born in Glasgow specifically is the link between the Stoke-on-Trent Potteries and Glasgow Potteries. During the late 19th century, Glasgow emerged as Britain's leading stoneware producer, fuelled by an aggressive recruitment campaign targeting skilled labourers from the Midlands. Scottish firms placed advertisements in industry publications like the Staffordshire Advertiser and Pottery Gazette to entice workers away from the established hubs in Stoke-on-Trent.

This migration was influenced by a combination of factors related to the working and living conditions in the Staffordshire Potteries at the time. The expanding stoneware industry in Glasgow offered alternative employment opportunities and potentially different circumstances compared to those experienced by workers in Staffordshire. Glasgow, whilst also being industrial, offered a fresh start that perhaps Walter and Mary Ann were looking for. 

The 1881 census shows Arthur's father, Walter, single, aged 18, working as a Potters Presser living with his parents, Henry, a Potter Handler, and his mother, Mary, a Dress Maker at 27 Lyndhurst Street, Tunstall. 

The1891 census shows Walter and Mary Ann living at 87 Paddock Street, Hanley, Walter still working as a Potter's Presser. 8-year-old George Henry, 6-year-old Arthur James, 3-year-old Mary and 1-year-old Walter, born 8th November 1889.  Also living with them were two boarders, 25-year-old Arthur Martin, born in Scotland, working as a Potter's Presser, and 21-year-old George Martin, born in Hanley, also working as a Potter's Presser. 

The 1901 census shows Walter and Mary Ann both now aged 38 living at 61 Boundary Street, Hanley, with children George [single] aged 19 working as a Potters Holloware Worker,  Arthur aged 16 working as a Potters Placer, Mary aged 13, Walter aged 11, Frederick aged 9, Leonard aged 6 born 8th November 1894, and Albert aged 3. 

By the 1911 census, there were changes for the Oakes family; tragically, Frederick Oakes died aged 8 in 1901.  

Arthur's sister Mary had married Thomas Baddeley on the 12th November 1905, a Gas Fitter Labourer, who would subsequently join the 9th Royal Fusiliers in 1914 (service number 1203). Mary and Thomas had children:  Annie 1906, Evelyn 1909, Lilian Mary 1911, Thomas Clement 1914,  Albert Arthur 1917, Winifred 1919, Henry 1922, Barbara 1924, Graham 1927 and Malcolm 1929. 

On the 22nd October 1906 at Hope Trinity Church, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, Arthur James Oakes married Sarah Ann Haywood (born 06.07.1887 Burslem); the 1911 census shows them living with their two daughters, Hannah born 16th April 1907 and Sarah Ann born 29th January 1909, both born in Burslem.  Arthur is employed as a Potters Placer,  living at 19 Macclesfield Street, Burslem.     

The 1911 census sees Arthur's mother, Mary Ann Oakes, now widowed, aged 48. The census shows us she had 10 live births, 7 still living. Living with her were sons Walter, aged 21, working as a Mould Maker, Leonard, aged 16, working as a Hollow Presser, Albert, aged 13, and young Thomas, aged 6, born 30th August 1904 in Hanley.  

Sadly, their father, Walter, died on the 31st August 1910, aged 48. 

George Henry, aged 28, working as a Potters Placer, was married to Florence nee Malpass, living at 5 Albert Place, Hanley.

On the 28th August 1914, Arthur joined the ranks of the North Staffordshire Regiment, having enlisted as a 29-year-old at Burslem.  At the time, he was living at 79 Paddock Street, Hanley, with his wife and children, and was a Potters Fireman. 

He was described as being 5’4”, 132 pounds in weight, chest measurement of 35.½, fresh complexion, and dark brown hair. Religion Wesleyan. 

His military history sheet in his service records states that he was Home from 28.08.1914 until 25.06.1915 and that he was with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force from 26.06.1915 until 9th April 1916, a total of 1 year and 226 days of service. 

Not enough of his service record survives to say what his movements were within the regiment, but we know he was killed serving with the 7th Battalion. 

His Medal Index Card indicates he first entered a theatre of war on the 2nd July 1915 in the Balkans area.

The 7th Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment was formed in 1914 and first entered Gallipoli at Cape Helles on the 6th July 1915. They took part in battles at Sari Bair, Russell's Top, and Hill 60. They were evacuated from Suvla Bay over the 19th and 20th December 1915 to Helles, where they took part in the final battles of Gallipoli during January of 1916 before again being evacuated, this time to Port Said and the Suez Canal defences. On the 12th February 1916, they moved to Mesopotamia to take part in the battle to relieve a besieged garrison at Kut-al-Amara. It is here that Arthur was killed in action on the 9th April 1916. 

He is remembered on the Basra War Memorial panel 34 and also on the Burslem Royal Doulton Memorial. 

His death is reported in the Staffordshire Sentinel on the 22nd May 1916, where it is said his wife had been informed and that he had previously been employed at the Burslem Royal Doulton Factory. 

He was entitled to the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and Victory Medal. 

His effects were sent to his widow, Sarah Ann Cowen (previous Oakes). Sarah Ann remarried on the 23rd June 1917 to George Edward Cowen. She was, however, still granted a widow's pension of 22 shillings and 11 pennies from 20th November 1916. Her address is 4 Austin Street, Wolverhampton. 

The Oakes Brothers. 

His younger brother, Albert Oakes, also served in WWI. He was PO/18206 Albert Oakes of the Royal Marine Light Infantry. Killed In Action when his ship, HMS Stephen Furness, was torpedoed and sunk in the Irish Sea on the 13th December 1917. He is remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial Panel 27. He was entitled to the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and Victory Medal. 

Leonard Oakes also joined the Army on the 25th August 1914, aged 19 years 9 months as 11191 Pte Oakes, North Staffordshire Regiment, at which time he was a Collier but previously a Potters Presser living at 22 Paddock Street, Hanley. He was described as 5’7”, 141 pounds, 36 ½ chest with a sallow complexion, blue eyes, and brown Hair. He was thought to be of good physical development. He was, however, discharged after 3 months' service on the 7th November 1914, deemed unfit for active service due to Myopia. The Sentinel newspaper article dated July 14th 1917, reports Leonard Oakes as being a Driver in the RFA. Pension card dated his discharge as 9.2.19, service number 82049, rank Gunner, address 7 Thorley St, Hanley.

The 1921 census sees Leonard aged 27 working as a Coal Miner, married to Violet, living at 7 Thorley Street, Hanley, with his Widowed mother, his 16-year-old brother Thomas now working as a potter's mould maker, his grandfather George Smith a retired joiner, and his young daughter Violet aged 1.    

Walter Oakes also joined the Army on the 3rd May 1915 as 22617 Pte Oakes, Yorkshire Light Infantry, at which time he was a Potter living at 4 St Paul's Street, Burslem. He, however, was also quickly discharged on the 13th May 1915, deemed unfit for active service due to defective vision. The Sentinel Newspaper article dated 14th July 1917 reports Walter Oakes as being a Driver in the ASC; his records show he was service number T/324958 and was entitled to the Victory Medal and British War Medal. Walter married Mary Gertrude Emberton in 1913. They had two children, Walter, born in 1917, and Doreen. M was born in 1923. The 1921 census sees Walter working as a Potter's Mould Maker, married to Mary Gertrude, living as boarders at 68 Baskerville Road, Hanley. By the 1939 Register, Walter was living at 8 Eaton Street, still working as a Potter's Mould Maker with wife Mary G and Doreen now aged 16 working as a Book Binder.   

George Henry Oakes remarried in 1913 after his wife Florence died. The same Sentinel newspaper dated 1917 reports George Henry as being in the North Staffs Regiment; however, it seems he transferred on 26.12.1917 to the RAF, official number being 115395. Recorded as living at 8 Hales Square, Burslem, working as a China Biscuit Overman with wife Phoebe Elizabeth Oakes.  

1921 census sees George Henry and Phoebe living at 8 Hales Square; he works for Royal Doulton as a General Pottery Labourer, and they have three children: Mary Elizabeth, born 1913; George Henry, born 1917; and Annie, born 1920. The next record is the 1939 Register, still living at Hales Square with wife Phoebe, working as a China Overman. George and Phoebe had two further children, Thomas in 1922 and Evelyn in 1924. George Henry Oakes died in 1952, aged 70.    

The 1939 Register sees youngest brother Thomas, born 30th August 1904, still working as a Potters Moulder, married to Emily (born 5th September 1904). Son Arthur James, born 19th November 1928, and Widowed mother Mary Ann, born 17th June 1863, all living at 1 Thorley Street, Hanley.

Sources: 

Walter Oakes &Mary Ann Smith marriage: FreeBMD. England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.

Birth records Arthur Oakes https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/record-results/890918373696bbac164c7e. 

Ancestry.com. England & Wales, Christening Index, 1530-1980 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2008.

1891 census Source Citation

The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891; Class: RG12; Piece: 2173; Folio: 47; Page: 9; GSU roll: 6097283

1901 census Class: RG13; Piece: 2606; Folio: 102; Page: 3. 

1911 census The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911

https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1658332/arthur-james-oakes/ 

https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/3041441/albert-oakes/ 

Military-Genealogy.com, comp. UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008.

Western Front Association; London, England; WWI Pension Record Cards and Ledgers; Reference: 144/0696/Nut-Oat

National Army Museum; Chelsea, London, England; Soldiers' Effects Records, 1901-60; NAM Accession Number: 1991-02-333; Record Number Ranges: 316001-317500; Reference: 163  

The National Archives, London, England, UK; War Office: Soldiers' Documents, First World War Wo363. 

 NATIONAL ARCHIVES WAR DIARIES 

Leonard Oakes: Fold3, UK, WWI, Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923 (https://www.fold3.com/publication/1019/uk-wwi-pension-ledgers-and-index-cards-1914-1923: accessed 17 Jan 2026), database and images, https://www.fold3.com/publication/1019/uk-wwi-pension-ledgers-and-index-cards-1914-1923

George Henry Oakes: Forces War Records, UK, WWI, Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923 (https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/publication/1019/uk-wwi-pension-ledgers-and-index-cards-1914-1923: accessed 17 Jan 2026), database and images, https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/publication/1019/uk-wwi-pension-ledgers-and-index-cards-1914-1923

Albert Oakes: Forces War Records, UK, WWI, Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923 (https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/publication/1019/uk-wwi-pension-ledgers-and-index-cards-1914-1923: accessed 17 Jan 2026), database and images, https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/publication/1019/uk-wwi-pension-ledgers-and-index-cards-1914-1923

Sentinel newspaper report 22.05.1916: https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000347/19160522/056/0003 

Memorial article 26.05.1916 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000347/19160526/056/0003