Boer War Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal operations, Great War Western Front and Special Constabulary Long Service Medal group awarded to Corporal, later Private A.E. Oaten, 2nd, 4th and later 1st Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry who saw service in South Africa during the Boer War where he took part in operations in Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Transvaal before later serving on the Western Front during the Great War where he arrived on 21st August 1914. He would report sick on 27th June 1916, just before the first Day of the Battle of the Somme thus missing the disastrous attack. He would later be discharged on 15th February 1918, and would go on to serve with the Somerset Special Constabulary including during the General Strike of 1926.
Group of 7: Queen’s South Africa Medal 1899-1902, 5 Clasps: Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith; (5627 CPL. A.E. OATEN. SOMERSET. LT. INFY.); King’s South Africa Medal 1901-1902, 2 Clasps: South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902; (5627 PTE. A. OATEN. SOMERSET. L.I.) 1914 Star, bar 5th Aug-22nd bar and rosette on ribbon, the bar altered with a pin for wear (5627 PTE. A.E. OATEN. 1/SOM.L.I.) Victory Medal; (5627 PTE. A.E. OATEN. SOM.L.I.) British War Medal; (5627 PTE. A.E. OATEN. SOM.L.I.) Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, GVR, (ALBERT E. OATEN.) Silver War Badge, reverse numbered ‘321855’ Defence Medal, mounted separately on a pin for wear. The first six loose-mounted for wear in the order listed.
Condition: The first six loose-mounted for wear, and the last mounted separately for wear, lightly toned, Good Very Fine
Along with:
Medal Ribbon bar for the first six medals.
Somerset Light Infantry Old Comrades Association Lapel Badge
Metal I.D. Tag ‘5627 A.E. OATEN. SOM.L.I. C.E.’
Group photograph taken in East London, Cape Colony in 1900, in which Oaten is identified.
Studio Photograph of the recipient taken at Peshawar in 1904 after the presentation of his South African medals by H.R.H. The Duke of Connaught.
Certificate dated 10th March 1920 confirming Oaten as a Special Constable for twelve months.
Official letter dated 1926 thanking him for his service during the National Emergency.
Letter from the Somerset Constabulary confirming he is released from the Somerset Special Constabulary Reserve at his own request dated 12th April 1939
Copy of the Light Bob Gazette dated July to September 1932.
Albert E. Oaten saw service as a Corporal (No. 5627) with the 2nd and 4th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry in South Africa during the Boer War where he would take part in the operations in Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Transvaal and would later serve during the Great War being present on the Western Front from 21st August 1914, before later being discharged due to sickness on 15th February 1918. He had luckily escaped the carnage of the First Day of the Battle of the Somme being noted as sick with inflammation of his hands on 27th June 1916 and then being formally admitted to hospital on 5th July 1916.
After the war, Oaten would live in Taunton and serve as a Special Constable with the Somerset Special Constabulary, including during the General Strike of 1926, he would resign from this role on 12th April 1939, although it is likely he would rejoin for the Second World War earning the Defence Medal.
The clasps for both Tugela Heights and Relief of Ladysmith on the Queen’s South Africa Medal are unconfirmed, and it is likely he is not entitled to them.
