John Robert Oldfield

Born: 1886

Died: 21 October 1916

Rank and Regiment: Private in the 8th Battalion of the Norfolk Regiment

Resting Place: body unrecovered

Memorial: St. Peter and St. Paul, Wramplingham, United Kingdom and; Thiepval Memorial, France

John was the son of Robert and Louisa Oldfield of Hall Cottages, Hall Lane in Wramplingham. He was born in Wramplingham in c.1886 and was baptised in Wramplingham Church on 6 June 1886 by the Rev Edward Cavalier. His father, Robert, was a carpenter.

John enlisted in the 8th Battalion of the Norfolk Regiment in Wisbech. The 8th Battalion came under orders of the 53rd Brigade in the 18th (Eastern) Division and was active in the Battle of the Somme from July to November 1916. John was killed in action on 21 October 1916 aged 30 and has no known grave. The 18th Division fought in the Battle of the Ancre Heights between 1 October and 11 November 1916 and played an important part in the capture of the Schwaben Redoubt and in the capture of Regina Trench. It is likely that John was killed during this battle.

John is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial in the Somme and on the Wramplingham War Memorial.

Thiepval Memorial, France