Richard Oxley

Bank: London County & Westminster Bank

Place of work: Arundel branch

Died: 18 April 1918 

Richard Stephen Oxley was born in St Leonards-on-Sea on 30 December 1895, the son of Percy Hunter Oxley and his wife Bertha. He was educated at Margate College and Hastings Grammar School. On his 17th birthday in 1912 he went to work for London County & Westminster Bank.

Outside work Oxley was a territorial soldier, a Private in the London Regiment. He was mobilised at the outbreak of war in 1914, leaving his job at the bank's Arundel branch to go on active service. He served on the east coast of England until March 1915, when he was discharged as medically unfit. In June that year, following an operation, Oxley was able to re-enlist, this time joining the Honourable Artillery Company. In 1917 he was awarded both the Military Medal and the Italian Bronze Medal. In February 1918 he was commissioned into the Royal Sussex Regiment with the rank of Second Lieutenant. Oxley was killed in action near Wytschaete, Belgium, on 18 April 1918. He was 22 years old.