Lt. Francis Eckley Oakeley - Rugby

liverpool annie · May 10, 2009

In Memory of
Lieutenant FRANCIS ECKLEY OAKELEY

H.M. S/M "D2", Royal Navy
who died age 23
on 01 December 1914
Son of the late Rev. James and Frances Elizabeth Oakeley, of Hereford.

Remembered with honour
PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL

HMS D2 was a British D class submarine built by Vickers, Barrow - D2 was laid down on 10 July 1909 and was commissioned on 29 March 1911.

During her career, D2 returned from the second Heligoland Bight patrol along with D3, E5 and E7. Then on the 28 August 1914, D2 along with D3 and D8 fought in the Battle of Heligoland Bight. Then, 2 days before D2 met her fate, Lt Cdr Jameson was washed overboard off Harwich. Lt Cdr Head was his replacement.

D2 met her fate on the 25 November 1914. She was rammed and sunk by a German Patrol boat off Borkum leaving no survivors.

http://www.maritimequest.com/warship_directory/great_britain/submarines/pages/d_class/d_2_page_1.htm

In memory of those who lost their lives on the HMS D-2 November 1914
"Heroes all of them"

http://www.maritimequest.com/warshi...bmarines/pages/d_class/d_2_roll_of_honour.htm

The day a sporting light was cruelly snuffed out

Hereford Cathedral School stages special days when it remembers former pupils who give their names to its houses. They were killed in the First World War and here, Nigel Heins recalls one such hero - Francis Eckley Oakeley.

Known as the "Warrior Sportsman", Francis Eckley Oakeley played scrum-half for England in the last international to be played in Britain before the horrors of the First World War - the ex-Cathedral School lad helped his country to a narrow victory by 16 points to 15 against Scotland at Inverleith.

It gave them the Championship and the Triple Crown for the second successive season.

Oakeley's stirring efforts on lush playing fields were followed by deeds in oceans deep - and death - the outstanding sportsman - he was as brilliant at fencing as he was at rugby - died in Submarine D2 in the winter of 1914.

Lieut Oakeley was born on February 3, 1891, the 5th son of the Vicar of Holy Trinity, the Rev James Oakeley, and his wife, Frances, who was descended from the Eckleys of Credenhill Park.

After leaving the Cathedral School, he attended the Osborne and Dartmouth Royal Naval Colleges. He was one of a batch of cadets entered under what was described as "the new scheme" and passed out from Dartmouth in 1908 - his naval career progressed rapidly in tandem with his success on the rugby field. He represented the Royal Navy and the United Services and was capped by England three times.

But the bright star of sport was destined to be snuffed out and his demise in the cruel sea is described by Edwin Gray in his book A Damned Un-English Weapon.

"On November 23 while the submarine was running on the surface in heavy seas, a wave washed her commanding officer, Lieut-Cdr Jameson, overboard - the traditional shout went up and Lieut Oakeley, D2's Second-in-Command, dashed to the conning tower to take over.

The submarine swung around and the men leaning over the conning tower stared out through the gale-driven rain for their captain. But they knew that it was impossible for anyone to survive in those wild seas and, after two hours, the search was called off.
Oakeley brought the submarine back to Harwich and reported the sad news of Jameson's loss to his Flotilla Commander at Maidstone.
The very next day D2 left Harwich for another patrol and, as the submarine glided slowly past Maidstone her new commanding officer, Lieut-Cdr Head, raised his hand in salute.
D2 was never seen again. She vanished somewhere in the North Sea and no evidence was found to indicate her fate."

A wonderful tribute to Oakeley was paid in an article under the headline "Warrior Sportsman" in the Windsor Magazine - it stated: "Oakeley's was a beautiful character - indeed his features told one as much - and when his shipmates and clubmates used to chaff him about his saintlike expression, they knew the meaning of what they said."

A brother officer who shared his room on the occasion of some big match recounted - "Last year a great friend of Oakeley's was lost on board the submarine that went down off Plymouth. Oakeley took it absolutely fearlessly and quietly, said my friend, but he was on his knees for over an hour that night before he turned in and he was not asking that he might be spared a similar death.

"But it was all simply to the end that the men might be spared the agonies of a lingering death. No wonder the men all loved him .... he was a fine boy and a very fine gentleman. In this brief peep into the intimate life of one of our leading rugby men - a lad who had a few hours before been applauded for his straight and plucky play on a football field - we are permitted to see the finest type of man breathing - that simple, plain, honest being, the British officer."
Click to expand...

http://www.herefordtimes.com/search/848967.The_day_a_sporting_light_was_cruelly_snuffed_out__/

Dolphin · May 10, 2009

Oakeley, Francis Eckley played for England

Internationals: 4 : 1913 S+ ; 1914 I+ S+ F+

Francis Oakeley was born on 5 February 1891, Hereford, son of Reverend James and Francis Elizabeth Oakeley.

Played as a Scrum half for: Hereford School, Eastman’s School, Royal Naval College Osborne, Royal Naval College Dartmouth, United Services Portsmouth, Royal Navy

Profession: Royal Navy; he joined HMS London as a Midshipman in 1908; Served in HMS Invincible, HMS Temeraire, HMS Warrior and HMS Ure. Promoted Lieutenant.

Remarks: Played for the Officers of the Royal Navy v the Officers of the Army in 1911 (22-13), 1912 (16-8), 1913 (18-8) and 1914 (14-26).

War service: Lieutenant, Royal Navy; HM Submarine D.2. “On 23 November while the submarine was running on the surface in heavy seas, a wave washed her commanding officer Lt-Cdr Jameson, overboard. The traditional shout went up and Lt Oakeley, D.2’s second-in-command, dashed to the conning tower to take over. The submarine swung around and the men leaning over the conning tower combing stared out through the gale-driven rain for their captain. But they knew that it was impossible for anyone to survive in those wild seas and, after two hours, the search was called off. Oakeley brought the submarine back to Harwich and reported the sad news of Jameson’s loss to his Flotilla Commander on Maidstone.

The very next day D.2 left Harwich for another patrol and, as the submarine glided slowly past Maidstone her new commanding officer, Lt-Cdr Head, raised his hand in salute. D.2 was never seen again. She vanished somewhere in the North Sea and no evidence was found to indicate her fate”. (A Damned Un-English Weapon) He was killed in action on between 25 November and 1 December 1914, and is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire, England [Panel 1].

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