William Oldman was born in Newton Flotman on 1 April 1866. His parents were Henry and Maria (nee Simmons) Oldman. His father was a labourer. He came from a large family of nine children. Two of whom died.
His siblings were
Frederick born 1861
George born 1868
John born1870
Robert born 1873
Mary Ann born 1875
James born 1876
He was baptised in Newton Flotman Church on 17 June 1866.
In 1871 the family lived in a cottage near the Turnpike in Newton Flotman. The family continued to live in Newton Flotman and in 1881 were living in the Street.
On 26 November 1884 he enlisted with the Royal Marine Light Infantry, Plymouth Division. He was 18 years old. His service number was 31582
He was 5 feet 6 inches tall with a fresh complexion, light coloured hair and grey eyes. When he left the Marines 12 years later he was an inch taller and had a tattoo of a soldier’s bust with a helmet on his right forearm.
He served on several ships as well as being based on occasions in Plymouth
In 1891 he was a patient in the Royal Naval Hospital, East Stonehouse, Devon. It is not known why he was in hospital.
He left the Royal Marines on 26 November 1896 after serving 12 years. He returned to Norfolk.
On 18 December 1900 he married Florence Maud Dann in Newton Flotman church. She was born 6 October 1881. She was 19 years old. His age on the marriage register is given as 26 years but in fact he was 34 years old.
In 1901 they lived in a cottage in Front Street, Newton Flotman Their son Arthur William was born on 1 January 1901.
By 1911 the family were living in a cottage on the Turnpike in Saxlingham Thorpe. He was working as a labourer.
William and Florence went on to have a large family.
Arthur William born 1 January 1901
Annie Myrian born1902
Winifred Helen born 1903 died 1912
Elsie Alice born 28 February 1904
Tom born 1 April 1905
Charles George born 2 December 1908
Robert Henry born 25 May 1911
William born 6 June 1914
Frederick J born October 1918 died December 1918
Jack born 1922
William enlisted on 8 April 1915 into the army. It is thought that he was with the 4th or 5th Norfolk Regiment as his name is on a list in the Church Records next to two men who served in the above regiments. His service records have not survived. At the time of enlisting he was 49 years old and did not serve abroad as he did not receive any medals.
On 1 April 1918 he transferred to the RAF/RFC. His service number was 186126. He was discharged on 30 April 1920.
He returned to live in Saxlingham Thorpe.
In 1939 he was living with Florence and some of his children in a cottage on the Turnpike, Saxlingham Thorpe. The entry in the register describes him as being a retired well sinker labourer.
He died on 28 November 1949 in Saxlingham Thorpe. Florence died 10 January 1969.
Acknowledgements
England & Wales, Birth, marriage, death index 1837-2005
UK Census Collection
1939 Register- www.findmypast.co.uk
Norfolk Electoral Rolls-Southern Division Saxlingham Nethergate and Thorpe, (Absent Voters Lists 1918-1920)
Royal Marine Service records. National Archives
Norfolk, Church of England Diocesan Baptismal and Marriage Records, Newton Flotman
www.fold3.com RAF records.
Oldman Family Tree www.ancestry.co.uk
If anyone has any photographs or information about this person, please contact me. Email jan@janmfox.co.uk