Private 6958 Oswald Peters, 2 Bn King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. DoW 8 April 1915, Menin Gate, Ypres (unknown). (BCA ?PERM)
BORN – Oswestry
HOMEFRONT – Place / Occupations / St Oswald’s Church
JOB – Gardener
UNIT – 2 Bn King’s Shropshire Light Infantry
RANK – Private 6958
THEATRE – Ypres / Polygon Wood. 2Bn King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. April 1915.
DIED – DoW 8 April 1915, Aged 42
COMMEMORATED – Menin Gate, Ypres (grave unknown) (CWGC)
Oswald Peters was born in Oswestry in 1872 and first lived on Chapel Street and later on Swan Crescent. His father, Edward, died in October 1872 when he was a baby. His mother, Sarah, remarried to Thomas Adams, a painter and glazier, in 1875. Oswald was brought up with his four step brothers and sisters. As a teenager he spent six months in Salop Asylum between 10 Sept 1889 and 24 Feb 1890. He was discharged as recovered. He joined the regular army, on 18 December 1891, serving with the 4 Dragoon Guards. He would go on to serve for 13 years, much of it in India. From military records he was invalided out in March 1902 at Rawalpindi, India as ‘insane’. He then seems to have returned home to Oswestry and worked as a gardener living with his widowed mother, Sarah, and step siblings Annie, David and three of Sarah’s grand children – the other siblings were now married and living at Vine Cottages and on Albert Road. In Oswestry he had also registered on the National Army Reserve list.
He was mobilised in August 1914 and joined 3 Bn KSLI Reserves going over to France on 18 February 1915 and being posted to 2 Bn KSLI. He joined the battalion on 22 February at Westoutre. At the beginning of April 1915 2 Bn KSLI were in billets at Reninghelst near to Poperinghe. On 7 April they moved up to the front line at Polygon Wood in the centre of the Ypres Salient. Oswald was KIA the next day 8 April 1915. His officer, Lieutenant LJB Lloyd* (CWGC) wrote to his home that he had been shot in the head, became unconscious and died shortly afterwards, suffering no pain.
His grave is unknown and he is commemorated on the Menin Gate, Ypres. He is also commemorated on the war memorial at St Oswald’s Church, Oswestry. He was awarded the three medals – British War Medal, Victory Medal and 15 Star. The medals were, however, either unclaimed or returned. They were broken up under Kings Regulations Para 992.
KIA a few days later was Private 6699 RH Cooper, 2Bn KSLI.
His half brothers also served – John, Thomas and David Adams in the KSLI and Charles in the Welsh Regiment. John was discharged in 1915 because of problems with dental caries, David and Charles were both wounded but survived the war, as did Thomas.
* Lieut. LJB Lloyd was wounded at the same time but returned to duty – on 27 April he was reported missing, KIA during Battle of St Julien, First Ypres. (CWGC gives KIA 25 April 1915).
Acknowledgements.
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