John Thomas Oborne

Story:
John Thomas Oborne was born on 10th March, 1883, in Shaftesbury and baptised at Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury, on 16th May, 1884. He was the son of Frederick Oborne, a Mail Cart Driver, and Elizabeth Oborne (née Roberts). By 1901 John had left home and was working as a Labourer in St. Marylebone, London. He was married on 5th September, 1903 to Emily Phillips in the Paddington Registry Area, London. At the time of the 1911 Census he was working as a Road Labourer and living at 23 Aynhoe Road, Brook Green, Hammersmith, London. His parents meantime were living at Poor Yard, Shaftesbury. His father died in 1912. He enlisted in Hammersmith, London, on 13th June 1916 as a Rifleman with the 12th Battalion of the Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own) (Service No. S/21923). By that time his wife was living at 6 Bircham Mews, Blythe Road, Hammersmith. He served in France & Flanders on 19 Jun 1917 and joined his battalion in the field. He went missing presumed killed on 17th Aug 1917 a mere two months after his arrival at the front. He has no known grave thus his name appears on the Tyne Cot Memorial (Panels 145 to 147). He was later awarded the Victory and British War Medals. He is also remembered on the St. James' War Memorial and on the Roll of Honour in St. James' Church, Shaftesbury. His wife received a widow's pension the equivalent of £1.43p. per week for herself and her four children with effect from 25th February 1918.