Date of Birth: 1893.
Place of Birth: Southampton
Service Number: 14503
Regiment: Mercantile Marine
Rank: Gunner
Ship: H.MS. Valiant
Died: 1917
Death Location: Hampshire.
Life Before The War
Oscar was born on 10th November 1893 in Southampton, he was the son of James and Fanny Gear . His father was born in 1858 in Winchester Hampshire, he died aged 80 in 1938 in Southampton, he was a self employed Bill Poster. His mother Fanny was born in 1861 in Romsey. Hampshire she died aged 87 in 1948 in Winchester Hampshire.
They lived at 69 Earl’s Road.Bevois Valley. Southampton.
Oscar had 7 sisters :- Annie Louise b1879, Maud b1888, Violet b1890, Elisabeth Sarah b 1880 – d1906, Dorothy b1896,Norrah b 1899 and Lily b 1904 and 4 brothers Edward b 1883, William b1885, Arthur b1892 and Boyd b1897.
In the census of 1891 the family were registered at Four post Hill. In the census of 1901 32 Lawn Road and in 1911 49 Empress Road, Oscar was working as a house Decorator.
Service History
Oscar joined the Mercantile Marine Artillery Service and served as a Gunner, he was attached to H.M.S.Valiant.
He died of desease in Haslar Royal Naval Hospital on 25th July 1917 he was aged 23.
He is remembered in the Haslar Royal Naval Cemetary in grave E27.20
Researched by Shaun Connolly 2014.
