Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Donald Straker Oscroft

12/04/1908 –10/02/1944

Science teacher at Berkhamsted School

Relatives

Margaret Forbes Oscroft — wife

• Melanie Hilton

Plot 342 Donald Straker Oscroft (1908-1944)

Donald was born 12 April 1908 at 13, Bisham Gardens, Highgate, London, the son of schoolmaster Percy William and his wife Kate Heatley Oscroft. He was the second of their three sons.

By 1910 his father was an assistant master at Uppingham School, a public school in Rutland and the family was well-off enough to afford a live-in cook and housemaid.

In 1921 Donald was a boarder at Uppingham.

In September 1926 Donald, aged 18, found himself up in front of the magistrates along with his brother John who pleaded guilty to driving a motor car without a licence. Donald pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting. They were both fined 10s. (£25 in 2024).

Donald was an accomplished cricketer playing for Leicestershire  from 1928 to 1934. He appeared in five first class matches as a righthanded batsman who bowled right arm medium pace. He scored 105 runs with a highest score of 50.

In 1930 Donald was living with his parents in Uppingham.

In 27 January 1931 The London Gazette, under the heading “Officers Training Corps”, listed “Donald Straker Oscroft (late Cadet Under Offr., Uppingham Sch. Contgt., Jun. Div.) to be 2^nd Lt. for serv. with Berkhamsted Sch. Contgt., Jun. Div. 1^st Jan 1931.”

Donald became science master at Berkhamsted School, a position he held for five years.

By 1934 he had joined the Territorial Army.

6 August 1936 The Yorkshire Evening Post, reporting on the marriage of the “head-master elect of York School” at Berkhamsted School Chapel, noted that the best man was Mr Donald Straker Osgood of Loretto School. This is a public school in Musselburgh in East Lothian.

Donald married Margaret Forbes Milne, the daughter of Berkhamsted Schools music master,  on 10th April 1937. The wedding was celebrated in the school’s chapel. Amongst those invited were James William Moir,  a teacher at Berkhamsted School, his wife and their son Guthrie. Correspondence between James and Guthrie suggests that James did not hold Donald in high esteem. 

Donald died 19 February 1944 aged 35 at Milltimber, Aberdeenshire. His residence was given in the probate grant as 5, Hollybush Gardens, Musselburgh, Midlothian. He left £3,723 (£140,000 in 2024).

Margaret survived him until 1984 and is buried with him here.

Margaret Forbes Oscroft

03/02/1916 –17/10/1984

Daughter of Music teacher John Milne and wife of Donald Oscroft

Relatives

Donald Straker Oscroft — husband

• Melanie Hilton

Plot 342 Margaret Forbes Oscroft (née Milne) (1916-1984)

Margaret was born 3 February 1916 in Dundee to Alfred F and Agnes Gibb Milne, the third of their four children. Her father was music master at Dundee High School until 1917 and then from 1919-1920 at Caterham School in Surrey.

In 1920 her father became Director of Music at Berkhamsted School. He was an organist and Professor, Royal Academy of Music.

In 1921 their address was “Strathere”, Charles Street, and five year old Margaret, her older brother John and younger brother Alfred were living with their parents and a live-in domestic servant.

In 1937 Margaret married Donald A Straker Osborn, who had been the science master at the school but by 1936 was teaching at Loretto School in Scotland.

In the 1939 Register Margaret shown living with her parents at 1, Charles Street, Berkhamsted. Donald’s whereabouts have not been traced. He died 19 February 1944 at Milltimber, Aberdeenshire. His residence was given in the probate grant as 5, Hollybush Gardens, Musselburgh, Midlothian. He is buried here.

Margaret appears to have remained in Berkhamsted where her father died in 1953.

She died 17 October 1984.