Francis Oats, born 1848, died 1918. A well-known mining engineer in Cornwall and South Africa, who was a part of the Kimberley Town Guard.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Oats
Francis Freathy Oats, born in Kimberley, 1879 or 1880, died 1954.
....ANOTHER BRAVE ST. JUST LAD.—About a month ago Mr. Francis Frethey Oats, the eldest son of Capt. Frank Oats, so well-known at St. Just and elsewhere, left by the Union liner Moor for South Africa, intending to join his father at Kimberley. He apparently got as far as De Aar, and, being unable to proceed further north, he has joined the Imperial forces and gone to the front at that spot. His uncle, Mr. Henry Oats, of St. Just, received a cablegram to this effect last week.
The Cornishman, Thursday 30th November 1899
....PROMOTION OF A ST. JUST MAN AT THE FRONT.—Mr. Freethy Oats, son of Capt. Frank Oats, has been appointed a lieutenant in the South African light horse, and is now at Chieveley camp.
The Cornishman, Thursday 11th January 1900
BASSET MINES.
....Shareholders met on Tuesday. . . . . Three cheers were given for Mr. Francis Oats, one of the directors, who was in Kimberley during the siege, and it was decided to cable him the congratulations of the shareholders.
The Cornishman, Thursday 15th March 1900
....Capt. Francis Oats returned to his native place, St. Just, on Sunday morning, from South Africa, and stays at 4, Market-place.
The Cornishman, Thursday 4th April 1901
CAPT. FRANK OATS AS A DIAMOND MINER.
....Mr. Francis Oats, of Kimberley, and son, returned to George-town, British Guiana, by the Bartica steamer on July 22nd. During the time they have been in the interior they have made extensive surveys, and, it is stated, have formed a favourable view of the capabilities of the Mazaruni as a diamond-producing district. Mr. Oats and son's visit to the Mazaruni was made in connection with the British Guiana diamond syndicate's concession in that river, but their operations have extended over a vast area of country. "Mr. Francis Oats refused to furnish information regarding his visit to the interior to the Press," says the Demerara Daily Chronicle, "but it is an open secret that he has entered into several provisional agreements."
The Cornishman, Thursday 22nd August 1901
....Captain Frank Oats, member of the Cape Colony Legislature, a director of De Beers, and the largest shareholder in Levant and Basset mines, has arrived home from South Africa. Captain Oats was at one time manager of Botallack mine, and made a large fortune in Kimberiey diamond mines. He is largely interested in the Namaqua copper mines, in an asbestos mine on the Continent, and in gold mines in Rhodesia. But for his pluck and resources it is certain that Basset Mines (Limited) would long since have closed down, and it is possible that even Levant might not have pulled through the period of greatest depression. Captain Oats has twice been elected to the Cape Parliament, and he passed through the siege of Kimberley, having got in with the late Mr. Cecil Rhodes in time to share the troubles of the invested town. His eldest son. Mr. Freethy Oats, attempted to join his father, but only arrived in time to find the Boers had cut off all communication with Kimberley. With true Cornish pluck he then volunteered for active service, and formed part of the relief force which relieved the diamond town. Captain Oats would probably have long since aspired to Parliamentary honours in connection with his native county (he hails from St. Just) but for the fact that he has such huge financial and mining interests in South Africa.
The Cornishman, Thursday 25th August 1904 
