South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

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The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One


Private 9887 Bertie Thomas ASTELL - 1st Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment

Killed in action on Sunday 25th April 1915 aged 36


Military History

     
Theatre of War Campaign Medals Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France & Flanders 1914-15 Star, British War & Victory Medals Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial
     
Arrived in Theatre Other Campaign Medals SWFHS Area Memorials
24 Mar 1915 in France King's South Africa Medal Leamington Spa War Memorial
    Leamington All Saints Memorial
Action, Battle or Other Reason Died Date and Place Enlisted Leamington Spa Oddfellows Memorial 
Battle of Julien (2nd Battle of Ypres) 10 Mar 1900 in Coventry   
     
Place of Death Previous Regiments or Units Other War Memorials
Vielje ~
     

Military Service History

  • 10 Mar 1900 - Enlisted in Royal Warwickshire Regiment (Depot Bn)
  • 06 Feb 1901 - Transferred to 2nd Battalion
  • 16 Mar 1901 - Posted to South Africa
  • 28 May 1902 - Discharged from Army

Circumstances of Death

Bertie is listed as being killed in action on 25 Apr 1915 during the British attack on Vielje. The 1st Battalion war diary entries for the period 24th to 26th April 1915 are transcribed below.

24th April 1915 - Locre: Left Locre at 7am & marched to Oudgrdon? and went into billets in huts about 12 noon. Brigade came up & orders were received to advance at 4pm via Vlamertinghe & halted outside Ypres from 8pm to 12mn. Started to rain. Ypres was heavily shelling and on fire.

25th April 1915 - Vielje: Left Ypres at 12mn for Vielje where orders were received for the attack. The Brigade attacked at 4.30am. We attacked the wood on the left of the line with 7th A&S Highlanders in support. The Seaforth Highlanders, R Irish Fus and R Dublin Fus attacked on our right on St. Julien. Owing to the German Trenches being insufficiently shelled and supports unable to come up the line retired at about 7am to trenches near the farm and consolidated our position. Our casualties were very heavy 17 officers and 500 other ranks killed, wounded and missing.

26th April 1915 - Vielje: Heavy gunfire all day. About 2.30pm the Northumberland Division attacked St. Julien without success. We opened supporting fire from our trenches. The Lahore Division attacked on our left but gained very little ground being stopped by gas.


 
 Personal & Family History

 

Birth Date/Place Baptism Date/Place
Jul Qtr 1880 in Leamington Spa  
   
Parents Names Abode
William and Mary Ann Astell  7 Portland Row, Leamington Spa
   
Wife and Marriage Details Children
Edith Mary Astell nee Gallagher May; William; Beatrice; Percy & Albert
Jan Qtr 1905 in Leamington Spa   
   
Schools Colleges
Portland Street, Wesleyan School ~
   
Address History Employment History
1881 - 7 Portland Row, Leamington Spa  1891 - Scholar
1891 -7 Portland Row, Leamington Spa  1900 - Labourer
1901 - South Africa with Royal Warwicks  1901 - Soldier in Royal Warwickshire Regt 
1911 - 4 St Lukes Cottages, Leamington  1911 - Slaters labourer
1915 - 6 Augusta Place, Leamington Spa