ASTON, Joseph

Joseph Aston was the son of John and Margaret Aston who lived in Stourbridge Road, Lye. He moved to Highley in Shropshire, possibly in connexion with work in the coal mines, and was living there at the outbreak of war. He enlisted in the King's Shropshire Light Infantry but was transferred to the 8th Battalion of the South Lancashire Regiment in the 25th Division. They served on the Western Front and were in reserve for the first day of the Battle of the Somme. On the 3rd July they attacked at Aveluy Wood in the direction of Thiepval but lost heavily in casualties. Further attacks on Ovillers and the Thiepval spur saw slow progress. After a period out of the line they returned on the 26th September. Thiepval had at last been captured but German counter-attacks were powerful. Private Joseph Aston was killed in action on the 1st October. He was 39 years of age and is commemorated on the Thiepval, Lye and Wollescote and Lye church Memorials and on his parents' grave in Oldswinford cemetery.