CASSERLEY, John Herbert

Herbert Casserley was born in Smethwick and was a former member of the Brierley Hill Wesleyan Sunday School. He volunteered for the Worcesters and joined the 10th (Service) Battalion. After training they were posted to the 19th Division and sent to the Western Front in July 1915. After an introduction to trench warfare the Division were involved in the first day of the Battle of Loos on the 25th September. It was the biggest attack of the British army to that date but the Worcesters were kept in reserve. They returned to the trenches which were relatively quiet in November. However, snipers and shell-fire caused casualties, one of whom was Private Herbert Casserley. He died of wounds on the 18th and is buried in Le Touret Military Cemetery (3 B 25) and commemorated on the Brierley Hill and Brierley Hill church Memorials.