WASSALL, Christopher

Christopher Wassall was the son of Albert and Phoebe Wassall of ‘The Beeches’ at Norton. He volunteered for the 1/8th (Aston) Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment who were partly recruited in Stourbridge. The battalion was part of the 48th (South Midland) Division, which also included the Worcester Territorials. They crossed to France on 1st April 1915 and were stationed in a quiet sector of the Somme to gain experience. By June 1916 they were in position for the Battle of the Somme. On the 1st July the 48th were in the second wave in the attempt to cross the river Ancre, attack up its steep banks and take the Thiepval ridge. As the first troops went over the top at 7.30, the Warwicks moved forward to take their places for the 9.30 advance but, because of the disaster which befell the first wave, they did not continue. Instead, they were moved to help the neighbouring 34th Division which had attacked La Boisselle. In this way the 1/8th joined the attack on this notorious first day of the Somme. They advanced bravely at La Boisselle but were caught in the open ground by numerous well sited German machine guns. The casualties were huge, with 137 men killed in action. These included Lance Corporal Christopher Wassall who was 24 years of age and is commemorated on the Thiepval, Stourbridge, Oldswinford church and Wollaston Memorials.