WASSELL, Samuel

Samuel Wassell was the son of William and Ellen Wassell of 56 Chapel Street, Lye, He enlisted in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment but was transferred to the 8th Battalion of the Berkshires. This battalion in the 18th Division was facing the Hindenburg Line in Match 1918 and suffered heavily during the first German Spring offensive. However, four months later the Berkshires took part in the astonishing Advance to Victory starting on the 22 August. Against a still determined enemy they fought back over the old Somme battlefield, taking Albert, the great La Boisselle crater, Ovillers and eventually on the 28th Trones Wood. This last attack started at 4.55 a.m. but the wood concealed an enemy force where none was expected. The Berkshires suffered casualties and among the wounded was Private Samuel Wassell. He was taken to a Casualty Clearing Station but died of wounds. He is buried in Daours Communal Cemetery Extension (VII B 11). He was 19 years of age and is commemorated on the Lye and Wollescote and Lye church Memorials.