WASSELL, Thomas Henry

Thomas Henry Wassell was the son of Arthur and Edna Wassell of 64 Waste Bank, Lye, and attended Wollescote school. He enlisted in the Berkshires and went to the 8th Battalion. The Spring of 1918 provided a fearful test for the young British troops as the first German Spring offensive was launched on the 21st March. The Berkshires in the 18th Division were in the forward area near St Quentin facing the Hindenburg Line and were driven back over the old Somme Battlefield towards Amiens. However, four months later the Berkshires took part in the astonishing Advance to Victory which started on the 22nd August. Against a still determined enemy they fought back over the same Somme battlefield, taking Albert, the great La Boisselle crater, Ovillers and Trones Wood. In September they were in the front line again in the approach to the Hindenburg Line. The higher ground overlooking the Line had to be taken before any assault and the task of the Berkshires was to capture Epéhy, Lempire and Ronssoy. The villages were won but Private Thomas Henry Wassell was killed in action. He was 20 years of age and is commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois, Lye and Wollescote, Lye church and Wollescote school Memorials.