WESTON, Thomas

Thomas Weston lived at 72 Enville Street, Stourbridge, and was the son of George Weston and Alice Price. His mother died before he was 10 and his father, a labourer in a local ironworks a short time later. He was adopted by an uncle and aunt, James and Emily Weston, and lived at 72 Park Street, and was a member of the Wesleyan Methodists. He enlisted in the 10th Worcesters in 1916 and endured the Battle of the Somme in 1916 and Passchendaele in 1917. In 1918 he survived the first German offensive of the 21st March 1918 when the battalion was forced into a long retreat. It was then transferred to the front line south of Ypres only to face the second great German offensive on the Lys. The troops were driven back from the Messines Ridge and on the 14th April were holding Neuve Eglise. In the attempt to halt the next German attack Private Thomas Weston was one of many Worcesters who were killed in action on the 16th April. He was 20 years of age and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot, Stourbridge, St. Thomas's church and Methodist church Memorials. His four brothers were also on active service. Ernest was in the RAMC and taken prisoner in 1918. Arthur was in the Royal Engineers and awarded the MM. William and Albert were in the Worcesters and both were wounded. It was a remarkable record of family service.