Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Fanny Sophia Casterton a charwoman, born 1863 in Langham, Rutland. John Thomas was born on the 6th June 1884 in Langham, Rutland, he had one sibling, a sister, Sarah Mantle, born 1887 in Langham, Rutland, in April 1891 he was residing at Brewery Building, Burley Road, Langham, Rutland, this being the family home of his maternal grandparents, John Casterton an agricultural labourer, born 1819 in Exton, Rutland and his wife Mary Casterton ( nee Sharpe, married in the 3rd quarter of 1868 in the Oakham, Rutland district), born 1822 in Langham, Rutland. In March 1901 John was employed as a domestic gardener’s labourer and was residing in the family home at Brewers Buildings, Burley Road, Langham, Rutland, together with his mother, now a laundress and his sister Sarah. In April 1911 John was employed as a domestic gardener and was residing in the family home at Langham, Rutland, together with his mother. Prior to enlistment he was a gardener in the employ of Lord Ranksborough, and had been a member of the Territorial Force since its formation, additionally he was an assistant scoutmaster and also a bell ringer. Mobilising with the Territorials he embarked for France on the 26th February 1915, and was killed in action at the Hohenzollern Redoubt. In a letter to Mrs Casterton offering her the deepest sympathy in her loss, Lord Ranksborough wrote:- “He has given his life for his country, and that is the finest death a man can die. I am sure you must feel proud of him, and of the way he always did his duty. We were very sorry to lose him from the garden here, but he showed the right spirit in joining the army.” Captain Beasley, who formerly commanded Sergeant Casterton’s Company, also wrote in the highest terms of him.
John attested into the Territorial Force to serve 4 years Service in the United Kingdom on the 25th May 1908 in Oakham, Rutland. He gave his place of birth as Langham, Oakham, Rutland, his age as 23 years and 11 months and his trade or calling as gardener, his present employer being General Brocklehurst. He gave his present place of residence as Langham, Rutland. He confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his mother, Fanny Casterton of Langham, Oakham as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 6 foot and ½ inch in height, weighed 182 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 35 and 37¾ inches. His vision and physical development were described as good. He was pronounced fit for the Territorial Force on the 25th May 1908 in Oakham, Rutland. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 8065 on the 25/5/08. Posted to the 5th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment and commenced preliminary training on the 25/5/08. Attended annual training at Garendon Camp on the 2/8/08 – 9/8/08. Attended annual training at -?- on the 1/8/09 – 15/8/09. Attended annual training at Hindlow on the 31/7/10 – 14/8/10. Attended annual training at High Tor on the 6/8/11 – 20/8/11. Promoted Corporal on the 8/5/12. Attended annual training at Aberystwyth on the 4/8/12 – 18/8/12. Mobilised on the 5/8/14. Promoted Sergeant on the 4/9/14. Embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 26/2/15. Disembarked at St. Nazaire on the 27/2/15. Admitted to hospital, sick, in the field on the 7/6/15. Returned to duty in the field on the 15/6/15. Killed in action in the field on the 13/10/15. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 25/5/08 – 27/2/15, 6 years 279 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 28/2/15 – 13/10/15, 228 days. Total service 7 years 142 days. John was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British and Victory medals. John’s mother wrote the following letter to the Officer in Charge, Territorial Force Records, Lichfield, in February 1916: Dear Sir, I beg to acknowledge the receipt of my son 8065 Sergt J. T. Casterton’s diary, brush and comb, soap box, cards in a tin box, I am sorry there’s no will, as he made one and kept it in his pay book, if there is one found would you please forward it to me, I oblige. Yours Respectfully F. Casterton, 8, Brewery Buildings, Langham, Oakham, Rutland. The following information was provided by John’s mother F. S. Casterton on the 30th June 1919, and was witnessed and signed by W. -?-, Vicar C of E., Langham Vicarage, Oakham on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Mother of soldier, Fanny Sophia Casterton. Full blood sister of soldier, Sarah Mantle Casterton, age 31 of Bankwood, Driffield, Nr. Derby. John’s surviving service documents are in a poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 13 Oct-15 - At 6.00am Battn in place in RESERVE trench. At 12.00 noon bombardment of enemy trench FOSSE 8 commenced. At 1.00pm smoke and gas turned on until 1.50pm. At 2.00pm assault. 5th Battn LINCOLNSHIRE REGT and 4th Battn LEICESTERSHIRE REGT advanced in lines of platoon at 50 paces distance against HOHENZOLLERN REDOUBT. 4th Battn LINCOLNSHIRE REGT attacked from 2nd line followed by the MONMOUTHSHIRE REGT. REDOUBT captured but lines checked and stopped by machine gun fire from MAD POINT, MADAGASCAR, and SOUTH FACE, also heavy rifle fire FOSSE and DUMP TRENCH. First two lines as almost all Coy officers became casualties. REDOUBT and half of NORTH FACE was held – LITTLE WILLIE and BIG WILLIE still in enemy hands. At 3.00pm B Coy sent up to reinforce centre and left of REDOUBT followed by A and part of D Coy’s. Machine guns in position along original front line now held by C Coy and parts of other regiments. Considerable progress made along LITTLE WILLIE by grenade party under Lt C. H. F. WOLLASTON. Ground lost again owing to lack of grenades. At 5.30pm ground now held consisted of front face of REDOUBT and up to LITTLE WILLIE and point 60. Remainder of REDOUBT untenable by either side. 138th Brigade relieved gradually by 139th Brigade. 138th Brigade hold original front line trench. Many of A and B Coy’s still remained in the REDOUBT during the whole of next day.
On Friday November 5th 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” - LANGHAM TERRITORIAL KILLED. News has been received by his mother at Langham that Sergt. J. T. Casterton, 5th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, was killed in action on October 13th.