Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Charles Albert Astill, a railway engine driver, born 1866 in Wolvey, Warwickshire and his wife Eliza Harrison Astill (nee Harrison, married in the 1st quarter of 1886 in the Hinckley, Leicestershire district), born on the 28th February 1863 in Ryton, Warwickshire. Thomas Albert was born in the 2nd quarter of 1888 in Wolvey, his siblings were, Walter Astill Harrison, a schoolboy, born in the 2nd quarter of 1885 and George William, a schoolboy, born on the 5th June 1886, the latter two siblings were both born in Wolvey and Mary Ann, born on the 21st February 1891 in Croft, Leicestershire, in April 1891 the family home was at Church Lane, Wolvey. In March 1901 Albert was employed as a farm boy and was residing in the family home at Granite Thorpe, Leicester Road, Sapcote, Leicestershire, together with his father a stone quarry boiler stoker, his mother and siblings, Walter, a stone quarry boy, George, a stone quarry boy, Louisa, born in the 3rd quarter of 1894, Frederick John, born on the 30th June 1898 and Harriet Elizabeth, born on the 19th May 1900, the latter three siblings were all born in Sapcote. In April 1911 Albert was absent from the family home at Granite Thorpe, Leicester Road, Sapcote, residing there was his father, a stone quarry boiler stoker, his mother and siblings, Mary, an unemployed general servant, Frederick, a schoolboy and Harriet, a schoolgirl, also residing with the family was Albert’s nephew, Cyril Astill, born 1911 in Sapcote, Albert was employed as a general servant and was residing as a servant at 12, New Buildings, Hinckley, Leicestershire. Thomas had two younger sisters, Edith Harriet, born in the 4th quarter of 1892 and who died in the 3rd quarter of 1893 and Edith, born in the 3rd quarter of 1905 and who died in the 1st quarter of 1909, aged 3, both siblings were born in Sapcote, his sister Louisa died in the 1st quarter of 1913 in Sapcote, aged 18. Albert married Clara Elizabeth Harrison on the 7th August 1911 in the Parish Church, Chilvers Coton, Warwickshire, Clara was born on the 17th January 1890 in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, they made their family home at 41, Henry Street, Chilvers Coton. Clara and Albert had three children, Albert Thomas, born on the 1st August 1912, Lilian Elizabeth, born on the 24th February 1914 and Doris May, born on the 15th November 1916, all the children were born in Warwickshire.
Albert was born and officially registered at birth with the names Thomas Albert Astill, however it appears that he and the family chose to use the second Christian name of Albert, and as a consequence most of the census returns and other official documents refer to him as Albert or Albert Thomas.
Albert’s Army enlistment documents do not survive, all that is known of his military service is that he enlisted into the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, being allotted the service number 9509, and was posted as a Private to that Regiment’s Depot for training, subsequently being posted to the 1st Battalion and it was to join this Battalion that he first entered the theatre of war in France on the 2nd May 1915 and was posted to “B” Company when he joined the Battalion In the Field. During his service he was promoted to the rank of Acting Sergeant, but nothing further is known of his military service until he was officially recorded as being missing in action on the 3rd May 1917, subsequently being officially presumed as having died on that date. His body was never recovered and he is commemorated on the Arras Memorial to the Missing, Pas de Calais, France. He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Allied Victory Medal.
The War Diary records: 3 May-17 – Ref. Map. 1-10.000. FAMPOUX TRENCHES. I.13.c.5.6 to I.19.a.7.8. Fine day. NARRATIVE OF OPERATIONS attached. Captain G. W. COX – killed. 2nd Lieutenant’s J. H. RUSHTON, D. McLEOD, H. J. KING, C. D. NICHOLLS and F. P. DOLLEY – wounded.
2nd Lieutenant’s J. PARKER, G. S. M. NATHAN, A. H. WILLES and N. R. LOWDER – missing.
APPENDIX II Copy No.1.
Narrative and Diary of Operations 3rd May to 4/5th May 1917.
Reference Map BIACHE (ed. 5E) 1-20,000.
3rd May 12.30am. Reported by Companies that they were formed up in assembly positions.
Advanced Signal Station (telephone and runners) and Observation Post with Intelligence Officer established at junction of front line with Railway Embankment (I.13.c.5.4.).
4.45am. Received a message from Officer Commanding “B” Company reporting 2nd wave held up by Machine Gun fire from shell hole South of CHATEAU.
4.50 to 5.00am. 7 German prisoners of 252nd Regiment came in. I German prisoner of 65th Regiment brought in by one man of “B” Company.
5.15am. Received a message from forward Signal Station by runners (were being “DISS”) timed at 4.45am. “First wave got well away – but were met by Machine Gun fire – “D” Company appeared to have got into 1st German line and houses – Many casualties reported by a wounded man just come in – 2nd wave went well and a wave of 1st ROYAL IRISH FUSILIERS was passing over front line.
7.15am. Forward Signal Post reported, message timed 6.50am. “About 30 men back in original front line with 3 Machine Guns – HOUSEHOLD BATTALION could be seen holding a line roughly in houses near CEMETERY from I.19.b.2.8 to I.19.b.3.6 but were not advancing further – A few ROYAL WARWICKSHIRE REGIMENT on left of H.13 on road – Our left Company being up in front of houses and shell hole North of CHATEAU.
7.20am. Message timed 6.45am received from Officer Commanding “D” Company (left Company) “ Enemy still holds North extremity of CHATEAU and building to North of this – Met heavy Machine Gun fire on going over parapet and suffered many casualties. Captured some prisoners – Which have been sent to the rear – Could not advance further owing to Machine Gun fire and I could only collect 6 men of Company and 2 Machine Guns of 10th MACHINE GUN COMPANY all falling back to original line.” At 7.40am I received a message timed 7.00am from Lieutenant PALMER 10th MACHINE GUN COMPANY confirming above and reporting he was back in original front line – 2 Guns near junction of CORFU and 1 Gun extreme left of front line.
1030am. Received Brigade Message 26, dated 3rd timed 9.30am - -?- sending out patrols to clean up the situation – At about 10.45am I sent an Officers Patrol under 2nd Lieutenant SMITH through CHATEAU grounds and requested Officer Commanding Battalion to send a patrol up CORONA TRENCH.
2nd Lieutenant SMITH reported to me about 12.30pm that he had great difficulty owing to sniping and Machine Gun reached close up to the CHATEAU on South side of wall but could get no further East and could see no troops of ours near the CHATEAU holding out on the road South and East of CHATEAU – The Officer Commanding HOUSEHOLD BATTALION reported similarly and also that CORONA TRENCH about 250 yards from front line stopped and came into the open.
12.00 noon (about). Received a message from Brigade that it was definitely known that some 150 men of the Brigade of all Battalions were consolidating on the Black Line (1st objective).
4.00pm. Message came along that Germans were counter-attacking. - -?- to be a local counter-attack on the portion of the BLACK LINE held by our troops – It was repulsed by our Artillery barrage fire.
5.00pm. About this hour a Sergeant MANSELL returned from the front to say he had been sent back from Officer Commanding “B” Company to gain information and he informed me that very few men were seen by him on the way back.. He had come back from some shell holes just South West of CHATEAU where Officer Commanding “B” Company and a few men were. He returned with a message from me to Officer Commanding “B” Company.
7.00pm. 2nd Lieutenant McLEOD came in wounded and reported that he had come from the BLACK LINE to find out how the situation of other troops were. He was fired on most of the way and got wounded when near the CHATEAU. He crawled in. His statement was that there were about 150 men of LANCASHIRE FUSILIERS, ROYAL WARWICKSHIRE REGIMENT (70) and HOUSEHOLD BATTALION were digging in on 1st objective BLACK LINE but there were no troops between right about (1.14.c.5.0.).
The attack in the morning failed greatly due to the darkness and therefore difficulty of the mopping up Company had in finding the entrances and in CHATEAU and surrounding houses. I also think the moppers were not strong enough in numbers. From what information I could get I think the 1st wave got through to the BLACK LINE and commenced consolidation there and eventually were taken being isolated.
9.00pm. Orders attached marked P received. Orders were issued by me to the Battalion. Vide copy attached Q. The 1st ROYAL IRISH FUSILIERS and 1st ROYAL WARWICKSHIRE REGIMENT started at 11.00pm (the Zero hour) to establish 5 Posts each. HOUSEHOLD BATTALION did not move till 12 midnight and the 12th Brigade did not attack CHATEAU till 3.30am 4th inst.
4th May 1.30am. Officer Commanding ROYAL IRISH FUSILIERS reported they could not get their posts out or as far as ordered owing to the bright moon light and the Machine Gun fire they met with. 4 Posts were eventually established and held between I.19.a.8.4 to I.19.a.9.5.
2.30am. Captain SHIVENS in Command of the Party sent out to establish themselves in TRENCH South of CHATEAU and establish posts East of the ROUEX GRAVELLE Road at this point reported as follows.- He advanced from our front line from junction of CORONA with front line to South wall of CHATEAU in four lines – each line consisting of 20 all ranks – 1st line chiefly Bombers – and as with 3rd line. Immediately the 1st line had got over parapet – very lights were sent up by the Germans and the 3rd and 4th line were not clear of our front line before Machine Gun fire commenced.
2nd Lieutenant DACOMBE who was in Command of 1st line, pushed forward and succeeded in gaining the centre portion of the German trench – This trench had a Machine Gun at CHATEAU end and Bomb Post South end. He was unfortunately quickly bombed out – before the other lines had time to support him – they had had difficulty to get along owing to Machine Gun fire. 2nd Lieutenant DACOMBE then collected the 2nd and 3rd line (the officer with 3rd line had been wounded quite early) and he attacked the trench and again gained a footing in it – but was unable to maintain his position owing to flank Machine Gun fire and Rifle grenades from East of the road. Captain SHIVENS with the 4th line therefore decided that he was not strong enough to gain the position and covered the retirement of the others with the 4th line. 2nd Lieutenant DACOMBE and a few men did not get back till 8.00am.
The Party consisted of 3 Officers and 60 Other Ranks. Casualties 1 Officer wounded and 15 Other Ranks.
Captain SHIVENS did his best to carry out my instruction - which was to gain the trench and then form Posts forward of it on East side of road. There were no signs of 12th Brigade conforming on his left – I think that the trench would have been taken and held if any support had been forthcoming on our left. The arrangements had to be made in a great hurry.
5.00am. Officer Commanding HOUSEHOLD BATTALION reported he had only been able to establish and man one Post about I.19.c.8.7 with an Officer in charge and 1 Lewis Gun. The others had been started and would be re-occupied and finished after dark.
12 Midnight. Battalion was relieved by 1st HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT and returned to Cutting West of Brigade Headquarters (H.23.b.3.0.).
Strength on 30/1 night Officers 18 Other Ranks 374.
Casualties 30/1 to 4/5 night.
Officers 1 killed. 6 wounded. 4 missing.
Other Ranks. 5 killed. 78 wounded. 109 missing.
Total Officers 11. Other ranks 192.