Pte 50064 Thomas Astle

• Age: 19
• From: Birmingham
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 28th April 1918
• Commemorated at: Tyne Cot Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 31-34

Thomas Astle was born in Aston, Birmingham on 30th October 1898 the son of Thomas Astle and his wife Susannah (nee Vaughan) who married in Aston in 1894. Both parents were born in Birmingham and Thomas was working at a Tinsmiths. He was baptised on 20th November 1898 at St Mary's Church, Aston Broook. His mother's name is recorded as May.

The 1901 Census shows the family living in Court housing at Court 3, Lennox Street.

His father Thomas is a 28 year old tin plate worker born in Birmingham,whilst his mother, Susannah is 24 also born in Birmingham, children Florence 4 b.Aston, Thomas b.Birmingham. Also living there is Susannah's widowed mother Ann Vaughan 53 and sister Ada 19. 

By 1911 the family were living at 13 Denmark Street, Aston.

Mother Susannah 36 (married 16 years 6 children) and father Thomas 38 are both present. They have been married for 16 years and have had 6 children. Also declared in the household is Susannah's widowed mother Ann 63. Thomas 12 at school, and his 5 siblings are listed as; Florence 14 at school, Ada 10 at school, George 9 at school, Gladys 5 at school and Joseph 3.

He enlisted in Witton, Birmingham and originally served as Private 380, Royal Army Service Corps before he was transferred to the 19^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 50064. He was killed in action on the 28^th April 1918, aged 19, during the German Spring Offensive.

The Battalion diary entry for the day gives an insight into the events of the day.  

28^th April 1918

VOORMEZEELE SECTOR

The Battalion held the position taken up the previous night. The enemy artillery was very quiet but aeroplane activity on both sides was great.   

Thomas has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

Those United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after August 16th 1917 are named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war.

The Tyne Cot Memorial now bears the names of almost 35,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker with sculpture by Joseph Armitage and F.V. Blundstone, was unveiled by Sir Gilbert Dyett on 20 June 1927.

The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.

He was reported killed in action in the Birmingham Daily Post on 19th June 1918.

Soldiers Effects to father Thomas, Pension to mother Susannah.

His father, Thomas, died in the September quarter of 1940, aged 68.

His mother, Susannah, died in the December quarter of 1940 aged 62. 

We currently have no further information on Thomas Astle, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.