The Fallen – 1919

The Fallen of Aston and Weston – Click the image to enlarge it 1919

Even after the signing of the Armistice at Compiegne on November 11th 1918, the New Year brought no respite from distressing news for both villages. During the early part of 1919 both Aston and Weston were each to lose a serviceman. 

Sapper Charles Henry Smith of the Royal Engineers, (Inland Waterways and Docks) died on the 23rd February 1919 at the age of 37 and is buried in Moor Lane Cemetery, Aston on Trent. Born in 1882, the son of Andrew and Maria Smith of Weston Road, Aston on Trent, Charles Henry worked as a plaster miner dresser before enlistment. 

Little is known of his army career, but it was not unusual for men of his age (32 when war broke out) to be posted to the engineering or service regiments/ corps. He died in a Chesterfield sanatorium.

Driver Mallord Nobel Robinson of “D” Battery, 3rd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. He enlisted in September 1914 at the age of 17 and after surviving 4½ years of active service he met his death as the result of an accident whilst on his way home for demobilisation. He had served throughout the Salonika campaign and on the journey from that region his train stopped at Epluches, France to give the soldiers an opportunity to have tea. He was with a group of his comrades some distance from the train when they noticed it beginning to move away from the platform. It had been raining, and as they ran to board their moving carriage Driver Robinson’s foot slipped off the wet step-board and he fell under the train. His right leg was very badly crushed. Despite a nearby medical officer giving him immediate treatment for his injuries he died at midnight that day. He was 22 years of age and was buried at the Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille, near Boulogne, France. His officer wrote to his parents and said – “He was very popular with both officers and comrades, and after the horrors of 4½ years it was bad luck indeed for him when so near his home. Allow me to offer you my heartfelt sympathy, also that of his comrades, in your loss under such distressing circumstances”.