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Pte. William Henry Alston
British Army 9th Btn. Essex Regiment
from:Brentwood, Essex
(d.3rd Jul 1916)
William Alston volunteered for the army in 1915 and joined the 9th Battalion, Essex Regiment at Warley Barracks. On July 3rd 1916 the battalion were called into the front line opposite the town of Ovilliers on the Somme in France. Their objective was to take the town. In the last couple of days other regiments had failed to take the village with large losses of men. The Essex Regiment went over the top at 3.20am into darkness and the smoke of battle. One company (C Coy) of which William was a part completely lost their way, and by accident took some German trenches that they weren't supposed to and returned with many prisoners. However, they had been badly shelled just before they went over the top and many of their men were killed including William. Ovilliers still wasn't taken!
Editor's Note: Private Alston was the son of Samuel Henry and Rachel Alston, of Hutton, Essex, and husband of Florence Alston, of 36 Myrtle Road, Warley, Brentwood, Essex. He died aged 37, and is buried in Ovillers Military Cemetery, Somme.
