William Astbury was born about 1893 in Liverpool.
The 1901 census shows he was at the home of his uncle and aunt, George and Rosemary Jackson at 13 Fishguard Street in Everton, Liverpool. He was not accompanied by his parents. It seems that William was orphaned, and attended the Holy Trinity Industrial School in Liverpool. Somehow, he was adopted out to a couple in Yorkshire.
10 years later, the 1911 census shows that William, aged 18, was a boarder at the home of Walter and Ada Walton of Norristhorpe Lane, Heckmondwike, Yorkshire. His occupation was Hurrier which means he worked in a coal mine, transporting coal-filled tubs or carts from the coal face to the main shaft. Head of the household Walter was a coal miner so they probably worked together. There were several mines in the area but information from 'A Village Goes to War'* tells us that they worked for the Mirfield Colliery Company.
While the family lived at Norristhorpe, William attended the Congregational Sunday School in the village and gained a prize in 1913 for the best bowling average in the Sunday school cricket team. He started attending the Ravensthorpe Congregational Sunday School when the family moved to 4 Craven Street, Ravensthorpe, in 1914.*
William's military service record survives and shows that he volunteered to serve in the Territorial Force on 14th December 1914 and was enlisted in the 5th Battalion Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment as private 3598. He signed the waiver for overseas service and was embodied immediately. His enlistment papers state that he had never served in the armed forces or territorial force but there is a note of (reserve) made on his enlistment forms so it is possible he was already in the army reserve.
William's medical form shows that he was aged 21 years and 11 months, was 5 feet, 5 and 1/4 inches tall and his chest measured 36 inches, expanding by 2 and 1/2 inches. His vision and physical development were both good.
William embarked at Folkestone for France on the SS Victoria just 4 months later, on 14th April 1915.
Besides letters from his family, William received a printed letter from the Yorkshire Congregational Union and another one from a governor of his old Liverpool school which informed him that 220 ‘old boys’ of the school were at the front. He wrote home on the 11th June when he reported that he was in good health, but looking forward to being relieved so as to get a good night’s rest. He also described how they had been in the trenches for the past six days, and “….taking all things into consideration…. Had had a lovely time.” The weather was hot but cool at night, the countryside “….that is what we see of it looks very well and it is a great shame and disgrace to civilization that such a war goes on.” Clearly eager for news from home, he asked for a weekly newspaper to be sent.*
His last letter home was written on 13th June 1915. Possibly having a premonition of his death, he tells in the letter how he had been reading from his pocket bible. His letter concluded with a quote: “Be prepared for you neither know the hour nor the day when the Son of Man cometh.”*
The only other remark on his active service form is that William was Killed in Action 2 months later on 16th June 1915.
The next letter Mr & Mrs Walton received was from Lieutenant Sykes. He wrote that he was “…sorry to inform them that Private Astbury died that morning – 16th – June having been shot in the head whilst on sentry duty. He was buried along with an officer by his comrades near the trenches.” The war diary names William Astbury and Second Lieutenant Crowther as having been killed, with another private being seriously wounded.*
William's military records include his handwritten will which read "in the event of my death I leave all my effects to Mrs W Walton, No 4 Craven St, Ravensthorpe, Dewsbury, England. Private W Astbury 3598" His medals, the 1914 Star, Victory Medal and British War Medal, along with his belongings of a New Testament, 2 letters and 1 postcard were sent to Ada Walton and she completed Army Form W.5080 - a declaration of relatives of the deceased soldier, the form shows that William had no living relatives.
William is buried in Rue David Cemetery, Fleurbaix.
*Extracted from the book A Village Goes To War – A History of the Men of Ravensthorpe who fell in the Great War Written By David Tattersfield – Published in 2000