Re WW1 Astons, Coleford area (General)

by Jefff , West London, Middlesex, Sunday, September 15, 2013, 23:34 (4161 days ago) @ Mcbilly

Hi, I've rechecked my researches and have only still got details for one local Aston, namely Harold Aston of Camomile Green Lydbrook who survived WW1. (Luckily/unusually in this case his complete Service Records still exist as well as the usual Medal Index Card, I can email these images to you offline if you think it will help). This prior thread gives more detail of his family line.
http://forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?id=20631

When I was researching the Astons of Coleford a while back I found the above man by searching all the Military Records on Ancestry, entering only "Aston" and "Coleford" or "Lydbrook" etc as the search terms. Trying it again tonight offers Service Records for Thomas Aston of Berry Hill, the aforementioned Harold of Camomile Green Lydbrook; these records are the most usefull by far as often give next of kin. addresses, etc; unlike the Medal Cards. The site also gives Roll of Honour entries for James Thomas Aston and Thomas Henry Aston, both died 1918.
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?gl=39&rank=1&new=1&so=3&MS...
(NB remember when sifting possible "hits" there are other Colefords in Somerset, Devon etc)
If like me you're not a paid-subscriber you can still access the full records of these soldiers by accessing Ancestry at UK public libraries. Alternatively Ancestry invariably offers free website access around Remembrance Day if you can wait til then.

You were correct in searching the War Graves site too, just don't forget soldiers didn't just serve in local Regiments such as the Glosters, South Wales Borderers, Monmouthshire etc but could enlist or be transferred elsewhere.

From this sites PRs, re the above findings:

Record_ID: 6318
Entry_Number: 603
Year: 1897
Month: Feb
Day: 26
Parents_Surname: ASTON
Child_Forenames: James Thomas
Fathers_Forenames: George
Mothers_Forenames: Mary Ann
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Short Standing
Occupation: Collier
Officiating_Minister: C. Barnes
Event: Baptism
Memoranda: Born Jan 22nd 1897
Notes:
Register_Reference: P82 IN 1/5
Page_Number: 76
Parish_Chapel: Christchurch
Soundex: A235

As confirmed by searching the CWGC site.

ASTON, JAMES THOMAS
Rank:Private
Service No:49360
Date of Death:08/10/1918
Age:21
Regiment/Service:South Wales Borderers
10th Bn.
Panel ReferencePanel 6.
MemorialVIS-EN-ARTOIS MEMORIAL
Additional Information:
Son of Mary A. Jenkins (formerly Aston), of 16, Davies St., Porth Rhondda), Glam., and the late George Aston.
http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead.aspx?cpage=1

This is the nearest I could find to Thomas Henry Aston:
ASTON, T H
Rank:Private
Service No:34799
Date of Death:11/04/1918
Regiment/Service:Royal Warwickshire Regiment
10th Bn.
Grave ReferenceXIII. C. 15.
CemeteryHARLEBEKE NEW BRITISH CEMETERY
Additional Information:
http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead.aspx?cpage=1

He is the only Aston listed on the Coleford Roll of Honour within this website, sorry I didn't remember it earlier.
http://www.forest-of-dean.net/index.php/miscellaneous-documents

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This excellent website carries a great many Graveyard Inscriptions particularly those of War Deaths, this is the Coleford area page.
http://places.wishful-thinking.org.uk/GLS/Coleford/MIs.html

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R.I.P.