Andrew Weston

Andrew joined up at Helmsley and attested in Leeds on 5th December 1915. He gave his age as 20 yrs and 9 months, occupation student, address 56 New Street, Huthwaite, and his next of kin his father John of the same address. Religion Baptist. He served with the 18th battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps and on 5th May 1916 embarked for France to join the British Expeditionary Force. On 6th June 1916 he was promoted unpaid lance corporal and to paid lance corporal on 29th December 1916. He suffered a gun shot wound to the left thigh on 5th October 1916 and was treated at a field hospital in Etaples before being medically evacuated to England where he was treated in the Norfolk War Hospital, Thorpe, Norwich. He was discharged from hospital on 26th October 1916. Andrew eventually returned to France. He was in a dug-out with three comrades when a shell burst and everyone except Andrew was killed outright although he was seriously wounded. He was admitted to Boulogne Hospital where he died from his wounds on 7th June 1917. He is buried in Boulogne Eastern cemetery.

CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'He is still ours in memory, thought and love. Resting in the Lord' Notts Free Press – 22nd. June, 1917. HUTHWAITE TEACHER DIES OF WOUNDS - LANCE-CORPORAL A. WESTON 'Mr. and Mrs. J. Weston of New Street, Huthwaite have received the official intimation of the death in Boulogne Hospital of their eldest son, Lance-Corporal Andrew Weston, 12793, K.R.R. Lance-Corporal Weston was 22 years old, and on the 7th. inst., was in a dugout with three comrades, when a shell burst and he was the only one left alive, though dangerously wounded, his parents being notified to that effect. He died a few days later. Lance-Corporal Weston, being of a studious turn of mind, chose the teaching profession, and was engaged at Skegby when he entered a Leeds training college, from which he enlisted with a band of fellow students. He had spent his last two birthdays and the last two Christmases in the army, and had been wounded before, having spent a period in an English hospital and being allowed a leave at home. He belonged to the Huthwaite Wesleyan Church since infancy.' Mansfield Reporter, 29 June 1917: ‘Huthwaite Memorial Service. Five Local Heroes Honoured. At the Parish Church on Sunday morning a beautiful and impressive memorial service was conducted to the memory of five local men who have made the supreme sacrifice. Their names are: Lance-Corporals E Hower [Bower], (N/Staffs), A Weston (KRR), and Ptes Geo. Stubbins (Sherwood Foresters), H. Burton and T Phillips (both of the Canadian Contingents). Particulars of their lives have separately appeared in these columns during the last few weeks. At the service, which was conducted by the Rev. FN Beswick, every possible mark of affection and respect was shown to the memory of the departed heroes … The Union Jack was at half mast on the church tower throughout the day. There was a numerous gathering of mourners, but the general public was poorly represented, a downpour of rain probably militating against a large congregation. As the choir proceeded to their places, the organist, Mr JP Morley, played a brief funeral voluntary improvised by himself and the two special Psalms were the 39th and the 130th, and appropriate lessons. Stainer’s familiar anthem, ‘What are these arrayed in white robe?’ was chosen … The two hymns were ‘Lord as to Thy dear Cross we flee’ and ‘For all the Saints who from their labours rest.’ The text was ‘I know that my Redeemer liveth’ and the rev. gentleman delivered a touching, but compelling sermon, remarking that the words were especially appropriate at this time … The names of all from the parish who have fallen in the war were read out, and the service ended with the Dead March from Saul, and Beethoven’s Funeral March.; (www.britishnewspaperarcive.co.uk)