Roll of Honour
Private Albert Edward Castle
Service Number: 962
Regiment: Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (1st/4th)
Conflict: World War One
Date of Death: 30th July 1915
Age at Death: 26
Burial/Memorial Location: Hebuterne Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France
Son of William & Louisa Castle, of 33 West End, Launton.
"News was received on Tuesday morning that a Launton soldier had been killed at the Front last Friday morning. The fateful message was received by the mother of Pte. Charles Jeacock who wrote saying that Pte. Albert Castle, one of his mates, had been killed. In the course of his letter Pte. Jeacock said: “I have a bit of very bad news to tell you – poor old “Bran” (this was the name by which the fallen soldier was known by his comrades) got killed by a sniper, the shot going right through his head whilst he was on sentry duty between three and four in the morning. He is going to be buried as six o’clock this evening. Poor old “Bran!” he is the first to go under from our place. It fairly done me when I heard the news. I daresay his mother will have heard before you get this.”
Subsequently Mrs Castle received a letter from the chaplain of the regiment, saying her son was killed while on sentry-go in the trenches. “He was doing his duty and serving his Country,” wrote the cleric, “and we laid him to rest this evening in the regimental cemetery in the village. You will be able to find out the name of the village later. His platoon commanders and several of his comrades were at the funeral, as also was his cousin.”
Pte. Castle was a member of the 4th Batt. Oxon and Bucks Light Infantry, and had served in the Army for six years. He was 26 years old, and went to the Front in February. In all his letters he has written cheerfully, and only recently expressed his contemplation of shortly coming home on leave. He has three other brothers with the colours, and Pte. George Castle (Rifle Brigade), who is wounded, was his cousin.
Launton has a record roll of honour, which, considering its population, stands unrivalled by any other village in the Bicester district. The receipt of the news of Pte. A.E. Castle’s death cast a gloom over the whole village, for he is the first Launton soldier to lay down his life for his Country. His bereaved relatives have many sympathisers." Bicester Herald 06/08/1915