On 1 June 1917, the Northern Times reported
Private Richard Aynsley, who enlisted from Weston, has been killed in action. He was one of the first to join the A.l.F. from Weston, and sailed with the first Expeditionary Force. He was with the First Field Ambulance at the landing at Gallipoli and went right through that campaign. Going to France he served, with periods or illness, until May 6, when he was killed. A strange feature was that Mr. A. Kirk, of Aberdare Street, who received the news of his death, received a letter from Private Aynsley, written some six weeks ago, in which he stated that he was in hospital with a bad knee, expecting to be operated upon, and that he was unfit for service.
He was very well known in Weston, being a prominent member of the local Methodist Church, secretary of the B.A. Football Club, and secretary or the local lodge of Rechabites. He was born in England, had been in Australia about four years, and was 24 years of age.
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