Pte
Alexander Asher
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 04/02/1892 |
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Place of birth: Elgin, Moray, Scotland, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: Elgin, Moray, Scotland, United Kingdom |
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Profession: Farmer |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 21473 |
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Enlistment date: 02/04/1917 |
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Enlistment place: Elgin, Moray, Scotland, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Seaforth Highlanders, 8th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 22/08/1917 |
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Place of death: Pommern Castle & Redoubt, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 25 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: 7 Row: H Grave: 4 |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Alexander Asher was born on 4 February 1892 in Elgin, Moray, Scotland. He was the son of William Asher and Jane Harrold/Asher. Alexander worked as a farmer. In Elgin, he enlisted in the British Expeditionary Force on 2 April 1917, where he served in the 8th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs, The Duke of Albany's) Regiment (44th Brigade, 15th (Scottish) Division).
On Wednesday 22 August 1917, the 15th Division attacked with the 45th and 44th Brigades. This brigade attacked with the 8th Battalion Seaforth Regiment and the 7th Battalion Cameron Highlanders Regiment. Both battalions suffered heavily from German machine-gun fire and made little progress. At 12.30 pm, the 8th Battalion was in position. At 4.45 am the attack began and the battalion advanced. About three hours later, the Germans retained the objectives, Iberian Farm and Beck House, and drove back all attacking troops. 15 minutes later, the 8th Battalion was largely back at their original position. The order was for everything to be consolidated.
At noon, German artillery was quiet. But between 1 pm and 3 pm, the Germans counterattacked, but the attack was weak and was repulsed by Scottish artillery and gunfire. At 7.30 pm, the Germans started advancing from Zevencote, which was seen as suspicious by the Scots, so they prepared their barrage for a possible attack. An hour later, heavy German barrage was dropped from Frezenbeek and Pommern Castle & Redoubt. At 8.50 pm, the German barrage subsided and no attack took place. An hour later, the battalion received orders to attack on 23 August. That happened on 23 August at 1.30 am: the 9th Battalion Black Watch Regiment and the 8/10th Battalion Gordon Highlanders Regiment attacked Gallipoli and the 8th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders Regiment attacked Iberian Farm. However, both attacks were unsuccessful.
Alexander Asher died on Wednesday 22 August 1917 during the attack near Pommern Castle & Redoubt, Zonnebeke. He is buried in Tyne Cot Cemetery (Plot VII, Row H, Grave 4).
On Wednesday 22 August 1917, the 15th Division attacked with the 45th and 44th Brigades. This brigade attacked with the 8th Battalion Seaforth Regiment and the 7th Battalion Cameron Highlanders Regiment. Both battalions suffered heavily from German machine-gun fire and made little progress. At 12.30 pm, the 8th Battalion was in position. At 4.45 am the attack began and the battalion advanced. About three hours later, the Germans retained the objectives, Iberian Farm and Beck House, and drove back all attacking troops. 15 minutes later, the 8th Battalion was largely back at their original position. The order was for everything to be consolidated.
At noon, German artillery was quiet. But between 1 pm and 3 pm, the Germans counterattacked, but the attack was weak and was repulsed by Scottish artillery and gunfire. At 7.30 pm, the Germans started advancing from Zevencote, which was seen as suspicious by the Scots, so they prepared their barrage for a possible attack. An hour later, heavy German barrage was dropped from Frezenbeek and Pommern Castle & Redoubt. At 8.50 pm, the German barrage subsided and no attack took place. An hour later, the battalion received orders to attack on 23 August. That happened on 23 August at 1.30 am: the 9th Battalion Black Watch Regiment and the 8/10th Battalion Gordon Highlanders Regiment attacked Gallipoli and the 8th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders Regiment attacked Iberian Farm. However, both attacks were unsuccessful.
Alexander Asher died on Wednesday 22 August 1917 during the attack near Pommern Castle & Redoubt, Zonnebeke. He is buried in Tyne Cot Cemetery (Plot VII, Row H, Grave 4).
Sources 2
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44 Infantry Brigade: 8 Battalion Seaforth Highlanders, (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/1940/3 ). https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14303 Sources used |
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McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 1995), p. 63. Sources used |
More information 3
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=9a5bfabd-09b0-4e8c-bb09-1cd2b2d8e204 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/78027 |
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/461768 |