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. However, his mother died on 24 April 1914. He had 7 siblings: William Asher (born about 1888), Ann Asher (born about 1889), Jane Asher (born about 1894), Margaret Asher (born about 1897), Nelly Asher (born about 1899), Bella Asher (born about 1900) and John Asher (born about 1907). The servant John Forbes also lived in the house. Alexander worked as a farmer. At Elgin he enlisted in the British Expeditionary Force on 2 April 1917, serving 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. Their starting positions were around Pommern Castle & Redoubt. The 44th 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. By 12.30 am the 8th Battalion was in position. At 4.45 am the attack began and the battalion advanced. About three hours later the Germans held the objectives of Iberian Farm and Beck House and drove back all the attacking troops. Fifteen minutes later the 8th Battalion was largely back in its original position. The order was to consolidate everything.
At noon the German artillery was quiet. However between 1 pm and 3 pm the Germans counter-attacked but the attack was weak and was repulsed by Scottish artillery and rifle fire. At 7.30 pm the Germans began to advance from Zevencote, which the Scots regarded as suspicious, so they prepared their barrage for a possible attack. An hour later heavy German barrages were dropped from Frezenbeek and Pommern Castle & Redoubt. At 8.50 pm the German barrage abated and no attack took place. An hour later the battalion received orders for an attack on 23 August. This happened at 1.30 am on 23 August: 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. Both attacks were unsuccessful.
Alexander’s body was found near Pommern Castle & Redoubt, Zonnebeke. He was reburied 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. Their starting positions were around Pommern Castle & Redoubt. The 44th 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. By 12.30 am the 8th Battalion was in position. At 4.45 am the attack began and the battalion advanced. About three hours later the Germans held the objectives of Iberian Farm and Beck House and drove back all the attacking troops. Fifteen minutes later the 8th Battalion was largely back in its original position. The order was to consolidate everything.
At noon the German artillery was quiet. However between 1 pm and 3 pm the Germans counter-attacked but the attack was weak and was repulsed by Scottish artillery and rifle fire. At 7.30 pm the Germans began to advance from Zevencote, which the Scots regarded as suspicious, so they prepared their barrage for a possible attack. An hour later heavy German barrages were dropped from Frezenbeek and Pommern Castle & Redoubt. At 8.50 pm the German barrage abated and no attack took place. An hour later the battalion received orders for an attack on 23 August. This happened at 1.30 am on 23 August: 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. Both attacks were unsuccessful.
Alexander’s body was found near Pommern Castle & Redoubt, Zonnebeke. He was reburied in Tyne Cot Cemetery (Plot VII, Row H, Grave 4).
Sources 3
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1901 Scotland Census (National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh (NRS), Reels 1-446). https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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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 |