Pte
Arthur Roy Ashton
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1885 |
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Place of birth: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
General information
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Profession: Carpenter |
Army information
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Country: Australia |
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Force: Australian Imperial Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 2421 |
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Enlistment date: 21/05/1915 |
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Enlistment place: Casino, New South Wales, Australia |
Information about death
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Date of death: 12/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Gasometer, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 32 |
Memorial
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Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Panel: 29B |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Arthur Roy Ashton, a former carpenter, was born in 1885 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. On 21 May 1915 he enlisted at Casino, New South Wales, Australia. Arthur Roy served as a private in the 49th Bn. Australian Infantry, part of the 13th Australian Brigade, of the 4th Australian Division.
The 49th Bn. Australian Infantry moved into the line near Broodseinde in the night between the 9-10 October 1917. The next night they were moved further back into close support. The Battalion was relieved in the night between 13-14 October 1917.
Arthur Roy Ashton, aged 32, was killed in action on October 12, 1917. The dug-out where he sought cover was hit by a shell and collapsed. Four men lost their lives and Private Ashton was amongst them. This information was related by Eric Graham Waltisbuhl in March 1918 to the Australian Red Cross staff, who were searching for missing Australian soldiers. Waltisbuhl stated that he occupied the same dug-out and was talking to one of the occupants when the shell hit. In contrast to the other occupants, he survived unscathed. The four were initially buried near the Gasometer along the Zonnebeke-Broodseinde road. Their graves were marked with rifles stuck into the ground, but the remains were not recovered or identified after the war. Arthur Roy Ashton has no known grave and is remembered on panel 29B of the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.
The 49th Bn. Australian Infantry moved into the line near Broodseinde in the night between the 9-10 October 1917. The next night they were moved further back into close support. The Battalion was relieved in the night between 13-14 October 1917.
Arthur Roy Ashton, aged 32, was killed in action on October 12, 1917. The dug-out where he sought cover was hit by a shell and collapsed. Four men lost their lives and Private Ashton was amongst them. This information was related by Eric Graham Waltisbuhl in March 1918 to the Australian Red Cross staff, who were searching for missing Australian soldiers. Waltisbuhl stated that he occupied the same dug-out and was talking to one of the occupants when the shell hit. In contrast to the other occupants, he survived unscathed. The four were initially buried near the Gasometer along the Zonnebeke-Broodseinde road. Their graves were marked with rifles stuck into the ground, but the remains were not recovered or identified after the war. Arthur Roy Ashton has no known grave and is remembered on panel 29B of the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.
Sources 6
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13th Infantry Brigade (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/13/21). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
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48th Infantry Battalion (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/65/21). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
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Edgar, Peter "To Villers-Bretonneux" (Loftus : Australian Military History Publications, 2006), p 182-183. Sources used |
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First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920 (National Archives of Australia, Canberra (NAA), B2455, ASHTON A R). https://www.naa.gov.au/ Sources used |
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McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele the day-by-day account (London: Uniform, London, 2018), p 113-114. Sources used |
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Unit embarkation nominal rolls, 1914-18 War (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM8). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
More information 4
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1597458 |
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The AIF Project (UNSW Canberra) https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=8300 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=da38a017-4d22-48b2-af65-e215ef598ea8 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7345145 |