Pte
Robert Ashworth

Informatie over geboorte

Algemene Informatie

Beroep:
Wever

Informatie legerdienst

Land:
Engeland, Verenigd Koninkrijk
Strijdmacht:
British Expeditionary Force
Rang:
Private
Service nummer:
37639
Dienstneming plaats:
Burnley, Lancashire, Engeland, Verenigd Koninkrijk
Eenheden:
 —  East Lancashire Regiment, 8th Bn.  (Laatst gekende eenheid)

Informatie over overlijden

Datum van overlijden:
31/07/1917
Plaats van overlijden:
June Farm, België
Doodsoorzaak:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Leeftijd:
20

Gedenkplaats

Points of interest 2

#1 Geboorteplaats
#2 Dienstneming plaats

Mijn verhaal

Robert Ashworth was born in 1897 in Great Harwood, Lancashire. He was the son of Robert and Maggie Ashworth and worked as a cotton weaver before the war. During the war he enlisted as a private at Burnley and served in the 8th Battalion East Lancashire Regiment, part of the 112th Brigade, of the 37th Division.

At 12:15 a.m. on the morning of 31 July 1917 the 8th Battalion arrived at the assembly area. Later, at 9:15 a.m. “C” company was ordered to move up to the Verhaeghe Farm - Railway Siding line via Manchester Trench. “B” company went up at 1:15 p.m., followed by “A” and “D” company at 1.55 p.m. By 5 p.m. “C”, “B” and “A” companies were entrenched at the “old Front shell hole line”, holding the left, centre and right respectively. “D” company was held in reserve at the Verhaege Farm. At 5:45: p.m. a written order was received to attack at 7 p.m., but this order was postponed until 8 p.m.

At 8 p.m. the artillery barrage opened up and the 8th Battalion East Lancashire Regiment attacked. “C” company has tasked with capturing a position near Fork Roads (O.23.C.2.4.). “B” and “A”companies attacked Rifle Farm and June Farm respectively. “D” company moved up to the old front line. By 10 p.m. all objectives had been captured, but this attack had caused heavy casualties. At 10:45 p.m. the decision was made to retreat to the old front line. The officers later stated that this decision was made due to three factors. First, the bad weather and mud had caused rifles and machine guns to jam. Secondly the battalion had failed to establish a connection with the neighbouring battalions, opening up the possibility of an enemy attack on their flanks. Finally German prisoners told the officers that reinforcements had arrived and that a German counterattack was developing.

By 11:30 p.m. the 8th Battalion was back on the old line, but an hour later they reestablished eight posts on a line between June Farm and a point on a road (O.23.a.5.3.). They were also able to establish a connection with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers on the left and the 8th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment on the right. This position was held until they were relieved on the night between 1 and 2 August.

At the end of 31 July they had gained little ground, but lost one officer and 17 men killed. Four officers and 69 men were reported wounded and 11 men were missing. Private Robert Ashworth was one of the men killed that day. After the war his body was not recovered or identified. Private Ashworth is commemorated on the Ypres Menin Gate Memorial, panel 34.

Bronnen 5

Ancestry
https://www.ancestry.com/
Gebruikte bronnen
CWGC
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/925776/robert-ashworth/
Gebruikte bronnen
McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day-By-Day Account (Londen: Unicorn Publishing Group, 2017), 21.
Gebruikte bronnen
Naval & Military Archive
https://www.nmarchive.com/
Gebruikte bronnen
The Long Long Trail
https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/
Gebruikte bronnen