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Remembered Today:

Ibstock War Memorial

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Robert Ashby


Chris_B

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Miner Robert Ashby is the third man on the Ibstock memorial to have lost his life while serving as a tunneller. His profile is that of an older man whose years of work experience warranted his special enlistment on the highest rate of pay. Robert was aged 35, with a wife and three children, at the time he enlisted. He signed his papers in London on 21 June 1915 where the 170th-178th Companies of the Royal Engineers depot office address was 3, Central Buildings, Westminster SW. The front sheet of his “Short Service” attestation, Army From B.2505, is clearly marked “clay kicking tunneller 6/- a day”.

His induction into the Army was swift, he embarked for France just four days later and by 2.8.15 he had joined 178th Coy. from base . They were deployed in Fricourt sector on the Somme, working on tunnelling orignally started by the French. A little over a month later Robert is “slightly gassed” on the 18.9.1915. He returns to duty a few days later and the tunnelling continues.

The 178th Coy. were determined to give the Germans an unholy end of year present but an alert enemy were deploying counter measures of their own. So it was that on 21/12/1915, just a few days before Christmas, the Germans exploded two mines of their own, wrecking a section of trench, 178th shafts and galleries, and killing 17 of its men. This war diary extract is courtesy of Iain McHenry .

21/12/15 8.0 am Enemy exploded 2 large mines in Tambour Duclos (F3 & TF? Meaulte). They wrecked 30 yds of trench & blew in several shafts and galleries. Men at their face were buried alive. There was no artillery bombardment. Rescue work was carried out but many were gassed in the process chiefly infantry. Lieut Thompson ??? and Capt Walling??? RW? Did excellent work also Proto men.

The diary notes for 21/12/1915 Lieut PYROR wounded gassed, 17 OR killed in mine explsion, 8 OR wounded gassed.

The full list of those KIA is here. For those men whose records can be found, we can see they include other miners who had passed through the same London base as Robert in June and July, together with men who had transferred in the field.

102105 Sapper William Warrilow had enlisted on 1 June 1915 London as a “tunnellers mate”. Aged 40, William, a miner, was married with one child. Embarked 5/6/16. Joins 171st from base on 11/6/1915. He later transfers to 178th and remusters as a tunneller. He is hospitalized on 23.6.1915.

102826 Cpl. Francis Cassidy enlisted on 22 June 1915 London as a “tunnellers mate”. A miner aged 44, he was married with 5 children. Embarked 5/7/1915.

102910 Sapper William WHITE joins 7 July 1915 London, gives his Burton address as per CWGC entry. A Miner aged 23, he enlists on “tunnellers mate” pay of 2/2. Depot M to France 19/7/1915. 19.11.15 Remustered as Tunneller at 6/- , two days before death. Note KIA 21/12/1915 due to enemy mine explosion. Mother writes to acknowledge receipt of a broken watch.

137670 Sapper Henry Halton, a miner from Worcestershire transferred 1/8th Worcesters 14th Oct. 1915 having served from 29/9/1914 to 178th Coy.RE. Aged 23 unmarried. Mother NOK. Remustered Tunnellers Mate 15/10/1915. ( as pte 3162 home 29/9/14 – 31/3/15 BEF 1.4.15 to 13.10.15)

137675 Sapper Percival George Waine. A labourer of 27 years 8 months on 10 Nov 1915 when attested in field to transfer to 178th Coy. RE. Address Oxford. Previously served as Pte. 33621/4th Oxon & Bucks LI (TF) from 28-9-14. Originally embarked Folkestone 29/3/1915. Tunnellers Mate with E.P at 1/- pay rate. Lasted just 42 days in RE.

Those men who were recovered were buried at the Norfolk cemetery, while those who were not are named on the Thiepval memorial. Oddly, two names appear on the Menin Gate. I wonder why?

Pals in life became comrades in death as they are laid side by side I.C.24 to I.C.30, and Robert Ashby I.C. 22 is flanked by an East Surrey man Pte.1329 Harry Osbourne WILKINSON.

For the families of these men, and Roberts wife and children, the joy of Christmas was cut short as news of their loss reached home. Over the coming weeks and months Robert's widow had to deal with the forms and letters of his personal effects, outstanding pay, and widows benefits. The Royal Engineers sent a letter to the NOK of all men buried at Norfolk cemetery. It came from Brompton Barracks, Chatham dated 17th January 1916 and read in Robert's case:

Dear Madam,

Special information has been received with regard to the burial of your husband the late Sapper R.Ashby R.E.

He was interred at the cemetery Becourt, Somme, France, by the Rev. L.L.GEEVES, on 21st Decemember last.

I am,

Madam,

your obedient servant,

It was the Army's rather stilted way of of saying Robert had been laid to rest with full honours at a known location, something that was denied to countless others.

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