Corporal (later Sergeant) Charles Ashton MM, no. 99915, 31st Battery, Royal Field Artillery

[charlie962]

21 minutes ago, David Porter said:

The one problem here is that I have seen older soldiers get to retain their previous number if they had been discharged for less than a year.

Thanks for responding David. Interesting. But one man Davidson I looked at yesterday was discharged early 1914 then signed up to the SR Sep1914 and was given that new number. So not an absolute rule. I will look at some of those other long servers but is was the 99900 series of 1914 that seemed a different group and mostly old regulars time served.

 

The question is, if there was a break in service causing him to be issued with a new number, where would the Hospital Admissions Registrar have obtained the '21 years' from ? Would the soldier have stated this ? Would it be noted in his paybook ?

 

Charlie

[Ivor Anderson]

Of all the 999?? numbers listed along with Charles Ashton on the BWM & VM award roll:

99916 Dvr. Charles William Guilford arrived in France on 6-11-14 with 45 Bde. RFA

99917 Far.Sgt. Alfred Dennis has a surviving WW1 service record. He arrived in France 22-07-15 having enlisted 5-9-14 and made immediate Shoe-Smith Corporal. He was made Farrier Sgt. on 13-12-15 and served with numerous RFA Brigades & DACs. He was almost 40 on reenlistment in Sept. 1914, and had previously been discharged from the RFA on 17-10-1910.

99918 Gnr. David Moorhead (b.1879) arrived in France 29-08-15. He was from Lurgan, Co. Armagh.

Edited 29 June , 2020 by Ivor Anderson
Additional information

[Ivor Anderson]

Surviving entries in the 31 (Heavy) Battery War Diary for September 1917 (when it moved to X Corps) gives the following positioning information:

11 to 12 September 1917 'guns brought into position' at VOORMEZEELE

13 September Guns calibrated on OOSTAVERNE WOOD 

14 to 19 September - preparatory barrages and occasionally shelled by enemy

20 September operations resulted in capture of GLENCORSE WOOD and INVERNESS COPSE - enemy counter-attack repulsed

21 September - reconnoitred new position in VERBRANDENMOLEN - still there at 30th Sept.

22 September - work on new positions was so heavily shelled they had to stop work. Position changed & 2 gun-pits dug in afternoon.

                          Heavily shelled that evening resulting in 3 killed & 9 wounded. Killed night of 22-09-1917 (recorded as killed 23-09-1917 by CWGC):

                          1) Wheeler Corporal George Robertson 36186 aged 24 - buried Voormezeele Enclosures (4 km SW of Ypres), West-Vlaanderen (West Flanders).

                              He has surviving service & pension records on Ancestry. Joined at Woolwich 8-12-1908. With 31 (H) Battery from 15-08-1914 as a wheeler.

                          2) Gunner George Lamb  150462 aged 32 - buried Perth Cemetery (China Wall), West-Vlaanderen (S of Hell-fire Corner)

                          3) Gunner William Milburn 44758 aged 26 - buried Perth Cemetery (China Wall), West-Vlaanderen

23 September - guns placed in position by daylight - heavy shelling by enemy on evening of 23rd

24 September - practice barrage - occasional enemy shelling

26 September - POLYGON WOOD captured in Corps operation

27 September - 2 guns condemned for wear

28 September - battery shelled - Gnr J. Roberts 125273 killed & many wounded. Roberts buried Huts Military Cemetery, DICKEBUSCH (SW of Ypres).

29 September - enemy shelling in evening & during night - one gun hit.

30 September - under enemy shell-fire all day. One gun damaged. Sgt. P Donohue wounded. Front & back areas also shelled. Main ammunition dumps set on fire.

                         

VERBRANDEN MOLEN is right of centre at the bottom of this map crop from June 1917: https://maps.nls.uk/view/101464903

 

Edited 30 June , 2020 by Ivor Anderson
Additional information

[Ivor Anderson]

The 35 Brigade RFA WD confirms that 31st & 35th batteries moved into position in front of Chateau Wood on the evening of 1st October 1917.

As previously noted 31 Battery WD stops at the end of 9/17 and 35 Brigade moved to Italy in December 1917 and that WD is not yet digitised.

Sergeant R. C. Ruth (19627) of 7th DAC was mentioned in their WD for an MM for October 1917, and is listed in same LG as Charles Ashton.

Sergeant Edward Alfred Foster (71439), 31st Battery, 35th Bde. is named on the Tyne Cot Memorial as missing in action on 16th October 1917.

The 10th Corps Heavy Artillery war diary (WO-95-867-3 in NA) confirms "heavy gas shelling of the battery areas" by the enemy on the 16th & 17th October (X) 1917:

 

Edited 7 July , 2020 by Ivor Anderson

[charlie962]

37 minutes ago, Ivor Anderson said:

in same LG as Charles Ashton.

schedule numbers seem all important, as noted on MM card. Do they have same sch no ?

[Ivor Anderson]

Unfortunately not!  Ashton's is 135696 and Ruth's is 137768. Ruth's is stated as being awarded 2/10/1917 in the 7th DAC diary on 8/11/1917:

(Two others MM awards mentioned in the 7th DAC WD on 24/10/1917 appear in the LG of 17 December 1917).

However, you have given me an idea! I could target RFA MM awards in Ashton's gazette (28-01-1918) and see if any schedule numbers are consecutive to his! 

 

Edited 7 July , 2020 by Ivor Anderson

[Ivor Anderson]

Well, I've only finished cross-referencing the A+B RFA surnames in the 28-01-1918 LG with the MM index cards and this long-shot has paid off:

Driver Thomas Booth (23312) won his MM while serving with 31st Battery RFA. His schedule no. is 135693, so there are 2 others before Ashton's (135696)!

Schedule no. 135687 was Gnr. W Canlin (92992) of 106 Bty, 135689 was Dvr C. Beland (72122) 105 Bty,

Schedule no. 135690 was A. Foulkes (165584) 105 bty and 135691 was Cpl. E Wilson 160893 of 105 Bty, all 4 with 22 Bde, RFA.

Schedule no. 135698 was Gnr. Herbert Sherratt (76076) of 34th Battery; 135699 was Gnr. L. L. Gregory (103250) of 34th Battery, both 189 Brigade.

Nos. 135700 & 701 & 702 also served with 189 brigade RFA. Thomas Booth's MM card from NA WO-372-23-81801:

 

 

Edited 10 July , 2020 by Ivor Anderson
Additional information

[Ivor Anderson]

In C-E found Driver A. E. Cross (70912) of 31st Battery RFA. MM schedule no. 135692 - MM index card from NA ref. WO-372-23-95693

He arrived in France on 23-08-1914 with 37 Bde RFA and was KIA on 18-10-1917 (see MIC on Ancestry). That makes at least 5 MMs to 31st Battery!

Cross is buried in the HUTS CEMETERY under 35 Bde RFA, but next to Lt. Philip Gladstone Pope, '31 RFA', who died 16-10-1917!

 

Edited 7 July , 2020 by Ivor Anderson

[Ivor Anderson]

Found Corporal James Frederick Ward MM (74150) of 31st Battery, 35 Brigade RFA - schedule no. 135694. MM index card - NA ref. WO-372-23-180300

James has a full service record on ancestry. Enlisted August 1913. Posted to 31 Battery, 35 Bde. on 9-5-1916. Appointed a/Sgt 16-10-1917 (until 29th)!

 

Edited 8 July , 2020 by Ivor Anderson

[Ivor Anderson]

SUMMARY to date:

Schedule no. 135685 was Dvr. H. Thompson (4644) of 35 Bty

Schedule no. 135686 was Dvr. J. E. Just (765573) of 106 Bty, 22 Bde, RFA, 7 Division

Schedule no. 135687 was Gnr. W Canlin (92992) of 106 Bty, 22 Bde, RFA, 

Schedule no. 135689 was Dvr C. Beland (72122) of 105 Bty, 22 Bde, RFA.

Schedule no. 135690 was Gnr. A. Foulkes (165584) 105 Bty, 22 Bde, RFA.

Schedule no. 135691 was Cpl. E Wilson (160893) of 105 Bty, 22 Bde, RFA.

Schedule no. 135692 was Dvr. A. E. Cross (70912) of 31st Battery. He arrived in France on 23-08-1914 with 37 Bde RFA and was KIA on 18-10-1917 ( MIC)

Schedule no. 135693 was Dvr. Thomas Booth (23312) of 31st Battery, 35 Brigade RFA, 7 Division

Schedule no. 135694 was Corporal James Frederick Ward (74150) of 31st Battery, 35 Brigade RFA - James has a full service record on ancestry.

                                   Enlisted August 1913. To France 23-08-14. Posted to 31 Battery, 35 Brigade on 9-5-1916. Appointed a/Sgt 16-10-1917 (until 29th)!

Schedule no. 135695 was ?

Schedule no. 135696 was Charles Ashton (99915) of 31 Battery. Entered France with 7th DAC on 6-10-1914.

Schedule no. 13(6)697 was Dvr. George Morris (6349) of 31 Battery (Service record on Ancestry - enlisted 1900, from Pimlico) Entered France 23-08-14

                                     with 37 Brigade RFA. Transferred to 31 Battery, 35 Brigade on 09-05-16. Appointed Bombardier 17-10-1917!

Schedule no. 135698 was Gnr. Herbert Sherratt (76076) of 34th Battery, 189 Brigade (34 Bty joined 189 Brigade RFA on 21-01-1917, just after 189 Bde left 41 Div.).

Schedule no. 135699 was Gnr. L. L. Gregory (103250) of 34th Battery, 189 Brigade.

Schedule nos. 135700 & 710 also served with 189 brigade RFA.

 

That confirms 5-6 MMs awarded to 31 Battery for October 1917, along with others from 7 Division (e.g. 105+106 btys of 22 Brigade).

The WDs for 31 Battery, 35 Division, 22 Brigade and 10 Corps HAG have proved to be silent re MMs.

I cannot see any war diary for 7 Division on either Ancestry or NA??

 

Edited 30 July , 2020 by Ivor Anderson
Additional information

[charlie962]

14 minutes ago, Ivor Anderson said:

I cannot see any war diary for 7 Division on either Ancestry or NA??

Try here

[Ivor Anderson]

Thanks Charlie. I'll explore the June-Nov. 1917 section - WO 95/1633

Edited 10 July , 2020 by Ivor Anderson

[Ivor Anderson]

As you previously said Charlie, the artillery seemed to be operating in concentrated groups, partly due to lack of mobility caused by the mud.

Still no MMs! (With the upheaval of the move to Italy in late Nov some October records may be among the early Italian sector papers which are not yet digitised).

The Second Passchendaele W-p page states that in the lead up to the main attack "X Corps attack Gheluvelt to improve the local tactical position and as a diversion from the main attack in the north". 7 Division's allocated objectives for the main attack included Gheluvelt/Geluveld, east of Hooge.

Edmund's (Official History of GW, 1917, vol. 2, p.347) states that 'from the 14th October onwards...enemy aircraft bombarded the back areas with high-explosive, and drenched the low ground...with gas shell...large areas, including battery positions became saturated". Extract from 7 Division WD dated 16 October:

 

Edited 12 July , 2020 by Ivor Anderson

[Ivor Anderson]

I have now established that there was only ONE Charles Ashton who got the MM while serving with the RFA in WW1.

This Man is Clarence Henry Ashton MM 705414 of A/211th (E Lanc.) Brigade RFA (mis-transcribed as Charles on Ancestry):

Chorlton-on-Medlock is an inner city area of Manchester along the Stockport Road.

He is NOT the man living in Kirton-Lindsey in 1939.   Charles Henry Ashton 1880–1961

Birth 08 DEC 1880 • Minting, Lincolnshire, England. Registered Q1 1881: 

Parents George (1855-1913) and Catherine Oram (1857-1939) m. West Barkwith (near Wragby), Horncastle district 17 May 1875.

Married Sara Ann Neill 1906?

Death 19 JAN 1961 • Kirton In Lindsey, Lincolnshire, England

Edited 25 June , 2022 by Ivor Anderson
Additional Info

[Ivor Anderson]

I think this is Charles aged 10 in 1891. His family moved around a lot (Ancestry image):

Edited 25 June , 2022 by Ivor Anderson

[charlie962]

Here is his previous service in the RA, under 21170.

Attested 1897, discharged 1913 with 16 years service.

Service record on Findmypast

"British Army Service Records 1760-1915 Image | findmypast.co.uk" https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBM%2FWO97%2F4274%2F018%2F001&parentid=GBM%2FWO97%2F4274%2F500163

Charlie

Edited 25 June , 2022 by charlie962

[charlie962]

His original service was in  55 Battery RFA mostly in India then home.

RA museum via Ogilby Trust have made 55 Bty Record available here for 1900 onwards.

"Search | The Ogilby Muster" https://www.theogilbymuster.com/search/results#/?query="55 battery"&page=1&type=flex&sort=Regimental_Collection asc&filterBy=Regimental_Collection,"Royal Artillery Museum"&spellCheck=true&recordView=3297036

.....Scroll down to about the 15th record which is handwritten and that is 1900.

 

Edited 25 June , 2022 by charlie962

[charlie962]

In the 1911 Census he was in Sheffield as a warehouseman (birthplace shown as Panton?). At that stage he was in the Army Reserve. 

"1911 England, Wales & Scotland Census Image | findmypast.co.uk" https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBC%2F1911%2FRG14%2F27939%2F0033&parentid=GBC%2F1911%2FRG14%2F27939%2F0033%2F1

Edited 25 June , 2022 by charlie962

[Ivor Anderson]

39 minutes ago, charlie962 said:

Here is his previous service in the RA, under 21170.

Attested 1897, discharged 1913 with 16 years service.

Thanks Charlie. It is on Fold3 too. Just wasn't certain it was him. 18 years 6 months on 15 July 1897 makes him born early 1879, but he may have added a year to join up?

The birth place and timeline fits. There are a lot of Charles Ashtons born c.1880.

[Ivor Anderson]

12 hours ago, charlie962 said:

In the 1911 Census he was in Sheffield as a warehouseman (birthplace shown as Panton?). At that stage he was in the Army Reserve.

Aged 30 here - in line with 8 December 1880. Minting and Panton are close by (east of Wragby) in Lincolnshire:

Charles was in India from 13 Dec 1898 to 9 Mar 1904, so he is not on the English 1901 census (Madras in March 1901).

His wife Sarah (Neil) was living in the Nether Hallam area of Sheffield in 1901. She was born in Sheffield. They were married there 10 Feb 1906.

Edited 26 June , 2022 by Ivor Anderson

[Ivor Anderson]

The family had moved to Kirton-in-Lindsey by the time of Charles' re-enlistment in 1914. They were there when he was wounded c.16th October 1917:

Charles' parents were living in Holton Beckering in 1901 and Sudbrooke Village in 1911. His father George died in 1913. Perhaps that prompted a move.

Edited 25 June , 2022 by Ivor Anderson

[Ivor Anderson]

Parents' grave: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/164521460:60526

Charles' brothers Harold (7693) & Herbert (b. 31 Mar 1890) served with the Lincolnshire Regiment: https://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?dbid=1114&h=32393&indiv=try&o_vc=Record:OtherRecord&rhSource=60526

Edited 25 June , 2022 by Ivor Anderson
Additional Info

[Ivor Anderson]

Charles' daughter Gladys May (b.1906) died in Q2 1917 aged 10.

His daughter Louie (b. 9 Nov 1907) married a Walter Wright on 8th June 1929 in Hibaldstow. She died in 1995 aged 88.

His daughter Ada (b. 29 Oct 1909) married a John Brown on 20th August 1927 in Hibaldstow (NE of Kirton-in-Lindsey). She died in 1982 aged 72.

Charles died 19 Jan 1961 and was cremated. His wife Sarah Anne Ashton died in 1966 aged 82.

Edited 26 June , 2022 by Ivor Anderson

[charlie962]

8 minutes ago, Ivor Anderson said:

Charles' brothers Harold & Herbert served with the Lincolnshire Regiment

Charles himself was in the Lincolnshire Militia 1897 before joining the RA.

[Ivor Anderson]

Thanks Charlie. I think we have him well pinned down now. They certainly moved about!

Herbert 8196 Lincolnshire Regt. Discharged wounded 18 July 1915 (Ancestry & Fold3). 14 Princess Street, Lincoln was his mother's address after their father's death in 1913.

Edited 25 June , 2022 by Ivor Anderson