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

[Ivor Anderson]

Harold enlisted 10 August 1914, went to France 26 Jan 1915, but was discharged as unfit in 1915 too (Fold3) Harold died 25 April 1916:

Edited 25 June , 2022 by Ivor Anderson

[Ivor Anderson]

Charles' brother Arthur (1886-1929) may also have served with the Lincolnshire Regt. (Ancestry):

Edited 25 June , 2022 by Ivor Anderson

[Ivor Anderson]

Many thanks to Charlie & others who helped me piece Charles Henry Ashton's story together:

 

WW1 Military Medal awarded to Pte (later Sgt.) Charles Ashton 99915, of 31st Battery RFA. One of 6 MMs to 31st Battery for Passchendale in Oct 1917.

Born: 08 DEC 1880 • Minting, Lincolnshire, England. Registered Q1 1881 as Charles Henry Ashton in Horncastle district.

Grandparents:

Charles Procter Ashton 1826-1905 (Bap. 28 Aug 1826). His parents William & Hannah. GF m. Mary Ann Cox 18 Dec 1847 in Horncastle district. Living West Barkwith 1891.

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

1881 Census: a 3 month old Charles Henry Ashton was living with his parents George & Catherine in the village of Minting (NW of Horncastle). His place of birth was given as Minting. The birth was registered in Horncastle area in Q1 1881.

1891 Census: the family were living in South Thoresby (NE of Horncastle) Charles was 10.

1901 Charles' parents were living in the village of Holton Beckering, Lincolnshire

1911 Charles' parents were living in Sudbrooke Village.

His father George died in 1913. Parents buried: St. Edward the Confessor Churchyard, Sudbrooke, West Lindsey District, Lincolnshire.

Charles had previous service in the RA, under 21170. Attested 1897 as ‘Farm Servant’ born ‘Minting near Wragby’, 18 years 6 months on 15 July 1897 makes him born early 1879, but he may have added a year to join up? Discharged 1913 with 16 years service. His original service was in 55 Battery RFA mostly in India then home.

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

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

Three girls born in Ecclesall, SW Sheffield (RA service record):

1) Gladys May (b.23 Aug 1906) died in Q2 1917 aged 10.

2) Louie (b. 9 Nov 1907) married Walter Wright 8th June 1929 in Hibaldstow. Died 1995 aged 88.

3) 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.

1911 Census: Charles was living in 27 Cook Street, Sheffield as a warehouseman (birthplace shown as Panton?). At that stage he was in the Army Reserve. Aged 30 - in line with 8 December 1880 birth. Minting and Panton are close by (east of Wragby) in Lincolnshire.

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 and at his MM listing – Jan 1918.

Charles Ashton’s MM was listed in the London Gazette of 28th January 1918 (sch 135696). It was one of 5-6 MMs awarded to 31 Battery for October 1917 during the Battle of Passchendaele, near Glencorse Wood, East of Ypres.

Online records state that he was with 7 Div Ammunition Column when he won his MM, yet his MM card & medal say 31st Battery RFA? His medal card records "7 DAC RFA". The 7 DAC War Diary names 3 MMs awarded in October 1917. On 24 Oct 1917 the 7 DAC WD records MMs to 631076 Dvr J Duncan and 34430 Dvr G Mattock. 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.

Two of Ashton’s fellow MM winners: Corporal James Frederick Ward (74150) and Dvr. George Morris (6349) have surviving service records showing that they transferred to 31^st Bty. On 9 May 1916. Charles Ashton may have done the same from the 7^th DAC.

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

Charles Ashton was wounded c. 17 October 1917 during gas shelling. Hospital Admission Record on FMP dated Oct 1917: Gas Shell Wounded Severe, to Hospital Ship 23/10/17, 35 Bde 31 Bty RFA age 40, 21 yrs service, 36 mths with Field Force.

From 10 CCs 17/10/17, admitted via No 2 Convoy 18/10/17 to 18th General Hospital, then to Hospital Ship 23/10/17. On 20th Dec 1917 he was at Catterick Military Hospital

He was with a colleague Gas wounded at same time in same unit who followed same evacuation -94982 Cpl WS Moore. Moore has a surviving service record, showing he was posted to 7 DAC 7/11/16 then next day posted to 35 Bde 8/11/16. Moore was wounded (gassed) on the 17th Oct 1917 and admitted to 3 Australian Field Ambulance and then 10 CCS all in the same day. Hospital ship to UK was Stad Antwerpen. He was on ship 23/10/17. Both on war Office CL 4 Dec 1917.

35 Brigade RFA war diary does not even mention hostile shelling or wounded. Just details of barrages and '31 battery personnel to wagon lines' on 19th. No mention of 31 battery in the 10 days prior to 17th October.

7 Div CRA level war diary it says ‘Batteries come into action in Glencourse Wood. Battery positions very heavily shelled all day’. Artillery was obviously operating in HAGs.

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 1917.

The Second Passchendaele Wiki page states that in the lead up to the main attack "X Corps attack ed 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".

Glencorse Wood – SE of Westhoek and SW of Polygon Wood in October.

31 Battery WD states that Glencorse Wood & Inverness Copse were captured on 20-09-1917.

According to 31 Battery WD: on 23-09-1917 Three artillerymen were killed near Verbranden-Molen ( and many more wounded):

1) Wheeler Corporal George Robertson 36186 aged 24

2) Gunner George Lamb 150462 aged 32

3) Gunner William Milburn 44758 aged 26

On 28-09-1917 Gunner J Roberts 125273 (RGA) was recorded killed.

 

Charles' brothers Harold (7693) & Herbert (8196) (b. 31 Mar 1890) served with the Lincolnshire Regiment. Mother living 14 Princess St., Lincoln after their father’s death.

Harold enlisted 10 August 1914, went to France 26 Jan 1915, but was discharged as unfit in 1915 too (Fold3) Harold died 25 April 1916.

Charles' brother Arthur (1886-1929) may also have served with the Lincolnshire Regt. (19020?).

 

1939 Charles was living at 3 Gainsthorpe Road, Kirton-in-Lindsey in 1939 with his wife Sarah. He was a coal trimmer, but working in the nearby cement works. His DOB was given as 8 December 1880.

DEATH: Charles died 19 Jan 1961 aged 80 and was cremated.  His wife Sarah Anne Ashton died in 1966 aged 82.

Edited 26 June , 2022 by Ivor Anderson
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