Lieutenant, Henry Oswald ASHTON
Aged 28
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Born on 24th September 1889 in Badwell Ash (qtr 4 Stow 4a:704), son of Henry Bankes and Agnes ASHTON (née MITCHELL).
1891 census...Aged 1, he was at Palmer Street, Walsham le Willows with his father Henry B Ashton [29] solicitor, born Deeping St Nicholas, Lincolnshire; his mother Agnes [23] born Cockermouth, Cumberland; his brother Eric M [5 months] born Walsham le Willows; Uncle Frank Ashton [38] a farmer born Brent Pelham, Hertfordshire. 1901 census...Aged 11, he was at 11 Northate Street, Bury St.Edmunds with hs parents; brothers Eric [10], Edward M [5], Percy W [4] and Thomas M [3 months] (the three youngest born in Bury St.Edmunds); sisters Agnes[9] born Walsham le Willows and Sybil Irene [7] born Bury St.Edmunds. 1911 census...Aged 21, a law student, he was still at 11 Northgate Street with his parents; brothers Eric Mossop (bank clerk), Edward Macolm, Percy Wyndham Bankes, Thomas Mason and John Mossop [5]; sisters Agnes Mitchell and Sybil Irene. In 1914 he married Dorothy Mary ALLINGHAM [21] The Bury Free Press reported on 7th September 1918 :- DEATH OF LIEUT.H.O.ASHTON - BRILLANT BURY OFFICER KILLED BY A SNIPER - YESTERDAY'S SAD NEWS Seldom has the news of the death of a member of the King's Forces caused such feelings of sincere regret and sorrow in Bury St.Edmunds and in West Suffolk generally as did the receipt of the telegram yesterday (Thursday) announcing the death in France of Lieut.Henry Oswald Ashton, the brilliant eldest son of Mr.and Mrs.H. Bankes Ashton. The blow came almost as a personal loss to a exceptional number in the district, and the sympathy expressed for the bereaved parents and the sorrowing young widow is most marked. Lieut.Oswald Ashton was one of the best. He had already made more than a local reputation in the profession of law in which his father has been so successful; he was a thorough sportsman of the best type; he was possessed of a personaility which won for him a host of friends. His prospects were indeed of the brighteset - and now he has been stricken down bravely dong his duty, nobly and well, for his King and country and in the cause of liberty which appealed to him so strongly. Liet.Ashton, who was only 28 yers of age, held a commission in the Suffolk Territorials; this he had resigned before the outbreak of war. He would willingly have donned khaki again on the outbreak of hostilities, but prossional duties pressed heavily, for from the office Major Colin Oliver (one of the partners), an articled clerk and two other clerks joined up, and his duty obviously lay at home. However he attested under the Derby scheme, as one would have expected of such a fine young fellow, and in July 1916, he joined the Suffolks, where his services were invaluable in musketry and signalling courses. Later he was transferred to the Warwicks, and he went to the Front in April last. His three brothers of military age, Eric, Malcolm and Percy, all held commissions, two in the Royal Air Force and one in the A.S.C.. and they had been on active service some time earlier, they having joined up soon after war commenced. Lieut.Oswald went to France, and there he proved a most successful officer, beloved by his fellow officers and the men under his charge. His death was a terrible blow to them. He did not suffer, fortunately. Death was instantaneous, he being shot through the head by a sniper. The deceased young offce was educated at Walthamstow and Felsted School, and then became articled to his father. As indicated, his progress was exceptional, and after beng taken into the firm of Bankes Ashton and Co., solicitors, Bury St.Edmunds and Stowmarket, he proved a most succesful advocate, with a sound knowledge of the law and a convincig delvery. Lieut.Ashton, following in his father's footsteps, was a thorough Brtish sportsman of the highest type. From his early boyhood days it was apparent that he was destined to achieve fame as an athlete. Almost every realm of sport he explored and in nearly all he excelled. As a lad at school he won every possible prize for which he was eligible to compete, and he was always regarded by his fellow scholars as the hero of the school playing field. It was as a footballer that he chiefly came prominently before the public. For several seasons he was Captain of the Bury United Club, and it is doubtful if ever a local player achieved quite such popularity as did "H.O" as he was familiarly termed. During his captaincy he brought to bear distinct gifts of leadership in addition to being a brilliant exponent of the game. He usually filled the centre forward position and many a goal has he registered for his side. He was exceptionally fast, a splendid shot, and a rare opportunist. He was by no means a selfish player, for he fed his wing men whenever his judgment so dictated, but there was nothing which thrilled the crowd more than one of his solo efforts, and when he once got going the opposing defence was quite often left standing. He had the distinction of scoring the winning goal in an historic match when Bury beat Ipswich Town, which was the only occasion that Bury were ever succesfful against Ipswich. The point was a beautiful header from one of W.W.Smith's centres. So pleased were the spectators with H.O's display that they carried him shoulder high off the field. Occasionally he played half back, and we well remember one match when he was playing for his County against Cambridge University on the King's Road ground when he filled the centre half position. He had up against him the famous Varsty flyer Brisley, but Lieut. Ashton had the measure of him from the start, and his sterling play was largely attributable to his side being victorious by 2-1. He frequenty played for his County, and he also assisted the famous amateur club, The Corinthians, and on one occasion he went on tour to Germany with them. He was also a cricketer of no mean order. He could handle a willow and trundle a ball with the best of them, and he was frequently seen in the team of the Bury and West Suffolk Club. Hockey and tennis he also indulged in. But whatever the particular sport might be, one thing was certain, he always played the game. By his death West Suffolk has lost one of the finest sportsmen it ever had. He leaves a widow and one child. Mrs.Oswald Ashton was a daughter of Mr.Sydney Allingham (ofthe firm of Messrs.Robert Boby Ltd., St.Andrew's Works) and of Mrs.Allingham, and the wedding in July 1914, was a popular local event. Last evening we received the following:- " May I venture to ask for the insertion of this expression of the most sincere reret we all feel at the sad news that has been received in Bury in the loss of one of its most typical of English gentlemen and a true sportsman, Mr. H.O.Ashton ? I am sure that I am voicing the words of every fellow sportsman and everyone who has come in contact with him during the happy days he was amongst us, and we would at the same time convey our thoughts of deepest sympathy towards Mr.and Mrs.Banes Ashton and family at their sad loss of what we felt was a shining light of the family - Believe me, on behalf of fellow sportsmen and others, W.W.Smith". |
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Proving his military travels is proving almost impossible until the National Archives open again. He does seem to have transferred from the Suffolks 5th since they were not in France/Flanders at that stage of the war. The question is, was he with the Suffolks or the Warwicks at the time of his death ?. It does appear that he was mobilised in July 1916 as 2nd Lieut., in Suffolk 3rd/5th Battalion, promoted to Lieutenant and attached to the 15th Bn, Royal Warwickshire Regiment. That battalion, in August 1918 were in action just south east of Mory:- 1918 Aug 29th - in front line - 3 pm Battn HQ moved to H.6.c.1.3. 5pm "A" Coy on right and "D" on left advance in touch with 4th Bn 3rd N.Z.R.B. on their right with co-operation of tanks Positions established in H.18.b through H.18 central to H.18.c with "C" Coy immediately in rear of "A" and "D" of "B" 6:30 - Orders received that 13th Inf Brigade withdraws to Divisional Reserve. 15/R.War.R will be relieved by 1/D.C.L.I. Casualties:- Officers 1 killed, 3 wounded....Other Ranks 1 killed, 2 wounded. |
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