ASHTON, William


No.13039, Lance Corporal, William ASHTON
Aged 27


1st Bn. Suffolk Regiment
Killed in Action on Saturday, 8th May 1915


Born in 1888 (2nd qtr Bury St.Edmunds 4a:724), son of Alfred and Alice ASHTON (née HERBERT).

1891 census...Aged 3, he was at 17 St Edmunds Place, Bury St.Edmunds with his father Alfred ASHTON [38] railway signals fitter born in Barrow; his mother Alice [36] born Colchester; sisters Kate [15], Edith [14], Emily [12] all domesic servants,and Alice [9] all born in Colchester; brothers Frederick [7], Alfred [5] and George [1], all born in Bury St.Edmunds.

1901 census...Aged 13, he was at 17 St Edmunds Place with his parents; brothers Fred [17] railway porter, Alfred [15] errnd boy, George [11, Frank [4] and Horace [2]; sister Florry [9]. All the children were born in Bury S.Edmunds

1911 census...Aged 23, a GER plate layer, he was boarding in Ingham with the MEADOW family.
The family were still at 17 St.Edmunds Place, Bury St.Edmunds, his parents (mother had lost 2 of her 13 children); brothers Fred [27 GER Porter/guard, Alfred [25]GER porter/signalman, Frank [14] errand boy, and Horace [12]

The pension card has his mother still at 17 St.Edmunds Place, Bury St.Edmunds

His brother Frank was killed only one month earlier, in Belgium and is also named on the Menin Gate see here


He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds.
Unlike the officer that wrote the war diary for his brother Frank's battalion, this one could not stop writing. In summary though, the battalion strength at this time was 23 Officers, 565 OR. The 1st Suffolks on 8th May were subjected to a very intense German barrage at about 06:30, causing heavy casualties.This was followed by a German infantry attack, about the junction of the 83rd and 84 Brigades and the line was broken just south of the Ypres-Zonnebeke road. This eventually led to the battalion being almost surrounded, nearly all killed, wounded or captured. Men of the 12th London Regiment attempted to reinforce them but failed. Our own artillery response to the German barrage was totally inadequate.
The order had to be given to retire and eventually the few survivors made it to trenches manned by the Royal Irish Regiment. Only 3 Officers were left (1 of them wounded). The Northumberland Fusiliers also later made their way back to these trenches, followed by the Germans.The enemy were halted by rifle fire, digging in about 400 yards away. Another intense German artillery barrage commenced towards dusk, again causing heavy casualties.
Total casualties on 8th May were:- Officers 5 killed, 5 wounded, 7 wounded and prisoner, 2 wounded and missing, 1 missing and 1 prisoner.(total 21): Other Ranks killed 33, wounded and missing 82, missing 319 (total 434). So, out of 588 men, only 133 met the roll call on the 9th.

On the right hand flint wall at the end of Myrtle Mews off St. Martins Street (adjacent to St. Edmunds Place) there is a carved wooden shrine for the men of St Edmunds Place, Bury St.Edmunds. Named on it are Frederick R.Allen - Frank Ashton - William Ashton - William Barton - Fred Brunning - James P Cook - Edward C Creek - William E Nunn - James H Pallant - Victor Southgate.
Made by Mr E W Cottis, wood carver, of 10 Looms lane, Bury St Edmunds unveiled on 28th August 1920 by Rev.W.H.Colman, curate of St.Johns




The St Edmunds Place memorial - photo Peter Layland


William Ashton is commemorated on the Menin Gate, Ypres panel 21
and on the St Edmund's Place memorial

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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