ASHTON, James Richard
| Service Number: | 477 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 5 February 1915, Enlisted at Liverpool, NSW |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 18th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, 1876 |
| Home Town: | Tocumwal, Berrigan, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | State School, Tasmania, Australia |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Wounds, At sea on board NZHS Maheno, Gallipoli, Dardanelles, Turkey, 28 August 1915 |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" No known grave Panel 60, Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli Peninsula, Canakkale Province, Turkey |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Lone Pine Memorial to the Missing |
World War 1 Service
| 5 Feb 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 477, 18th Infantry Battalion, Enlisted at Liverpool, NSW | |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Jun 1915: | Involvement Lance Corporal, 477, 18th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ceramic embarkation_ship_number: A40 public_note: '' | |
| 25 Jun 1915: | Embarked Lance Corporal, 477, 18th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ceramic, Sydney | |
| 27 Aug 1915: | Wounded AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 477, 18th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, Shell wound to the foot which was amputated |
Help us honour James Richard Ashton's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Served in the Boer War as 1603 Trooper James Richard Ashton 3rd New South Mounted Rifles. He was married in Tocumwal NSW in 1903 to Elizabeth Myhill, and had four children born in Tocumwal up until 1909.
Tocumwal Guardian 8 October 1915.
‘Word has been received of the death from wounds of Corporal James Ashton, who lived in Tocumwal for a number of years, where he was well and favourably known. He saw service in the South African war, and immediately prior to enlisting was in the employ of Mr. James Doyle, of ‘Woodsome Lees’ Tocumwal.’
Also, in the Tocumwal Guardian during April 1916, a letter was published from a Tocumwal soldier Private Jack McConnaughty to a friend, date of 17 February 1916. He says: ‘Poor Jim Ashton was killed in the second charge that he was in. He was hit severely in the leg by a machine gun, the leg being almost cut off. He died very shortly after from shock.’
Jim Ashton was badly wounded in the leg at Hill 60 Gallipoli during the 18th Battalion attack on 27 August 1915. His leg was badly shattered and he was removed to the hospital ship ‘H.S. Maheno’ where his foot was amputated but he died of wounds the next day. He was buried at sea.
The kids were in the care of the Sydney Rescue Work Society and the eldest son James Ashton, who was about 9 years of age at the time, received his medals.
He is remembered on the Tocumwal War Memorial.
Biography contributed by Carol Foster
At the time of enlistment his martial status was given as Widower but there are hints that his wife may have deserted James and the children. His address was at the time of enlistment was the Commonwealth/Reservoir Street corner, Sydney which is the address of the Childrens Home where his children were housed
Next of kin was his daughter Daphne Amy Ashton of Concord, NSW formerly of the Childrens Home, Liverpool, NSW and was the oldest(aged about 11 years when James enlisted) of five children. Also the father of James Michael Ashton, William Stanley Ashton, Albert Ormon Ashton and Ida Isabel Ashton
Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Also served in the NSW Rifles for 12 months and the Canada Scouts, South Africa for about 9 months
Click images to start slideshow.