Name
Walter Robert Ashforth
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
28/06/1916
37
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Serjeant
2901
London Regiment *1
19th (County of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TRANCHEE DE MECKNES CEMETERY, AIX-NOULETTE
Row G, Grave 17.
France
Headstone Inscription
He has no Inscription on his Headstone
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, St Matthew’s Church Memorial, Oxhey
Pre War
Son of the late James and Mary Ann (nee WHITE) ASHFORTH; husband of 1) Mary (nee SYLVESTER) ASHFORTH; 2) Emma Hetty (nee HALL) ASHFORTH.
His parents married 1873 in the Sheffield, Yorks, district. Mary died 1888 aged 39 in the Eccleshall Bierlow, Yorks, district, and was buried 5 September in Burngreave Cemetery, Brightside, Sheffield; James died 1913 in the Eccleshall Brierlow district aged 72.
Walter was born 1878 in Sheffield, and baptised 6 October 1878 at St Mary’s, Sheffield.
1881 Census has Walter aged 2, living with his parents, brother James 4 and 1 month old sister. His mother Mary died in 1888 aged 39.
On the 1891 Census, a baker’s errand boy aged 12, he still lived in Eccleshall Brierlow, with his widowed father and two siblings.
He married firstly 18 September 1898 at St Philip’s, Shalesmoor, Sheffield. On the 1901 Census, a haridresser aged 22, he lived in Brightside, Sheffield, with his first wife, Mary, and no children.
Mary died 1910 in Watford aged 40, and was buried 19 July in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford.
By 1911 he was living on his own at 6, Roberts Road, Watford and was working as a gentlemen’s hairdresser in the town.
He remarried 26 February 1913 at St Mary’s, Watford, and resided in Watford. Emma never remarried, she died 23 August 1938 in Watford aged 63, and was buried 27 August at St James’, Bushey, Herts.
Wartime Service
He enlisted at Camden Town and served as Sergeant 2901 in the London Regiment. 19th Battalion. He went to France 10th March 1915.
He was killed in action on 28 June 1916 and was buried at Tranchee De Mecknes Cemetery, Aix-Nouette in France.
His service entitled him to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals.
Additional Information
There is a Death announcement for Walter in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 15 July 1916; and In Memoriams in the issues dated 17 June 1917 and 28 June 1919. The Value of his effects were £3-19s-0d, Pay Owing and £11, War Gratuity which went to his widow Emma.
Unfortunately, Walter’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing. Information’ provided with kind permission of Bushey First World War Commemoration Project – Please visit www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk.
*1 Believed more correctly, (County of London)
Bn. London Regiment (St Pancras).
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
