Name
George Bertram Ashworth
May 1893
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
10/08/1916
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Second Lieutenant
Suffolk Regiment
3rd Bn. attd. 7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LA NEUVILLE BRITISH CEMETERY, CORBIE
I. F. 21.
France
Headstone Inscription
IN EVER LOVING MEMORY
UK & Other Memorials
Bengeo School Memorial – Location TBC
Pre War
George Bertram Ashworth was born in 1893, in Prestwich, Oldham, he was baptised on 7th June 1893 in St Margaret’s Chapel, Holyrood, Prestwich.
The 1901 Census shows the Family living at Polefield Hall, Prestwich. In 1911 he was living (Occupation – Clerk) with his parents Thomas and Mary Matilda (nee Scott) in Kemnal Wood, Chislehurst, along with his brother John and three sisters Grace Eileen, Sybil Mary and Enid Rosalind. His father was a mining engineer.
Wartime Service
George was originally in the Royal West Kent Regiment as Private 2419.
He was commissioned from the ranks, as Second Lieutenant on 29 May 1915 and went to France on 13 Jul 1916, having been posted to 3rd Battalion Suffolk Regt but was attached to 7th Bn. His unit had taken part in the Somme campaign at Ovillers-La Boiselle on the night of 1st July 1916 with mixed success. They attacked again on 7th July and despite suffering heavy casualties they captured the first two German trench lines.
They were withdrawn from the trenches on 9th July and were not in action again until the battle for Pozieres on 3rd August when they captured 4th Avenue trench from the enemy. They were in action with heavy fighting until withdrawn on 9th August. George had been wounded in the fighting before 9th and died of his wounds on 10 Aug 1916.
According to probate records he resided at Longwood, 2 Avenue Road, Regents Park, Middx. and left £4981 17s 9d to his Father Thomas.
Additional Information
J. Ashworth (brother?), 62 Elsworthy Road, London NW3, ordered his headstone inscription: "IN EVER LOVING MEMORY". His younger brother Roger William Ashcroft was commissioned 2nd Lt Hants Regt later transferring to RFC 14 may 1917 but died 26 April 1918 at 15 Flying School , Spitalgate, Grantham.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Ann Hacke, Terry & Glenis Collins
