Name
Harry Ashton
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
NA
Biography
Harry is recorded in the Parish Magazine of September 1915 as enlisting sometime during 1914, but after July, and serving in the 4th Hussars. In all it would appear that two brothers served and survived - refer to Frank Ashton for more family details.
Harry was one of the original ‘Old Contemptibles’, so called because the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) was so small that Kaiser Wilhelm II called it ‘General French's contemptible little army’.
In August 1914, the BEF was tiny in comparison to the German Army, just 70,000 men facing 160,000, but they fought incredibly bravely and with immense discipline. They were continually forced back by what should have been overwhelming numbers, but fought so well that the Germans believed they were a larger force with substantial reserves. Eventually, east of Ypres, they were able to dig in and hold the Germans, while the British, French and Belgians re-grouped, recruited and gathered strength. By the end of November 1914, of the original BEF men, perhaps 120,000, casualties numbered around 90,000, and these were the most experienced soldiers in the British Army.
Harry is believed to have been in the army before the war, serving in Ireland and then, after the war, went on to serve in India.
Acknowledgments
Text from the book “The Pride of Pirton” by Jonty Wild, Tony French & Chris Ryan used.
