Private 11849 John James Ashby

Family details:
Son of Theodore and Mary Ann Ashby, of 32, Hamer St., St. Helens, Lancs. Father Theodore is legatee.

Census details:
1901 - 5 year old John J is living at 31 Randon Street, St Helens with his parents Theodore (36), Mary Ann (35) and six siblings: Florence Mary (12), Thomas (10), Theodore (7), John James (5), William (3), Herbert Kimberley (1). Also at the address is Theodore's father-in-law John Coughlan (64). 1911 Census finds John J single 15 employed as a Block Minder. He is living with his parents Theodore 46, Mary Ann 45 and siblings Florence May 22, Thomas 30, Theodore 17, William 13, Hannah Louise 8, Walter Henry 6, Selina 3 and Joseph Frances 4 months living at 31 Hamer Street, St Helens.

I believe his number was issued on 1st or 2nd September 1914 at St Helens. We can see from his Medal Card that he arrived in theatre on 2nd February 1915. The diary for that day reads:- Tuesday 2nd February 1915 Wet day. Battalion at rest in billets at WESTOUTRE. Local situation quiet. A reinforcement of 50 men under 2nd Lt Thomas Rich Sweet-Escott, 3rd Battn., which arrived at WESTOUTRE yesterday evening was distributed amongst the companies Going forward to 24th September 1915, the diary continues:- Friday 24th September 1915 Very dull, showery day. Battalion at rest until evening. Considerable activity amongst artillery, both ours and enemy's, throughout the whole day, many shells passing over battalion bivouacs. Battalion left bivouac about 6:30 pm and marched to position in vicinity of Hooge, arriving about 9:00 pm, and at once proceeded to occupy various trenches allotted from which an attack on enemy's position was to be launched. Rain had been falling most of the day and during the evening but during the night it was very heavy and this hampered movement considerably. Saturday 25th September 1915 Bombardment by our guns commenced at 3:50 am and continued till 4:20 am at which hour the attack on the enemy's position by our infantry was launched. The limits on our right and left were 1st Gordon Highlanders and 2nd Royal Irish Rifles respectively. A curious combination of regiments - English, Irish and Scotch. The report of the operation has been made the subject of a separate communication being too long for diary purposes, but the following brief facts must be recorded here. The two assaulting companies were 'A' on the right under Capt J H Schooling and 'B' on the left under Capt. F A Bagley with Major J Becks in command. These companies moved forward at once on completion of the bombardment by our guns but it appears that the left company of the 1st Gordon Highlanders had moved off too soon and finding the barbed wire in their front to be insufficiently cut, they moved too much to the left in an endeavour to force a passage through the wire. This they were unable to do and consequently as the right of our right company 'A' moved forward, they were met by some of the Gordon Highlanders who had been unable to press forward, and this led to some confusion. Our company also found the enemy's wire uncut and were forced to retire. Another combined effort by rallied men of ours and Highlanders met with no better success. Our bombers on this flank did some good work but they were unable to make headway against enemy's machine guns, which in the half light were difficult to locate. Our left company 'B' was held up by a low wire obstacle a short distance in front of enemy parapet. This obstacle came as a surprise, our men falling over it before they could see it. The ground generally was very difficult owing to being broken up by shell fire and debris of all kinds. All the officers and Sergeants of 'B' Company were casualties. 2nd Lt Strickland assumed command. This company got close up to the enemy's parapet and a few men got through. Their casualties were 114 all ranks out of a total of 170. The bombers on the left also did good work, getting quite close to enemy's trenches, but being unable to make headway, were forced to withdraw. There appears no doubt that the enemy was well prepared for the assault, as their rifle fire was opened before our assault was actually commenced. The total casualties were:- Other ranks Killed 26, Wounded, 175, Missing, 47. Total 248 In addition, the following casualties occurred amongst officers:- Killed Lt D W Goldsmith and 2nd Lt G R A Case Missing 2nd Lt R Gillespie Wounded Major J Becke, Captain F A Bagley, 2nd Lt R G Spalding and 2nd Lt G Case Suffering from shock 2nd Lt C A H Hogg Throughout the day companies held the original positions and were subjected to continuous heavy shell fire. Rain fell heavily all day and the situation generally was most uncomfortable. During the night, the Battalion was relieved by 1st Wiltshire Regiment. ====================================== The Manchester Courier of 16th October 1915 listed Pte Ashby amongst the wounded on a list from France dated 6th October. Then on 4th December 1915, the same publication reported him as 'previously reported wounded, now reported wounded and missing', on a list from France dated 24th November. This suggests that when the Roll was taken after the action (usually within a day or so), somebody reported that they saw Pte Ashby and that he was wounded. The lists of wounded coming back from Casualty Clearing Stations and Field Hospitals will have been examined over the following weeks to see if he had turned up anywhere. After no news had been received for some time, his status will have been changed to 'wounded and missing'. After about 12 months with no news, he will have been reclassified as "missing, presumed killed" Researched by Stephen Nulty. [pic]tpics/Ashby_Brothers.jpg[/pic] [caption]Newspaper showing JJ Ashby and brothers[/caption] [pic]imgs/sppics/Anders_Appleton_Ashby_SLR.jpg[/pic][caption]The inscription for Private John James Ashby on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial (Photograph courtesy of Ste M.)[/caption]