Tag Archives: France

Frank Ashforth, Arras Memorial, Faubourg d'Amiens British Cemetery, Arras

Published: September 16, 2010    Last modified: May 22, 2022

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Arras Memorial, Faubourg d'Amiens British Cemetery, Arras, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France: F. Ashforth

During our recent visit to France and in order to visit some of the many war memorials located in this region we spent a few days camped at Boiry-Notre-Dame, 10km east of Arras, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France.

The Arras Memorial at the Faubourg d'Amiens British Cemetery at Arras commemorates the 34,785 soldiers of the forces of the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand, with no known grave, who died in the Arras region between the spring of 1916 and 7 August 1918. One of these soldiers was Frank Stuart ASHFORTH 1892-1918, my great great uncle.

William Henry Ashforth, The Missing of the Somme, Thiepval Memorial, Thiepval

Published: September 16, 2010    Last modified: November 14, 2016

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The Missing of the Somme, Thiepval Memorial, Thiepval, Picardie, France: W.H. Ashforth

During June and July 2010 we visited Burgundy, France but broke our journey at Arras in order to spend a few days visiting the memorials dedicated to the missing of the Somme. So after many years of wishing to, I finally made time to visit the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.

On a summers day with perfect weather it was hard to imagine the horrors that took place across this beautiful landscape and distressing to surmise how William Henry ASHFORTH 1896-1916, my great uncle, met his death.

This beautifully maintained memorial rises defiantly above the French landscape only needing the inscription of 73,367 names to instantly bring home the horrors man politicians can inflict on man.

Frank Stuart Ashforth 1892-1918: Yet another casualty of war

Published: January 12, 2010    Last modified: October 14, 2017

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Frank Stuart Ashforth 1892-1918

My mother identified this photograph as Frank Stuart ASHFORTH 1892-1918. Frank was an uncle to William Henry ASHFORTH 1896-1916, my grandfather Ernest ASHFORTH 1905-1990's brother. William Henry ASHFORTH 1896-1916 was killed in action, 1916, France, during World War I.

Rank: Private
Service No: 15858
Date of Death: 22/03/1918
Regiment/Service: Yorkshire Regiment 13th Bn.
Panel Reference: Bay 5.
Memorial: ARRAS MEMORIAL
Additional Information: Son of Mrs. E. Ashforth, of 42, Burton St., Hillsborough, Sheffield.

The reverse of this photograph / post card reveals it was sent from Frank Stuart ASHFORTH 1892-1918 to his nephew and my great uncle William Henry ASHFORTH 1896-1916.

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To view my previous post regarding William Henry ASHFORTH 1896-1916 please click here.

What I hadn't realised was that Frank also died in action in France during World War 1. I was searching on the name "Frank Ashforth" when I came across an entry on a 'pay to view' military genealogy website. The entry was simply:

'Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914 to 1919', Frank Ashforth, Hillsborough, Sheffield.

Not wishing to subscribe I merely checked the Commonwealth War Grave Commission website and quickly located a Frank ASHFORTH of 42 Burton Street, Hillsborough, Sheffield.

During this period the Renwicks lived at 41 Burton Street and Ellen ASHFORTH (née Ellen TOMLINSON 1855-1943) lived at 42 Burton Street, her husband William Henry ASHFORTH 1851-1899 having passed away in 1899. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission database confirms Ellen ASHFORTH's name and address under the heading 'Additional information':

Son of Mrs. E. Ashforth, of 42, Burton St., Hillsborough, Sheffield.

To view the Commonwealth War Graves Commission entry for Frank Stuart ASHFORTH 1892-1918 please click here.

To read about the Arras Memorial please click here.

Updates:
2010-09-14 I visited the Faubourg d'Amiens Cemetery and the Arras Memorial at Arras, France during June 2010. I will eventually post an article and an album of photographs.

Private William Henry Ashforth 1896-1916: Missing of the Somme, Thiepval Memorial

Published: February 11, 2009    Last modified: January 12, 2017

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Private William Henry Ashforth
Killed in action, July 10th 1916

A very poignant photograph.

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The message on the reverse side of this photograph reads:

Pte W. H. Ashforth 13699
11 West York Reg
Killed in action, July 10th 1916
To be returned to
173 Cuthbert Bank Road
Sheffield

This is one of the possessions of William Henry ASHFORTH 1896-1916 to be returned to the family: another is a 5 pack of Woodbine cigarettes.

Private William Henry Ashforth together with 72090 other identified casualties are commemorated at the Thiepval Memorial, France.
To view the Casualty Details and Certificate at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website please click here.
To read more about the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France please click here.
To read about The CAF Thiepval Project and Visitor Centre at Thiepval, Somme, France please click here.

Updates:
2010-09-14: I visited the Thiepval Memorial to the 'Missing of the Somme' at Thiepval, Picardie, France during June 2010. I will eventually post an article and an album of photographs.

Clara Williamson (née Clara Ashforth 1895-1932)

Published: February 13, 2007    Last modified: February 15, 2017

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Clara Williamson (née Clara Ashforth 1895-1932)

Clara Williamson (née Clara ASHFORTH 1895-1932) was my great great aunt, the youngest child of William Henry ASHFORTH 1851-1899 and Ellen ASHFORTH (née Ellen TOMLINSON 1855-1943).

On the reverse of this photograph written in ink is this citation:

"With love from Clara to William"

William Henry ASHFORTH 1851-1899, Clara's father, died about 4 years after her birth, so this is most likely a reference to either her brother (my great grandfather) William Henry ASHFORTH 1873-1926 or her nephew (my great uncle) William Henry ASHFORTH 1896-1916. Her nephew William Henry ASHFORTH 1896-1916 would have been only a year or two younger than Clara; he died in action at the Somme, France on the 10th of July 1916.

Written in pencil on the reverse of the photograph is a date, though only 'June 10.....' is legible.

Updates:
2012-01-27 In earlier research I recorded Ellen ASHFORTH (née Ellen PASLEY) to be the wife of William Henry ASHFORTH 1851-1899 when in fact later research showed it to be Ellen ASHFORTH (née Ellen TOMLINSON 1855-1943). I have edited this article to reflect the change.

William Henry Ashforth: Casualty 771110

Published: May 13, 2005    Last modified: February 4, 2017

William Henry Ashforth 1896-1916

William Henry Ashforth 1896-1916

William Henry ASHFORTH, Private 13699, died 10 July 1916, aged 20 years.
Initials: W H
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own)
Unit Text: "B" Coy. 11th Bn.
Age: 20
Date of Death: 10/07/1916
Service No: 13699
Additional information: Son of William Henry and Florence Ashforth, of 173, Cuthbert Bank Rd., Sheffield.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Pier and Face 2 A 2 C and 2 D.
Memorial: Thiepval Memorial