VERDON, Ashleigh Robert
| Service Number: | 2171 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 10 April 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 34th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Breeza, New South Wales, Australia, 21 February 1891 |
| Home Town: | Singleton, Northumberland, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Tailor |
| Died: | SW eye, arm and leg, 17th Casualty Clearing Station, Ypres, Belgium, 1 October 1917, aged 26 years |
| Cemetery: |
Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery Plot XXV, Row A, Grave No. 13 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Hamilton War Memorial, Singleton War Memorial, Waratah Memorial Gates, West Narrabri Public School Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 10 Apr 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2171, 34th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 24 Aug 1916: | Involvement Private, 2171, 34th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Anchises embarkation_ship_number: A68 public_note: '' | |
| 24 Aug 1916: | Embarked Private, 2171, 34th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Anchises, Sydney | |
| 30 Sep 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 2171, 34th Infantry Battalion, Polygon Wood, Died 17th Casualty Clearing Station at 1.15pm, 18 hrs after receiving SW to arm, eye and leg - severe |
Help us honour Ashleigh Robert Verdon's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
Gary Mitchell, Sandgate Cemetery
Awaiting memorialisation at Sandgate Cemetery.
103 years ago today, on the 1st October 1917, Private Ashleigh Robert Verdon, 34th Battalion (stretcher bearer, Reg No-2171), tailor from John Street, Singleton, New South Wales, died of wounds (1.15 P.M.) received during the Battle of Polygon Wood, Passchendaele Campaign, age 26.
Born at Breeza, New South Wales on the 21st February 1891 to William Levienns (died 1905?) and Elizabeth Ann (died 1948 - Verdon of Cleary Street, Hamilton, New South Wales and 66 Maitland Road, Mayfield, N.S.W. and 85 Ingall Street, Mayfield East, N.S.W., Ashleigh enlisted April 1916 at West Maitland, N.S.W.
Admitted to hospital 2.2.1917 (scabies), and wounded in action - 1.10.1917 (shell wounds to arm, eye and leg), Mr Verdon is resting at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Belgium. Plot XXV Row A Grave 13. Photos courtesy of Eddy Lin, Belgium.
Mr Verdon’s name has been inscribed on the West Narrabri Public School Roll of Honour (photo, unveiled on the 20th September 1918.
Singleton War Memorial, Hamilton Municipal District Roll of Honor, Waratah Park Memorial Gates and the Wickham (Hawkins Oval) Soldiers' Memorial.
There is no headstone for Ashleigh’s mother Elizabeth, therefore no memorial inscription to tell us of the supreme sacrifice of her son during The Great War, so July 2017 I placed a memorial cross adorned with poppies on the gravesite, taken a photo of the memorialised grave and uploaded the photo onto the Northern Cemetery website as a permanent record of his service. ANGLICAN 1-54. 107.
Older brother Henry Schofield (Reg No-1828, 2nd Australian Light Railway Operating Company, born 1882, died 1972, Armidale, N.S.W.) also served 1st A.I.F.
Another brother Frederick also served, not located.
Lest We Forget.
Note (EE): Pte Verdon was highly regarded for his stretcher bearing work. Witness' in his Red Cross reports indicated that he had been recommended for a MM, one witness also suggested also a VC.
Click images to start slideshow.