ASHFORD, Henry George
| Service Number: | 1868 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 26 January 1916, Casula |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 57th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Scone, New South Wales, Australia, 18 March 1898 |
| Home Town: | Scone, Upper Hunter Shire, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Maitland Boys’ High School, Maitland, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Farm Hand |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 23 November 1916, aged 18 years |
| Cemetery: |
AIF Burial Ground, Grass Lane, Flers IV. L. 25., AIF Burial Ground, Flers, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Maitland High School Roll of Honour, Scone Barwick House War Memorial Arch, Scone Public School WW1 Honor Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 26 Jan 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1868, 59th Infantry Battalion, Casula | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 May 1916: | Involvement Private, 1868, 59th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '20' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Port Lincoln embarkation_ship_number: A17 public_note: '' | |
| 4 May 1916: | Embarked Private, 1868, 59th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Port Lincoln, Melbourne | |
| 25 Sep 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 57th Infantry Battalion | |
| 23 Nov 1916: | Involvement Private, 1868, 57th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 1868 awm_unit: 57 Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1916-11-23 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Michael Silver
The Scone Advocate reported on 12 January 1917 that on the evening of Tuesday 9 January 1917, Mr. John Ashford, of Satur, received official notification that his son, Private George Ashford, had been reported missing from France since 23 November 1916. The message ominously added that his son had probably been killed.
Enlisting in January 1916 the young Saturite — he celebrated his 18th birthday in camp — was a sterling type of Australian, sturdy and square-shouldered, despite his age. The very fact of his having enlisted so young, stamps him as one of the old stock; his youth in years being easily counter-balanced by his manliness. A youth of 18, he had the head and common-sense of a man of 40.
After being educated at the Maitland Boys' High School he was for some time on the staff of the local branch of Messrs M. Campbell and Co. He was, by employer and employees alike, a general favorite, so much so, that when he severed his connection with the firm, he was made the recipient of a fitting presentation. The little fellow was barely over five feet in height when he went under canvas, but withal he filled out his uniform in other respects, and it was a soldier's head that supported his cap.
From what we can hear, he seized the first opportunity when in England to get into action, where he could only have been but a short time, and apparently from the meagre information to hand, he paid the price of his bravery.
Mr. Ashford's only remaining eligible son, 13181 Driver Oscar Leslie Ashford, is at present on his way to the front. The parents have not wholly abandoned hope, and we trust, with their many friends, that despite their receipt of the bad news, that they will not be hoping against hope for the safety of their brave, manly, and exemplary young son.
Tragically, Private Henry George Ashord was killed instantly when a high explosive shell exploded upon him as his platoon was moving towards the front line near Flers, France. His brother Oscar survived the war, returning to Australia in 1919.
Reference: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article156914227
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