AN EMOTIVE "1st WILTSHIRE Regt" (Old Contemptible)
1914 STAR & BAR (Early 'Sniper' Casualty) TRIO & PLAQUE .

To:
5702 Pte W. ASHFORD 1st BATTALION WILTSHIRE REGT.

KILLED IN ACTION 11th DECEMBER 1914

[BIOGRAPHY]
William Ashford was born at Pylle, Somerset in 1882. The 1911 census sees him at age 29 living at home with his widowed mother Jane ASHFORD (60) and his younger brother James age 20. Prior to enlistment William and his brother had worked as a farm labourers. Jane Ashford worked for the local county council as a cleaner. Based on the issue date of William's service number of 5702, it seems likely that he first joined the army as a regular at age 18 in March 1901.

As was normal at that time he probably signed on for 9 years with the colours and with a commitment of 3 years in the reserve. This would put him as leaving his first engagement in the spring of 1910 at age 28 while still due for service.

As above, he's shown at age 29 in 1911 having returned to civilian life as a farm worker. At the outbreak of war he was aged 32 and probably only having just one year previously left the reserve but clearly still wishing to serve he immediately signed up again at Salisbury. He then clearly undertook some weeks of basic re-training. The serving regulars from the 1st Wiltshire's were shipped to France just 10 days after the declaration and landed at Rouen, on 14th August 1914 with the newly recalled 1st Bn reservists etc arriving nine weeks later on 23rd October 1914.

[1st WILTSHIRE REGT]
1st Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment were based at at Tidworth with 7th Brigade, 3rd Division when war broke out in August 1914 the regular soldiers proceeded to France with the BEF, landing at Rouen on the 14th of August. They saw action in The Battle of Mons and the rearguard action at Solesmes, The Battle of Le Cateau, The Battle of the Marne, The Battle of the Aisne, at La Bassee, Messines and the First Battle of Ypres.





[11th DECEMBER 1914]
On the day William was killed in action, the 1st Wilts war diary does not record any O.R. casualties,but records only light enemy shelling and the sound of French artillery to the right of their position. The 1st Wilts were in the trenches at KEMMEL in Belgium. However, having read some reports of the enemy's position on 10th December 1914 it becomes apparent that from the 10th they had re-taken the high ground of the much contested and fought over "Hill 60" which overlooked the British positions at Kemmel. We therefore suggest that William Ashford was most likely the unfortunate victim of a German sniper who had positioned himself on the newly re-occupied high ground of Hill 60.

Whatever happened it also becomes apparent that William's body was probably initially buried in a local plot but as with so many of the early casualties, it was later lost.

He is therefore commemorated with eternal honour on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres. He is also remembered on the Frome Town War Memorial.

William Ashford was the Son of Jane Ashford of Pylle, & husband of Florence A. Ashford, of 9, Bell Lane, Frome, Somerset.

A Really Attractive Early Casualty Group including Plaque, all in practically "Mint State" on original mint ribbons, with various copy rolls, census & research papers.

NOTE: These early 1914 Star & Bar & Plaque groups in this level of superlative condition are becoming more and more difficult to locate.

£795