Sapper / Gunner George Ashton

SAPPER / GUNNER GEORGE ASHTON 3525 – Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company / 10th Field Artillery Battery

Balmain, Sydney, NSW was the birthplace of George Ashton in 1890 the son of Samuel and Julia E. Ashton. He had served an apprenticeship with Neptune Engineering Company and became a marine engineer.

At Victoria Barracks, Sydney on January 29, 1916 the twenty-six year old applied to enlist for active service abroad. Passing the preliminary medical examination personal particulars taken reveal he was 168cms (5ft 6ins) tall with a chest expansion of 82-89cms (32-35ins) with the postal address of 78 Arthur Street, North Sydney, NSW. Declared fit for active service his application was accepted by the recruiting officer.

On February 7, 1916 Attestation Forms were completed which add further information on enlistment of his weight of 58kgs (128lbs) with a dark complexion with hazel eyes and light brown hair. Eyesight tested to fair in his right eye and good in the left one. Distinctive marks were acne scars over his back and chest, a scar on his right cheek bone and a tattoo of an anchor and lighthouse on his right forearm. He had no previous illness. Church of England was his religious denomination. Next-of-kin was his mother Mrs Julia Ashton of 78 Arthur Street, North Sydney, NSW. The ‘Oath on Enlistment’ was signed and taken at Casula on February 7, 1916.

Basic training commenced at Casula with A Coy Depot Battalion from February 7, 1916 until transferred to the 1st Reinforcements to the Mining Corps on February 17.

Early in May, 1916 recruits from the No. 4 Tunnelling Company embarked from Brisbane aboard HMAT A69 Warilda for Sydney, NSW. Six officers and 152 other ranks together with the 1st Reinforcements of fifteen other ranks made up the two sections.

At Rosebery Park, Sydney, NSW on May 11, 1916 they joined their Headquarters and two sections (8 officers & 153 O.Rs.) plus 1st Reinforcements consisting of one officer and seventeen other ranks for final training. The rank of Sapper and the Regimental number 3525 in the No. 4 Company was assigned to him.

The 7713-ton transport HMAT Warilda departed Sydney, NSW on May 22, 1916 and collected in Melbourne, Victoria the No. 5 Company recruited from Victoria, South Aust. & Tasmania made up of Headquarters and 2 Sections (8 officers & 173 men) (3 M.D.). 1 Section from Tasmania (3 officers & 76 O.Rs); also 1st Reinforcements for No. 5 Company (17 men from Vic. & 8 men Tas.) The ship departed on May 25, 1916 for Adelaide, S.A. to collect one Section of 3 officers & 76 O.Rs with 1st Reinforcements of 8 O.Rs.

Docking at Fremantle, W.A. on June 1, 1916 added No. 6 Company recruited from W.A. of 14 officers and 325 O.Rs along with 1st Reinforcements of 1 Officer & 32 O.Rs departing the same day.

Durban, South Africa was reached on June 16, 1916 and Cape Town on June 21, 1916 while St Vincent completed the African ports of call on July 7, 1916. Discipline was fairly good except at intermediate ports where Away without Leave caused concern. The fifty-eight day voyage experienced remarkable pleasant weather terminating at Plymouth, England on July 18, 1916. Four, Five and Six Companies comprising of 1064 officers and other ranks were detrained to Amesbury and Tidworth to begin training for the front at Perham Downs’ camp.

The Reinforcements proceeded to France on August 28, 1916 and marched into the 2nd Aust Divisional Base Depot the next day. Because of his civilian occupation he was attached to the Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining and Boring Company on September 29, 1916 and joined their workshop section on October 7, 1916.

A few weeks later he was sent to the 1st Casualty Clearing Station on October 31 with Oedema (abnormal accumulation of fluid in body producing swelling) to his leg.

On November 6 was readmitted to the 1st C.C.S. then transferred on A.T.6 to the 14th General Hospital at Wimereux with P.U.O. (Pyrexia (fever) of uncertain origin) two days later. He was conveyed from Boulogne by hospital ship St David to England on November 11 entering the Reading War Hospital with Influenza.

Discharged to furlough on January 17, 1917 he had orders to report to Perham Downs on February 1, 1917. While at the No. 1 Command Depot his health was assessed when sent to Camp Headquarters and classed with B1a debility on February 21.

During April, 1917 he went to Parkhouse camp to the Hardening & Drafting Depot to build up strength and on April 16 left for Perham Downs.

On May 21, 1917 he arrived at the Aust Army Service Corps Training Depot after furlough.

In preparation for the front it was noted that a copy of his Will had been lodged with Mr Fitzharding (Attorney) Bulls Chambers, Martin Place, Sydney, NSW.

A muster for gunners took place and he was transferred to Artillery Details at Parkhouse on November 13, 1917 and taken on strength.

The troops left the Reserve Brigade Aust Artillery at Heytesbury and proceeded to France via Southampton on March 13, 1918 arriving at the A.G.B.D. at Rouelles a day later.

On March 16 Gunner Ashton was sent to Segregation Camp and returned on April 5, 1918 then marched out three days later to the 4th Division Artillery and taken on strength on April 7. He was transferred to the 10th Field Artillery Brigade on August 20, 1918 and his rank changed to Gunner but his service number remained the same.

He was wounded in action on October 12, 1918 receiving a shell wound to his left shoulder and taken to the 48th C.C.S. then transported on A.T.31 to the 5th General Hospital at Rouen.

A few days later he was conveyed on A.T.37 to join the hospital ship Gloucester Castle for England and admitted to the Greylingwell War Hospital in Chichester diagnosed with gunshot wound to his shoulder (slight).

Base Records sent advice to his mother on October 28, 1918 that her son was in hospital and again on November 7 with the name of the English hospital.

When Peace was declared he was still in the War Hospital until discharged to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford on November 15, 1918. Ten days later was discharged to the No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth arriving on November 29 and remained there until December 15, 1918.

On January 4, 1919 Gunner Ashton embarked for home on the H.T. Morvada due to gunshot wound to his left Axilla. His mother was advised by Base Records on January 31 that he was on his way home. The ship docked in Melbourne, Vic (3rd M.D.) on February 20, 1919 and he left with the 38th Battery by boat for Sydney, NSW (2nd M.D.)

News of the transport’s arrival was published in the: Sydney Morning Herald Tuesday February 25, 1919: INVALID PASSENGERS MORVADA TROOPS LANDING TO-DAY A contingent of invalid soldiers on the Morvada will disembark at 5.30 p.m. to-day. Friends and relations who have received tickets marked “Morvada” will be admitted to the Anzac Buffet at 5.15 p.m. No Queenslanders will disembark. Motor cars marked on the Red Cross Register from 431 to 538 are required to be at No. 1 Wharf, Woolloomooloo, at 5.15 p.m. As there will be no procession cars will be required to do three or more trips to the Anzac Buffet. All the arrangements are subject to quarantine regulations, and may be cancelled at the last minute.

A copy of his Will was forwarded to be filed on July 30, 1919. Military Discharge took place in Sydney, NSW (2nd M.D.) on August 9, 1919 as medically unfit.

The British War Medal (47054) and the Victory Medal (45948) were issued for serving his country to Sapper / Gunner 3525 George Ashton, Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining and Boring Company / 10th Field Artillery Battery.

He married in 1924 to Mildred Eileen Tibbett in North Sydney, NSW

George Ashton was a member of the Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining and Boring Company Anzac Day Reunion and appears in their 1928 and 1934 Registers residing at Quarantine Station, Manly and in the 1960-68 Register at 82 William Street, Brookdale.

He and his wife were at the Quarantine Station, Manly during those years where his occupation was a given as mechanic. The following articles appeared in the newspaper in the course of his employment:

Sydney MorningSydney Herald Morning Wednesday Herald Monday August June 29, 1934: 13, 1949 HUGE WHALESHIP BERTHS IN THE AFTER HARBOUR FUMIGATION The liner Mooltan left the Quarantine StationHIT BY for FERRY her berth at 22 Pyrmont yesterday afternoon. The Mooltan had been in quarantineSEEN FOR since NEARLY it reached TWO Fremantle HOURS on May 27. A huge whaleAn eight estimated year old to girlbe 60Janet feet Welch, in length, contracted was run smallpox down by in the Bombay Manly on ferry the voyageyesterday from afternoon London. after it had been seenThe spouting officer-in-charge and leaping of in thethe harbour Quarantine for more Station than an Mr hour. George Ashton, said the passenger and crew Great excitementaccommodation was created in the by Mooltan the appearance had been of fumigated the monster, with shortly formaldehyde after three gas o’clock yesterday. yesterday afternoon and it wasCurtains pursued and by severalcarpets launches.were sprayed with formalin as an additional precaution. When struckThis by morning the ferry a ferry steamer will thetake whale 268 Brisbane was apparently passengers making to Pyrmont for the to open rejoin sea, the and ship. the fact that it was swimmingThe rapidly Senior and Commonwealth erratically, and Medical at times Officer leaping Dr almost C.R. completelyWiburd, said out last of nightthe water that thesuggested danger thatof any it was further cases being chasedof smallpox by killers. among It is believedthe passengers that the had whale passed. was badly injured by the ferry. “The ferryIn waswas stoppedsixteen dayssuddenly since and any we passenger could see had the been whale in contact thrashing with about Janet in Welch, the water who which was taken was greatlyfrom the ship at discolouredFremantle. with blood,” said Mr G.H. Finniss, of Crown-road, Manly, who was a passenger on the Baragools on its tripTwo from children Manly to who Sydney. were suffering from chickenpox had been disembarked at North Head Quarantine Station. “I was in the smoke-room when the impact occurred at about 4.35 p.m.,” added Mr Finniss, “andArticle I ran Abridgedto the side of the steamer. The whale was submerged with the exception of the fin, which appeared to be about six to eight feet long, and it was impossible to estimate its length. After churning the water into foam for a minute or two the whale swam away in the direction of the quarantine reserve, and we lost sight of it.” Mr G. Ashton, the officer in charge of the quarantine station, sighted the whale near Flagstaff Point about 3.15 p.m. He and Mrs Ashton watched it through the field glasses for some time. At times diving, and then re- appearing a few moments later and leaping out of the water, the whale swam towards Manly, spouting and pursuing an erratic course. It went so close to land at Smedley’s Point that it appeared to Mr Ashton that it would be stranded, but the monster swam away after lashing the water with its great tail. Some fishermen in a launch circled around but most of the small craft remained at a distance, their occupants being afraid that they might be swamped. Passengers on ferries were thrilled by the spectacle, and one passenger Mr R.S. Christopher, of Longueville, said that a large launch could have been sunk easily if it had been within a few feet of the wash caused by its movements. The whale has not been seen by the South Head signal station, and last night in was not known whether the monster had left the harbour. George enlisted during World War II in Manly, NSW on April 2, 1942 with the Australian Army giving his date of birth as December 2, 1899. Next-of-kin was his wife Mildred Ashton and he was Private N233781 with the Volunteer Defence Corps. Date of discharge is not recorded.

The Ashtons were recorded at the Quarantine Station, Manly until 1949 then appear to have retired to Brookvale.

A Statement of Service was issued to the Repatriation Commission in Sydney, NSW by Base Records on October 20, 1955.

George Ashton passed away on October 31, 1961 aged about 71 years. Family notices and arrangements appeared in the:

Sydney Morning Herald Wednesday November 1, 1961 DEATHS ASHTON, George—October 31, 1961, at a private hospital, Mosman, and late of 82 William Street, Brookvale, dearly loved husband of Mildred Eileen Ashton and loving father of George, fond father-in-law of Constance and dear brother of Edith (Mrs E. Young, Neutral Bay). See Thursday’s “Herald” for funeral announcement.

Thursday November 2, 1961 FUNERALS ASHTON—The Relatives and Friends of Mrs Mildred E. Ashton, and Son George, are kindly invited to attend the Funeral of her dearly loved Husband and his loving Father, GEORGE ASHTON to leave our Chapel, corner Raglan and Whistler Street, Manly, This (Thursday) Morning, after service commencing at 10 o’clock for Crematorium, Northern Suburbs. F. TIGHE and CO PTY LTD Manly 97-4529 ASHTON—St John’s Lodge Manly No 83, U.G.L. of N.S.W.—The Officers and Brethren of the above Lodge are requested to attend the Funeral of their late esteemed Member, Bro. GEORGE ASHTON. Regalia. See family notice for further particulars. T.A. MELLOR, W.M. H. WINCHESTER, Sec.