Name
Frederick Ashwell
1886
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
04/09/1916
31
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Corporal
3/8066
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 2 C.,
France
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Letchworth Town Memorial, Church of St Nicholas Memorial, Norton
Pre War
Frederick Ashwell born in 1886 in Biggleswade, Beds., to John Ashwell, and Elizabeth (nee Jealous often recorded as Jellis).
On the 1891 Census the family of Elizabeth, George (born 1871, farm labourer), Caroline (born 1879), John (born 1882), Thomas (born 1884), Frederick, and William (born 1888) were living at Benson’s Row, Chapel Fields, Biggleswade, Beds.
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, Thomas (apprentice boot maker), Frederick (farm labourer), William, Edith (born 1894), and Harry (born 1896) together with 2nd eldest son George (a bricklayer), his wife Clara (nee Parker) & son George (born 1901) were at Benson’s Row, Biggleswade.
On the 1911 Census Frederick was a plasterer and living with his widowed mother, John , William (labourer), Edith (domestic servant), Harry (errand boy, ironmonger) and Lennie (born 1906) at 59, Common View, Letchworth, Herts.
Frederick married May Scoot in Mar 1913. there was a son John Frederick, born 19 Jan 1914.
Frederick was employed by Mr Coleman, Norton Road. Secretary of Letchworth football club.
Wartime Service
No Service Record was found for Frederick. He joined the Bedfordshire Regiment, his serial number indicated that it was issued (about Sep/Oct 1914) to him on his posting into the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion for his training. He was later posted to 1st Battalion of the Regiment as a replacement. and promoted to Corporal. This battalion had been in France since Aug 1914 as part of 15 Brigade, 5th Division and engaged in many Battles during 1914 & 15.
In 1916 the Division took part in the Battles of the Somme at High Wood (20-25 Jul) and Guillemont 3-6 Sep). It was in this last action that Frederick was reported killed in action. His remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Thiepval memorial to the Missing of the Somme.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £10 and arrears of $4 6s 2d was paid to his widow with a pension of 30s 1d.
Brother George served as Sapper 1552 with 1st Kent Field Company, Royal Engineers from 26 Oct 1914 to his death from shrapnel wounds to chest on 5 Dec 1915 at Gallipoli.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Dan Hill, Janet Capstick, Jonty Wild
