Name
George (Frederick William George) Ashwell
11 Mar 1885
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
07/12/1915
30
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
42
Royal Fusiliers *1
17th (County of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
WOBURN ABBEY CEMETERY, CUINCHY
I. B. 12.
France
Headstone Inscription
HE DIED TO SAVE US
UK & Other Memorials
Letchworth Town Memorial, Church of St Nicholas Memorial, Norton
Pre War
Frederick William George Ashwell was born in Dewsbury, Yorks on 11 Mar 1885( baptised 7 Mar 1887) to Joseph Ashwell, railway clerk, and Rachel Eliza (nee Hercock).
On the 1891 census the family of parents, Albert E(born 1884), Frederick W G (grocer’s apprentice), Edith M (born 1887), Edgar Harold (born 1889) and May Whittaker (born 1876, domestic servant) were living at 16, Kiln Croft, Dewsbury.
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, Albert E (solicitor’s clerk), Frederick (grocer’s apprentice), Edith M, Edgar H, Archibald H (born 1892), Elsie M (born 1893), and Constance H (born 1896) were living at 8, East Street, St Neots, Cambs.
On the 1911 Census the family of parents, (Joseph was now station master at Hougham, Grantham, Lincs), Elsie M (apprentice dressmaker) and Constance H (apprentice milliner) were living at Station house, Hougham, Grantham. No record of Frederick was found.
His parents came to live at 51, Jackman’s Place, Letchworth. Herts.
Wartime Service
Frederick William enlisted in 17th (Service) Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) on 9 Sep 1914 (soon after the Battalion was formed), the Battalion became part of 99th Brigade, 33 Division on 26 Jun 1915. Frederick landed in France on 17 November 1915 with the Battalion and Division. The 99th Brigade, having deployed to Ypres on 25 Nov 1915 : the Brigade transferred to 2nd Division and on 13 Dec 1915 the Battalion again transferred to 5th Brigade, 2nd Division.
They took part in trench duties following the Battle of Loos, Frederick was killed in action on 7 Dec 1915.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £4 10s and arrears of £4 5s 0d was paid to his father.
*1 Believed more correctly, 17 Battalion (Empire) Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment).
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Dan Hill, Janet Capstick, Jonty Wild
