Ashforth, W R
WALTER ROBERT ASHFORTH
Remembered with honour Tranchee de Mecknes Cemetery: Row G, Grave 17.
He enlisted at Camden Town, London; was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 10 March 1915, and was killed in action 25 September* 1916. Unfortunately, Walter’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
There is a Death announcement for Walter in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 15 July 1916; and In Memoriams in the issues dated 17 June 1917 and 28 June 1919.
Son of the late James and Mary Ann (nee WHITE) ASHFORTH; husband of 1) Mary (nee SYLVESTER) ASHFORTH; 2) Emma Hetty (nee HALL) ASHFORTH.
His parents married 1873 in the Sheffield, Yorks, district. Mary died 1888 aged 39 in the Eccleshall Bierlow, Yorks, district, and was buried 5 September in Burngreave Cemetery, Brightside, Sheffield; James died 1913 in the Eccleshall Brierlow district aged 72.
Walter was born 1878 in Sheffield, and baptised 6 October 1878 at St Mary’s, Sheffield. He married firstly 18 September 1898 at St Philip’s, Shalesmoor, Sheffield. Mary died 1910 in Watford aged 40, and was buried 19 July in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford. He remarried 26 February 1913 at St Mary’s, Watford, and resided in Watford. Emma never remarried, she died 23 August 1938 in Watford aged 63, and was buried 27 August at St James’, Bushey, Herts.
On the 1881 Census, aged 2 he lived in Eccleshall Brierlow, with his parents and two siblings. On the 1891 Census, a baker’s errand boy aged 12, he still lived in Eccleshall Brierlow, with his widowed father and two siblings. On the 1901 Census, a haridresser aged 22, he lived in Brightside, Sheffield, with his first wife and no children. On the 1911 Census, a gents’ hairdresser aged 32, he lived in Watford.
Service number
2901Rank
SerjeantUnit
19th (County of London) Battalion (St Pancras Rifles)Regiment
Place buried
Date of death
28/06*/1916Age at death
37Place of death
Memorial(s)
- 1st S.W. Herts Scout Troop [in St Mary's Parish Church Watford] (4)
- Abbot's Langley Herts War Memorial (17)
- Aldbury Herts War Memorial (1)
- Aldenham Herts War Memorial (located in Letchmore Heath Herts) (8)
- All Saints Church Croxley Green Herts (12)
- All Saints Church Harrow Weald Middx (2)
- All Saints Church Hertford (1)
- All Saints Church King's Langley Herts (1)
- All Saints Church Leavesden Herts (31)
- All Saints Church Witham Essex (3)