Harry Ashton

His Parents were William Henry Ashton and Alice Ann Blake. 13827 Serjeant Harry Ashton, 11th Bn. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), executed for desertion 8th July 1917, aged 20. Row C. 487. Son of the late William Ashton, and of Alice, his wife, formerly of Manchester, now of Ramsgreave Rd., Wilpshire, Blackburn, Lancs. He enlisted on 9 Sept 1914, & had served on the Western Front twice, being wounded on each occasion. On the night of 7-8 May 1917, his company was — after detailed training — due to attack the Bulgarian positions, Ashton being present when the company commander went through the orders with his NCOs. When the company prepared to attack at 2030, Ashton was not present, & so missed taking part in the operation which lasted till early morning on May 9 — on which day Ashton reported at a camp more than 2km. to the rear. It appeared at trial that Ashton & another NCO had fallen asleep, not waking up until the bombardment started between 2100 & 2200. After debating between them what to do in the absence of their comrades, Ashton decided that ‘it would be a silly idea for us to try & find the company’, his companion however ‘went off to try & find the boys’. When Ashton was asked in cross-examination why he did not try to contact his unit, he replied: ‘Because I knew that they would think that I had missed them intentionally & I couldn’t face them’. Following conviction, a reference was adduced saying:’….works well if supervised, but has no great command over men’. Mercy was recommended on account of good character & previous service. The Brigade commander endorsed the comment of Ashton’s CO that ‘Ashton performed his duties in a slack & unsatisfactory manner’, & noted the poor state of battalion discipline; while the Divisional commander recommended execution because ‘men of this battalion have committed crimes to avoid taking part in operations’.