Life story: John Ashley | Lives of the First World War

Timeline

1892

sibling Merchant Marine William Arthur Ashley Source:8500439 18th April 1892

1893

birth Beccles, Suffolk United Kingdom Source:8479260 8th June 1893

1895

sibling Petty Officer George Ashley Source:8500439 8th January 1895

1897

sibling Rifleman Herbert Ashley Source:8500439 15th February 1897

1899

sibling Private Robert Henry Ashley Source:8500439 13th July 1899

1901

location 30 Ingate, Beccles, Suffolk United Kingdom parents address Source:8500439 1901

1911

enlistment Lowestoft, Suffolk United Kingdom Source:8479292 14th December 1911

1912

employment Ordinary Seaman Cunard Steamship Company Ltd New York United States Source:8479320 8th May 1912 - 28th October 1913

1912

location SS Mauretania - sailed from Liverpool to New York United States away from home address Source:8479292 8th May 1912

1912

location SS Ivernia - sailed from New York to Liverpool United Kingdom away from home address Source:8503505 26th August 1912

1913

employment Able Seaman Cunard Steamship Company Ltd Boston, Massechusetts United States Source:8479292 3rd January 1913

1913

location SS Ivernia - sailed from Liverpool to Boston United States away from home address Source:8479292 3rd January 1913

1913

employment Able seaman Cunard Steamship Company Ltd New York United States Source:8479292 17th December 1913

1914

employment Able seaman on cargo ship SS Maple Branch Guayaquil Ecuador Source:8479292 9th February 1914 - 27th June 1914

1914

location SS Maple Branch - sailed to Guayaquil, Guayas Ecuador away from home address Source:8479292 June 1914

1914

service Royal Navy Leading Seaman A 3942 Royal Naval Division Anson Battalion Source:8479292 7th September 1914 - 26th October 1914

1914

theatres France & Belgium: 1a Source:8486105 5th October 1914 - 9th October 1914

1914

service Royal Navy Petty Officer A 3942 Royal Naval Division Anson Battalion Source:8479292 27th October 1914 - 16th December 1914

1914

commission Temporary Source:8486105 17th December 1914

1914

service Royal Navy Sub-Lieutenant Royal Naval Division Anson Battalion Source:8479292 17th December 1914 - 7th July 1915

1915

service Royal Navy Sub Lieutenant Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Source:9152661 22nd February 1915

1915

theatres Gallipoli :2b Source:8484008 25th April 1915 - 3rd September 1915

1915

location 8 Hurst St, Liverpool United Kingdom parents address Source:8479315 1915 - 1917

1915

hospitalisation Taken ill at Gallipoli Hospital/Institution Source:8484012 28th June 1915 - 3rd July 1915

1915

hospitalisation Taken ill again in Gallipoli with diarrhoea. Sent by HS "Soudan" to Eygpt Hospital/Institution Source:8484012 12th July 1915 - 3rd September 1915

1915

service Royal Navy Temporary Lieutenant Royal Naval Division Anson Battalion Source:8694079 17th July 1915 - 29th August 1916

1915

hospitalisation Arrived in England Hospital/Institution Source:8484012 13th September 1915 - 25th September 1915

1915

marriage Grace Irwin Source:8479284 20th October 1915

1915

awards Mentioned in Despatches (MiD) British Award/Decoration Source:8484008 5th November 1915

1915

hospitalisation Re-surveyed on five occasions Hospital/Institution Source:8484012 8th November 1915 - 29th March 1916

1916

hospitalisation Admitted to hospital for treatment Hospital/Institution Source:8484012 1st April 1916 - 17th April 1916

1916

service British Army Lieutenant York and Lancaster Regiment 16th (Service) Battalion Source:79461 19th August 1916 - 29th August 1916

1916

service British Army Captain York & Lancaster Regiment 16th (Service) Battalion Source:79461 29th August 1916 - 12th January 1917

1917

service British Army Captain South Lancashire Regiment 15th (Transport Workers) Battalion Source:8694078 5th January 1917 - 22nd July 1918

1917

children Robert John Anson Ashley Source:8479309 28th February 1917

1918

service Other Empire Force Lieutenant (Quartermaster) Nigerian Regiment, West Africa Frontier Force Source:8479315 1918

1918

location 6 The Esplanade, Lower Bebington, Cheshire United Kingdom their own address Source:8479315 1918

1918

location Lagos Nigeria away from home address Source:8483070 28th September 1918 - 10th February 1920

1918

children Mary Sheila Ashley Source:8479315 22nd October 1918

1919

employment Political Consular Officer HM Diplomatic Service Lagos, then Port Harcourt Nigeria Source:8479262 1919 - 1931

1920

location Lagos Nigeria away from home address Source:8483070 14th July 1920 - 9th January 1922

1922

location 421 Old Chester Rd, Rock Ferry, Cheshire United Kingdom their own address Source:8479315 1922

1922

location Port Harcourt Nigeria away from home address Source:8483070 3rd May 1922 - 19th June 1931

1929

location 220 Bedford Rd, Rock Ferry, Cheshire United Kingdom their own address Source:8479315 1929

1932

location Wayside, Pensby Rd, Wirral, Cheshire United Kingdom their own address Source:8479315 1932

1939

location County Asylum, Upton by Chester, Chester United Kingdom other group residence address Source:8577236 24th September 1939 - 23rd February 1940

hospitalisation Shell shock Hospital/Institution Source:8494135

service Royal Navy Seaman A 3942 Royal Naval Reserve Source:8479372

1940

death Not War Related John died in the County Mental Asylum of dementia paralytica. However, he may have had Huntington's Disease, which ran in the family and claimed the lives of his mother and four of his nine siblings. Upton by Chester, Cheshire United Kingdom Source:8479262 23rd February 1940

Details

Names

Type	Name
First Names	John
Initials	J
Last Name	Ashley
Source	79461

Gender

Gender	Source
Male

Locations

Address	Country	Type	Date
220 Bedford Rd, Rock Ferry, Cheshire	United Kingdom	their own address	1929
30 Ingate, Beccles, Suffolk	United Kingdom	parents address	1901
421 Old Chester Rd, Rock Ferry, Cheshire	United Kingdom	their own address	1922
6 The Esplanade, Lower Bebington, Cheshire	United Kingdom	their own address	1918
8 Hurst St, Liverpool	United Kingdom	parents address	1915 - 1917
County Asylum, Upton by Chester, Chester	United Kingdom	other group residence address	24th September 1939 - 23rd February 1940
Lagos	Nigeria	away from home address	28th September 1918 - 10th February 1920
Lagos	Nigeria	away from home address	14th July 1920 - 9th January 1922
Port Harcourt	Nigeria	away from home address	3rd May 1922 - 19th June 1931
SS Ivernia - sailed from Liverpool to Boston	United States	away from home address	3rd January 1913
SS Ivernia - sailed from New York to Liverpool	United Kingdom	away from home address	26th August 1912
SS Maple Branch - sailed to Guayaquil, Guayas	Ecuador	away from home address	June 1914
SS Mauretania - sailed from Liverpool to New York	United States	away from home address	8th May 1912
Wayside, Pensby Rd, Wirral, Cheshire	United Kingdom	their own address	1932

Contribution

Military Service

Service	Number	Unit	Section	Rank
Other Empire Force		Nigerian Regiment, West Africa Frontier Force		Lieutenant (Quartermaster)
Royal Navy		Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve		Sub Lieutenant
British Army		York and Lancaster Regiment	16th (Service) Battalion	Lieutenant
British Army		York & Lancaster Regiment	16th (Service) Battalion	Captain
Royal Navy	A 3942	Royal Naval Reserve		Seaman
Royal Navy		Royal Naval Division	Anson Battalion	Temporary Lieutenant
Royal Navy		Royal Naval Division	Anson Battalion	Sub-Lieutenant
Royal Navy	A 3942	Royal Naval Division	Anson Battalion	Petty Officer
Royal Navy	A 3942	Royal Naval Division	Anson Battalion	Leading Seaman
British Army		South Lancashire Regiment	15th (Transport Workers) Battalion	Captain

Awards

Award	Type	Source
1914 Star with Clasp	First World War Campaign/Service Medal
British War Medal	First World War Campaign/Service Medal
Mentioned in Despatches (MiD)	British Award/Decoration
Victory Medal	First World War Campaign/Service Medal

Family

Children

Name	Relationship	Dates	Source
Robert John Anson Ashley	son	28th February 1917
Mary Sheila Ashley	daughter	22nd October 1918

Parents

Name	Relationship	Dates	Source
John Ashley	father
Elizabeth Rackham	mother

Siblings

Name	Relationship	Dates
Merchant Marine William Arthur Ashley	brother	18th April 1892
Private Robert Henry Ashley	brother	13th July 1899
Rifleman Herbert Ashley	brother	15th February 1897
Petty Officer George Ashley	brother	8th January 1895

Spouse

Name	Relationship	Dates	Source
Grace Irwin	wife	20th October 1915

Physical

Complexion	Eyes	Hair	Source
Fresh	Blue	Not given

Date	Height	Source
1911-12-12	5'4"

Media

Birth certificate

Born in Ingate Rd, Beccles, Suffolk, the second child in a family of eight boys and one girl. John's father was a journeyman boilermaker.

Contributed by:
Patricia68049
Death Certificate

age 46; of Wayside, Pensby Rd, Wirral; retired Consular officer; dementia paralytica

Contributed by:
Patricia68049
Beccles, Ingate Street

This postcard from 1907 shows the scene at the bottom of Ingate Street - the large building in the centre of the picture was the Black Boy public house which was demolished several decades ago.

Contributed by:
Patricia68049
Marriage certificate

Married at St Peter's RC church, Seel St, Liverpool

Contributed by:
Patricia68049
St Peter RC church

Seel Street, Liverpool

Contributed by:
Patricia68049
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserves record

From the National Archives

Contributed by:
Patricia68049
Birth certificate

Birth of son Robert

Contributed by:
Patricia68049
Mary's birth certificate

born at 22 Bedford Rd; father - Lieutenant Nigerian Regiment, West African Frontier Force (Quartermaster Merchant Service) of 6 Esplanade, Lower Bebington

Contributed by:
Patricia68049
SS Mauritania entering Liverpool

Picture of Cunard liner SS Mauritania at Liverpool docks.

Contributed by:
Patricia68049
Promotion to Captain

page from London Gazette

Contributed by:
Patricia68049
RND poster

Uniform of RND

Contributed by:
Patricia68049
Esplanade, New Ferry

John & Grace's first home

Contributed by:
Patricia68049
Bedford Road, Rock Ferry

photo from internet

Contributed by:
Patricia68049
uniform of nigeria regiment

picture from internet

Contributed by:
Patricia68049
medal card

VM, BM, 1914 star

Contributed by:
Patricia68049
London Gazette supplement

Mentioned in dispatches by General Hamilton

Contributed by:
Patricia68049
RND record

Details John's medical history after he fell ill with dysentry at Gallipoli

Contributed by:
Patricia68049
RND at Antwerp

John wrote a diary of his time in Antwerp as a machine gunner in the Collingwood Battalion. Parts of it were published in the East Suffolk Gazette

Contributed by:
Patricia68049
SS Mauretania

The Mauretania was commandeered as a military ship to help evacuate the wounded and sick from the Dardenelles in 1915-16

Contributed by:
Patricia68049
SS Ivernia in Boston Harbour

The Ivernia was sailing as an immigrant ship at the time John was an Able Seaman on her.

Contributed by:
Patricia68049
Guayaquil waterfront about 1920

This was John's last journey as an Able Seaman before war was declared. The SS Maple Branch was a British Merchant Steamer of 4,338 tons. On the 3rd September 1914 when 250 miles from St. Paul Rocks she was captured by German Light Cruiser, SMS Karslruhe, and sunk by bombs/charges.

Contributed by:
Patricia68049
Machine Gunners at Gallipoli

This is the role that John played in the 3rd Battle of Krithia

Contributed by:
Patricia68049
RNR record

PO in RNVR; served in Anson Battalion at Antwerp; received commission to Sub-Lieutenant on 17.12.1914

Contributed by:
Patricia68049
Minute from inspection of TW Battn, South Lancashi

"Captain J Ashley, who has always appeared to be suffering from shell shock, although a keen officer, is somewhat erratic. I understand he has again been passed fit for general service and will shortly be leaving to join the African Forces."

Contributed by:
Patricia68049
1901 census

family members

Contributed by:
Patricia68049
crew list

AB seaman signed on the SS Ivernia in New York

Contributed by:
Patricia68049
1939 register

Chester County asylum

Contributed by:
Patricia68049
cap badge

yorks & lancs

Contributed by:
Patricia68049
beccles

river waveney

Contributed by:
Patricia68049
new york

statue of liberty

Contributed by:
Patricia68049

Communities

Ashley/Wright men from Beccles, Suffolk who served in WW1

Ashley/Wright men from Beccles, Suffolk who served in WW1

More about Ashley/Wright men from Beccles, Suffolk who served in WW1
Rackham/ Godbold family of Toft Monks, Norfolk

Rackham/ Godbold family of Toft Monks, Norfolk

More about Rackham/ Godbold family of Toft Monks, Norfolk
RNR 1914 star men

RNR 1914 star men

More about RNR 1914 star men

Evidence

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Official Records

Title	Connected by	More information
Medal Index Card
Royal Naval Division Service Records 1914-1920 Transcription	Patricia68049
Royal Naval Division Service Records 1914-1920 Transcription	Patricia68049
Royal Navy, 1914 Star Medal Roll 1914-1920 Transcription	Keith1947
Royal Navy Officers Medal Roll 1914-1920 Transcription	Keith1947

External Evidence

Reference	Connected by	More information
RNVR record of John Ashley	Patricia68049
Beccles in the Newspapers, a collection of transcriptions	Patricia68049
John Ashley's history from public records	Patricia68049
RND service record	Patricia68049
List of the Beccles Men who served in the Great War 1914 - 1918	Patricia68049

Multimedia

Title	Connected by	More information
Birth certificate	Patricia68049
Death Certificate	Patricia68049
Beccles, Ingate Street	Patricia68049
Marriage certificate	Patricia68049
St Peter RC church	Patricia68049
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserves record	Patricia68049
Birth certificate	Patricia68049
Mary's birth certificate	Patricia68049
SS Mauritania entering Liverpool	Patricia68049
Promotion to Captain	Patricia68049
RND poster	Patricia68049
Esplanade, New Ferry	Patricia68049
Bedford Road, Rock Ferry	Patricia68049
uniform of nigeria regiment	Patricia68049
medal card	Patricia68049
London Gazette supplement	Patricia68049
RND record	Patricia68049
RND at Antwerp	Patricia68049
SS Mauretania	Patricia68049
SS Ivernia in Boston Harbour	Patricia68049
Guayaquil waterfront about 1920	Patricia68049
Machine Gunners at Gallipoli	Patricia68049
RNR record	Patricia68049
Minute from inspection of TW Battn, South Lancashi	Patricia68049
1901 census	Patricia68049
crew list	Patricia68049
1939 register	Patricia68049
cap badge	Patricia68049
beccles	Patricia68049
new york	Patricia68049

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We remember John Ashley

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We remember John Ashley

We remember John Ashley

Also remembered by 2 people

Timeline

Timeline

1892

1893

1895

1897

1899

1901

1911

1912

1912

1912

1913

1913

1913

1914

1914

1914

1914

1914

1914

1914

1915

1915

1915

1915

1915

1915

1915

1915

1915

1915

1916

1916

1916

1917

1917

1918

1918

1918

1918

1919

1920

1922

1922

1929

1932

1939

1940

Details

Details

Children

Parents

Siblings

Spouse

Media

Media

Communities

Communities

Ashley/Wright men from Beccles, Suffolk who served in WW1

Rackham/ Godbold family of Toft Monks, Norfolk

RNR 1914 star men

Evidence

Evidence

Official Records

External Evidence

Multimedia

Stories

Stories

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We remember John Ashley