An Old Contemptible
Photograph of Walter Ashworth in June 1919 on the occasion of his marriage to Florence Thrower. He is seated with Florence (dressed in white) resting her arm on his left shoulder.
My grandfather attempted to join the army in 1903 by lying about his age (he was 17 at the time). He was turned down by the King's (Liverpool) but made another attempt in April 1904 and was accepted into the Lancashire Fusiliers (transferring to the King's following basic training). He served until 1911, mostly in India, and was then released into the reserves. He was mobilised on August 5th 1914 and was in France with the 1st King's Liverpool's by August 13th 1914 with the BEF. He was with the 1st Corps at Mons, Belgium, on 22nd/23rd August, the retreat to the Marne and at the 1st battle of Ypres, receiving the 1914 Star. He was also at the battle of Loos (in Givenchy) where he was awarded the DCM in March 1915 and promoted to the rank of sergeant. He also took part in the battle of the Somme with the 2nd division between August and November 1916. He was promoted to Company Sergeant Major in April 1918 at the height of the German Spring offensives and was awarded the MM in August 1918. He remained in the army until 1925, marrying my grandmother in June 1919. Unfortunately he died of Lobar Pneumonia in April 1935 just short of his 50th birthday.
Grandfather's wedding
Photograph
Nuneaton
CONTRIBUTOR
Neil Ashworth
DATE
/
LANGUAGE
eng
ITEMS
1
INSTITUTION
Europeana 1914-1918
PROGRESS
METADATA
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