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Ash, John Buckley

John Buckley Ash was born in Crumpsall, Manchester on 21st September 1896, the second child of Charles Bateman Ash (1854-1905) and Margaret (Dickson) born 1865.  Charles and Margaret were married on 18th April 1889 in Cheetham, Manchester, and had four children, one of whom died in infancy.

John’s younger brother Albert Edward sailed to Sydney, Australia on the Largs Bay in January 1923 when he was 20 years old and in the Cotton Trade. He died in Australia in 1956.

In 1891 Charles and Margaret were living in Perth Street, Manchester, Charles’s profession being a Buyer for East Indian Shipper.

In 1901 the family was living in Crumpsall, Manchester. Charles B. Ash aged 47 was described as an Exporter of General Merchandise. Margaret was 36, Charles B. son was 6, John B. son was 4 and Winifred M. daughter was one year old. Sadly Winifred died later the same year.

In 1911 John was living in a large Institution: ” Warehousemen and Clerks’ Orphan Schools” in Cheadle Hulme near Stockport. He was 14 years old. His mother Margaret, aged 44 was a widow, Charles having died in 1905. She was living in Blackpool with her youngest son Albert Edward aged 8. She had taken in a boarder.

John was killed in action on 1st September 1915 in Gallipoli, just 3 weeks before his 19th birthday. His full military records have not survived, but it is known that he was in the Royal Marine Light Infantry, Plymouth Battalion. He enlisted in the Merchant Navy in Liverpool on 21st October 1913, but in 1914 he was in the Deal Battalion at Dunkirk and Defence of Antwerp. From 28th February 1915 until 1st September 1915, he was with the Plymouth Bn who were part of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force at Gallipoli under General Sir Ian Hamilton, Commander in Chief. General Sir Ian Hamilton wrote a long and detailed account in his Despatch about the battles that took place from March – August 1915 on The Long Long Trail.

Please see http://www.1914-1918.net/hamiltons_gallipoli_despatch_3.html .

At the beginning of the War, his mother Margaret was living at 97 Crescent Road, Crumpsall, Manchester, but later moved to Ash Lea, Highbury Avenue, Prestatyn. On 9th July 1920 the 1914 Star & Clasp awarded to John was issued to her as his next of kin. He was also awarded the Victory and British War Medals.


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