John Henry Asher

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Mon, 25/05/2015 - 13:31

First Name:

John

Middle Name:

Henry

Last Name:

Asher

Mother's Name:

Hannah Asher (nee Drew)

Father's Name:

Daniel Asher

Date Enlisted:

Friday, August 20, 1915

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Lieutenant

Unit:

11th Field Artillery Brigade

Company:

43rd Battery

Service:

Artillery

Awards:

1914/1915 Star

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Sunday, September 2, 1917

Place of Death:

Bailleul, France

Cause of Death:

Killed in action

Details:

John Asher (Service No 1189) was born around 1890 at Hurstville, N.S.W.

When he enlisted John 24 years old, married, and working as a school teacher at Dapto, N.S.W. His wife Maisie Heath Asher was listed as next of kin.

John embarked on SS Hawkes Bay with the 6th Reinforcement, 12th light horse, on 21st October 1915.

After arriving in Egypt he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and transferred to 11th field artillery brigade on 27th March 1916. John saw service on the Western Front. On 21st October 1916 he was again promoted this time to Lieutenant.

On 2nd September 1917 while he was at a restaurant in Bailleul, France, with another officer and a number of civilians an enemy aircraft came over the area and dropped a number of bombs, one hit the building causing a wall to fall on him. Although help was immediate nothing could be done for John as his neck had been broken. A number of civilians were also killed in the bombing.

John was buried with full military honours at Bailleul Communal Cemetery Plot III, Row E, Grave 208.

John's brother Charles Asher (Service no 6276) also served.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, ASHER J H