John Ashmore

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Thu, 12/01/2017 - 16:07

First Name:

John

Last Name:

Ashmore

Date of Birth:

Monday, January 29, 1894

Mother's Name:

Annie Ashmore

Father's Name:

John Ashmore

Date Enlisted:

Saturday, August 14, 1915

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

13th Battalion

Company:

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Saturday, October 15, 1927

Place of Death:

Mount Pleasant Colliery, N.S.W.

Cause of Death:

Coal mine accident

Details:

John Ashmore (Service No 3680) was born in Durham, England. His family emigrated to Australia when John was a child.

At enlistment John was single, 22 years old, worked as a wheeler, and lived at Balgownie, N.S.W.

He embarked from Sydney on HMAT A29 Suevic with 13th Battalion, 12th Reinforcements on 20th December 1915.

The troops arrived in Egypt on 21st January 1916 and John joined 13th Battalion, 14th Platoon, D Company, on 4th March 1916.

He arrived in France on 8th June 1916 and saw service on the Western Front until he was admitted to hospital sick on 15th February 1917. He returned to his unit on 23rd February.

On 11th April 1917, 13th Battalion were attacking Bullecourt when John was wounded. He received a bomb wound to his shoulder, was knocked unconscious, and taken prisoner by the Germans. While interred in a Prisoner of War Camp in Germany John received medical attention. He was repatriated to England on 30th December 1918.

John returned to Australia in April 1919 and was discharged medically unfit on 5th July 1919. He returned to coal mining in the Illawarra district.

On 18th October 1919 he married Agnes Wilkinson in Wollongong, N.S.W.

Tragically, John was killed in a mine accident in 1927, leaving a widow and 2 small sons.

John's service is commemorated on the Balgownie War Memorial.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, ASHMORE J