Three: Acting Bombardier P. Ashby, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, who was killed in action on the Western Front on 9 June 1917

1914-15 Star (6052 Gnr: P. Ashby, R. Can: H. Art:); British War and Victory Medals (6052 A. Bmbr. P. Ashby. R.C.H.A.) staining to obverse and reverse of VM, otherwise good very fine (3) £80-£100

Percival Ashby was born in Ellington, Huntingdonshire, on 1 February 1888. Stating pre-War service with the 71st Battery, Royal Field Artillery (Imperial), he attested at Valcartier for the Canadian Expeditionary Force on 19 September 1914 and sailed for England with his unit on 3 October 1914. Sent to the Western Front, his Service Record notes repeated bouts of sickness in 1916 and ‘breaking out of billet’ following the tattoo of 14 April 1916. Evacuated to No. 2 Convalescent Depot and No. 7 Canadian Stationary Hospital at Le Havre, he rejoined his unit in December 1916 and was raised Acting Bombardier in February 1917. Killed in action on 9 June 1917, whilst serving with “B” Battery, he is buried at Vadencourt British Cemetery, France.