Orders, Decorations and Medals

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Transvaal, South Africa 1902 (8446 Corpl. C. E. Ashton, 4th Vol. Coy. Manch. Regt.), very fine £120-150

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals to the Cheshire and Manchester Regiments, Rifle Brigade and Royal Green Jackets formed by the late David Boniface.

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Charles Edward Ashton was born in Hightown, Manchester and enlisted in the Manchester Regiment direct from the 2nd (Volunteer) Battalion, in February 1902. Embarked for South Africa, where he served in the 4th Volunteer Company, 1st Battalion, from March to July 1902, he was discharged on his return to the U.K. and awarded one of around 90 Queen’s Medals to his Company. Ashton re-enlisted in his old regiment on the renewal of hostilities, was appointed a Sergeant in the 16th (1st City) Battalion, and was killed in action at Cherisy on 23 April 1917 - ‘At the close of the action, which was one of the toughest encounters in the history of the Battalion, it numbered less than 100 in all ranks’. Ashton has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial.