Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Private T. Ashurst, Somerset Light Infantry, who was killed in action on the first day of the Somme

1914-15 Star (16255 Pte., Som. L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (16255 Pte., Som. L.I.), one or two edge bruises, otherwise good very fine (3) £180-220

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the 13th Regiment and Somerset Light Infantry.

View
Collection

Thomas Ashurst was killed in action on the Somme on 1 July 1916, while serving with the 1st Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry.

A full account of the Battalion’s fate maybe found in the regimental history, but in short, having advanced in ‘magnificent style’ to the enemy’s first line, desperate fighting with bomb and bayonet broke out. Meanwhile, devastating enemy fire from the “Quadrilateral” also contributed to the Battalion’s final tally of 464 casualties.

Born in Wigan, Ashurst was actually a resident of New Silksworth, Durham by the outbreak of hostilities. Quite why he ended up in the Somersets remains unknown, but his regimental number would suggest that he was originally a member of the 7th Battalion, which unit arrived in France in July 1915, following which he was obviously transferred to the 1st Battalion, probably as a casualty replacement.

Ashurst was interred in No. 1 Serre Road Cemetery.