Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Warrant Officer Class 1 (Bandmaster) R. G. Ashton, Gordon Highlanders, who was taken P.O.W. at Singapore in February 1942 and who died working on the notorious Siam-Burma railway in August 1943

1939-45 Star; Pacific Star; War Medal 1939-45; Army L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue, Regular Army (532828 W.O. Cl. 1, Gordons), the 1939-45 awards in original addressed card forwarding box, extremely fine (4) £250-300

Reginald George Ashton, an Associate of the Royal College of Music, was appointed Bandmaster to the 2nd Battalion, Gordon Highlanders in 1935, and was similarly employed at the time of the Japanese attack on Singapore in 1942. Taken P.O.W., he was originally incarcerated in Changi, but in October 1942 the Battalion’s survivors were moved to Thailand to commence work on the notorious “Railway of Death”, Ashton’s subsequent burial place at Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery confirming he met his end while so employed on 2 September 1943. He was 38 years of age and left a widow, Ivy Gwendoline Ashton, who according to Commonwealth War Graves’ records was also resident in Singapore.