Captain John Ashton 24th battalion

[harribobs]

he was the platoon commander of  D company platoon 8

and here he is with his platoon

[ashtonp]

Chris,

That is amazing, thank you. That certainly looks like him in the photo and he was single at the time too. Is there anywhere else I can find more information on where he served, what actions etc or anything similar? I'm trying to get a copy of the photo some of my cousins have of him so I can at least try and find his service number and find out a bit more.

Thank you so much though, I really am grateful to you all.

[harribobs]

there's a rough potted history of the 24th Battalion on the main site

http://www.themanchesters.org/24th%20batt.htm

he didn't have a service number, officers didn't have them

chris

[grimmy]

I know a descendant of Squire Ashton's family, I will attempt to contact her.

Squire's diary is held at Oldham Local Studies Library.

[Wendi]

Nice one grimmy 

Happy New Year !

Wendi 

[grimmy]

Happy New Year, Wendi (and everybody) 

I'm waiting for a reply from my Ashton relative, but meanwhile:

John Ashton was born in Blackpool in 1891, son of James Ashton, builder, and Emily Elizabeth. He was one of 11 children (all the rest were born in Oldham).

James Ashton (b.1859, d.22-7-1907) married Emily Elizabeth Short (d. 29-4-1941 aged 78) at Oldham St Mary, 1883. Both were buried in Chadderton Cemetery.

James was the son of Squire Ashton, builder, (1826-1897) who married Mary Cheetham at Prestwich St Mary, 1848. They also had 11 children.

[ashtonp]

Grimmy,

Many thanks. I've had an email from someone who has details from Squire Ashton and the family so I wait in anticipation for the reply. It looks like the family was far bigger than I realised and very wealthy too. It's a shame the money didn't last!

Cheers,

Paul.

[Pat lees]

I don't know whether it is any help as I do not know anything about John but I am the GGG granddaughter of Ada Ashton his younger sister and have some family information

[timberman]

 Hi Pat lees
Welcome to the forum.
If you look under Ashtonp name there is an icon that is a personal message, if you click on it you will be able to send him a message, just in case he's not picking up messages on his topic.

Timberman

[grimmy]

Hi Pat,

Ada's eldest sister, Emma, married my 2 x Gt Uncle, William Henshall.

There are a couple of Ashton descendants on the forum:

Michael: http://themanchesters.org/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=6310

and Paul: http://themanchesters.org/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=736

Are you descended from John Ashton Lees?

[Pat lees]

John Ashton Lees was my grandfather, he died in 1974.  He was in the RAMC in the 2nd WW. Pat

[grimmy]

I notice his father, George Lees, was a Professor of Music - not bad for the son of a bricklayer.

[Pat lees]

I'm not sure George Lees was that much more than a glorified music teacher!  He did compose music & was a noted harpist I believe.  Pat