1936 Private ASHTON James Edwin
Australian War Memorial6th Australian Light Trench Mortar Battery
James was born near Wombat in about 1896. The son of Mr WT and Mrs EJ Ashton of Wombat Road, Young. James, a labourer, enlisted on 13 September 1916, aged 21, at Goulburn NSW.
He embarked Sydney 10 February 1917 on the troop carrier RMS Osterley, arriving Plymouth 11 April 1917. James contracted mumps and was admitted to Wareham Military Hospital. He commenced training with 63rd Battalion, contracted an infection and was in and out of hospital for several months. James left England on 16 April 1918, arriving Rouelles France 19 April 1918.
James was killed in action on 15 June 1918 aged 22. He was originally buried near where he fell, at Villesur-L Ancre, Morlancourt. On 30 April 1920 his Father was advised that James had been carefully exhumed and re-interred at Beacon British Cemetery, Sailly-Laurette, Somme Hauts-de-France, Picardie, France.
In accordance with his family’s request his headstone is engraved: “DEARLY LOVED SON & BROTHER OF MR & MRS WT ASHTON & FAMILY.” In St Matthew’s Anglican Church Wombat, a wood altar was given in memory of James.
