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Auction: 23112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 693

The 'Battle of Arras 1917' M.M. awarded to Private R. F. Ashton, 1/5th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment

Military Medal, G.V.R. (240817 Pte R. F. Ashton. 1/5 Linc: R.-T.F.); 1914-15 Star (3319 Pte. F. Ashton. Linc:R.); British War and Victory Medals (3319 Pte. F. Ashton. Linc.R.), note missing initial to campaign awards, pitting, very fine (4)

M.M. London Gazette 16 August 1917.

Reginald Frank Ashton (who went by Frank), was born at Skegness, Lincolnshire in 1894, the son of Christian and Alice Ashton of Wainfleet Road, Skegness. Joining the Territorial Force at Grimsby on 10 November 1914 he was embodied for service with the 1/5th (Territorial) Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment, he entered the war in France on 17 August 1915. The Battalion was immediately thrown into intense fighting with Ashton being seriously wounded in the shoulder two months later on 13 October.

This injury proved to be serious enough to get him invalided to hospital in Britain and it was not until 19 March 1916 that he returned to France. The Battalion took part in the attack on Lens in 1917 in support of the Canadian Offensive. The Battalion History takes up the story stating:

‘Lance Corporal G. Harbron also did excellent work with his Lewis gun by directing his fire with great judgement on to the enemy trench holding up the left company, while Private F. Ashton, on the extreme left flank, showed great ability in pushing forward and assisting the advance by covering fire from his Lewis gun.’

It was likely for his actions in this attack that Ashton was awarded the M.M. later that year. He continued to serve in France until 28 June 1919 when he returned to Britain, being demobilised on 29 July 1919; sold together with a copy of Chapter 8, A History of the 5th Batt. The Lincolnshire Regiment.


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Sold for
£650

Starting price
£110