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{{short description|Recipient of the Victoria Cross}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2013}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox military person
{{Infobox military person
|name=Thomas Elsdon Ashford
|name=Thomas Elsdon Ashford
| honorific_suffix = VC
| honorific_suffix = VC
|birth_date=1859
|birth_date=1859
|death_date={{death date|df=y|1913|2|21}}(aged 53-54)
|death_date={{Death date and age|1913|02|21|1859|df=y}}
|birth_place=[[Newmarket, Suffolk]]
|birth_place=[[Newmarket, Suffolk]]
|death_place=[[Whitwick]], [[Leicestershire]]
|death_place=[[Whitwick]], [[Leicestershire]]
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|nickname=
|nickname=
|allegiance= {{UK}}
|allegiance= {{UK}}
|servicenumber=
|serviceyears=1877 - 1889
|serviceyears=1877–1889
|rank=[[Private (rank)|Private]]
|rank=[[Private (rank)|Private]]
|branch=[[File:Flag of the British Army.svg|23px]] [[British Army]]
|branch=[[File:Flag of the British Army.svg|23px]] [[British Army]]
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|unit=[[Royal Fusiliers]]
|unit=[[Royal Fusiliers]]
|battles=[[Second Anglo-Afghan War]]
|battles=[[Second Anglo-Afghan War]]
|awards= [[File:Victoria Cross (UK) ribbon.png|30px]] [[Victoria Cross]]
|awards= [[File:UK Victoria Cross ribbon bar.svg|30px]] [[Victoria Cross]]
|laterwork=Postman
|laterwork=Postman
}}
}}
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==Early life==
==Early life==
He was born in 1859 at 2 Peck’s Cottage, All Saints, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire, the illegitimate son of Thomas Ashford, a boot maker and Emma Elsdon. Thomas joined the Army at Woolwich for the 49th Brigade on 12 June 1877.<ref name="GoLeicester">{{cite web | url=http://www.goleicestershire.com/see-and-do/Whitwick-Historical-Group-VC.aspx | title=Whitwick Historical Group | accessdate=8 March 2013}}</ref>
He was born in 1859 at 2 Peck's Cottage, All Saints, Newmarket, Suffolk,<ref name="MtV">{{cite web | url=http://www.memorialstovalour.co.uk/thomaselsdonashfordvc359.html | title=VC359 Thomas Elsdon Ashford | accessdate=1 July 2017}}</ref> the illegitimate son of Thomas Ashford, a boot maker and Emma Elsdon. Thomas joined the Army at Woolwich for the 49th Brigade on 12 June 1877.<ref name="GoLeicester">{{cite web | url=http://www.goleicestershire.com/see-and-do/Whitwick-Historical-Group-VC.aspx | title=Whitwick Historical Group | accessdate=8 March 2013 }}{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>


==The VC action==
==The VC action==
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On 16 August 1880 at Deh Khoja, near [[Kandahar]], [[Afghanistan]], Private Ashford assisted Lieutenant [[William St. Lucien Chase]] in rescuing and carrying for a distance of over 200 yards under the fire of the enemy, a wounded soldier who had taken shelter in a block-house and finally brought the wounded man to a place of safety. His citation read:{{quote|For conspicuous gallantry on the occasion of the sortie from Kandahar, on the 16th August, 1880, against the village of Deh Khoja, in having rescued and carried for a distance of over 200 yards, under the fire of the enemy, a wounded soldier, Private Massey, of the Royal Fusiliers, who had taken shelter in a blockhouse. Several times they were compelled to rest, but they persevered in bringing him to a place of safety.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=25023|page=4990|date=7 October 1881}}</ref>}}
On 16 August 1880 at Deh Khoja, near [[Kandahar]], [[Afghanistan]], Private Ashford assisted Lieutenant [[William St. Lucien Chase]] in rescuing and carrying for a distance of over 200 yards under the fire of the enemy, a wounded soldier who had taken shelter in a block-house and finally brought the wounded man to a place of safety. His citation read:{{quote|For conspicuous gallantry on the occasion of the sortie from Kandahar, on the 16th August, 1880, against the village of Deh Khoja, in having rescued and carried for a distance of over 200 yards, under the fire of the enemy, a wounded soldier, Private Massey, of the Royal Fusiliers, who had taken shelter in a blockhouse. Several times they were compelled to rest, but they persevered in bringing him to a place of safety.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=25023|page=4990|date=7 October 1881}}</ref>}}


After his military service, Ashford settled in [[Thringstone]], Leicestershire and served as a postman for many years. He was married in Thringstone Church to Betsy Ann Sisson on 29 January 1891. He later moved to the neighbouring village of [[Whitwick]]<ref name="Whitwick">{{cite web | url=http://www.whitwick.org.uk/history/whitwickvc.htm | title=Whitwick Community Information | accessdate=8 March 2013}}</ref> and died on 13 February 1913. He was laid to rest in [[Whitwick]] Cemetery, in the presence of thousands of mourners, though the grave lay unmarked for many years, until a monument was provided by the local British Legion.<ref name="GoLeicester" /> Three street names in Whitwick have since been named in his honour.
After his military service, Ashford settled in [[Thringstone]], Leicestershire and served as a postman for many years. He was married in Thringstone Church to Betsy Ann Sisson on 29 January 1891. He later moved to the neighbouring village of [[Whitwick]]<ref name="Whitwick">{{cite web | url=http://www.whitwick.org.uk/history/whitwickvc.htm | title=Whitwick Community Information | accessdate=8 March 2013}}</ref> and died on 13 February 1913. He was laid to rest in [[Whitwick]] Cemetery, in the presence of thousands of mourners, though the grave lay unmarked for many years, until a monument was provided by the local [[Royal British Legion|British Legion]].<ref name="GoLeicester" /> Three streets in Whitwick have since been named in his honour.


==The Medal==
==The Medal==
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Fusiliers Museum in the [[Tower of London]], London.
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Fusiliers Museum in the [[Tower of London]].


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist|30em}}
* [http://rrflondon.2day.ws/siteFiles/files/RRFLondon_ElegantExtractsVCJan2011_1294324105.pdf Royal Fusiliers Recipients of the Victoria Cross]
* [http://rrflondon.2day.ws/siteFiles/files/RRFLondon_ElegantExtractsVCJan2011_1294324105.pdf Royal Fusiliers Recipients of the Victoria Cross]
* "Elegant Extracts" - The Royal Fusiliers Recipients of the VC (J.P. Kelleher, 2001)
* "Elegant Extracts" - The Royal Fusiliers Recipients of the VC (J.P. Kelleher, 2001)
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==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.whitwick.org.uk/history/whitwickvc.htm Leicestershire's first VC]
*[http://www.whitwick.org.uk/history/whitwickvc.htm Leicestershire's first VC]
*[http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/leiceste.htm Burial location of Thomas Ashford] "Leicestershire"
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20121225010226/http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/leiceste.htm Burial location of Thomas Ashford] "Leicestershire"
*[http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/ccroyfus.htm Location of Thomas Ashord's Victoria Cross] "Royal Fusiliers Museum, London"
*[http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/ccroyfus.htm Location of Thomas Ashord's Victoria Cross] "Royal Fusiliers Museum, London"
*{{Find a Grave|11263157}}
*{{Find a Grave|11263157}}
{{Royal Regiment of Fusiliers}}
{{Royal Regiment of Fusiliers}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ashford, Thomas Elsdon}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ashford, Thomas Elsdon}}
[[Category:British recipients of the Victoria Cross]]
[[Category:British recipients of the Victoria Cross]]
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[[Category:1859 births]]
[[Category:1859 births]]
[[Category:1913 deaths]]
[[Category:1913 deaths]]
[[Category:Burials in Leicestershire]]
[[Category:People from Newmarket, Suffolk]]
[[Category:People from Newmarket, Suffolk]]
[[Category:Second Anglo-Afghan War recipients of the Victoria Cross]]
[[Category:Second Anglo-Afghan War recipients of the Victoria Cross]]
[[Category:Deaths from bronchitis]]
[[Category:Deaths from bronchitis]]
[[Category:British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross]]
[[Category:British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross]]
[[Category:People from Thringstone]]
[[Category:People from Whitwick]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Suffolk]]
[[Category:19th-century British Army personnel]]

Latest revision as of 18:39, 29 July 2024

Thomas Elsdon Ashford

VC
Born1859
Newmarket, Suffolk
Died21 February 1913(1913-02-21) (aged 53–54)
Whitwick, Leicestershire
Buried
Whitwick Cemetery
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service / branch British Army
Years of service1877–1889
RankPrivate
UnitRoyal Fusiliers
Battles / warsSecond Anglo-Afghan War
Awards Victoria Cross
Other workPostman

Thomas Elsdon Ashford (1859 – 21 February 1913) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Early life

[edit]

He was born in 1859 at 2 Peck's Cottage, All Saints, Newmarket, Suffolk,[1] the illegitimate son of Thomas Ashford, a boot maker and Emma Elsdon. Thomas joined the Army at Woolwich for the 49th Brigade on 12 June 1877.[2]

The VC action

[edit]

He was about 21 years old, and a private in The Royal Fusiliers,[3] British Army during the Second Anglo-Afghan War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

Pte Thomas Ashford VC, c1880 (IWM HU71321)

On 16 August 1880 at Deh Khoja, near Kandahar, Afghanistan, Private Ashford assisted Lieutenant William St. Lucien Chase in rescuing and carrying for a distance of over 200 yards under the fire of the enemy, a wounded soldier who had taken shelter in a block-house and finally brought the wounded man to a place of safety. His citation read:

For conspicuous gallantry on the occasion of the sortie from Kandahar, on the 16th August, 1880, against the village of Deh Khoja, in having rescued and carried for a distance of over 200 yards, under the fire of the enemy, a wounded soldier, Private Massey, of the Royal Fusiliers, who had taken shelter in a blockhouse. Several times they were compelled to rest, but they persevered in bringing him to a place of safety.[4]

After his military service, Ashford settled in Thringstone, Leicestershire and served as a postman for many years. He was married in Thringstone Church to Betsy Ann Sisson on 29 January 1891. He later moved to the neighbouring village of Whitwick[5] and died on 13 February 1913. He was laid to rest in Whitwick Cemetery, in the presence of thousands of mourners, though the grave lay unmarked for many years, until a monument was provided by the local British Legion.[2] Three streets in Whitwick have since been named in his honour.

The Medal

[edit]

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Fusiliers Museum in the Tower of London.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "VC359 Thomas Elsdon Ashford". Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Whitwick Historical Group". Retrieved 8 March 2013.[permanent dead link‍]
  3. ^ "THE ROYAL FUSILIERS RECIPIENTS OF THE VICTORIA CROSS" (PDF). Retrieved 8 March 2013.
  4. ^ "No. 25023". The London Gazette. 7 October 1881. p. 4990.
  5. ^ "Whitwick Community Information". Retrieved 8 March 2013.
[edit]
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