Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Sidney Ashwell was the son of Joseph and Cordelia Ashwell (nee Green) of Temuka.

Before serving in the World War One, Sidney was working as a stock agent. Leaving with the 7th Reinforcements in August 1916, he soon found himself in Sling Camp in England for more training before heading to the front. Trained to serve with the Machine Gun Battalion, Sidney headed to France in February 1917. Later that year he was promoted to Lance Corporal in October 1917, then Corporal in January 1918. Soon after, he took leave in the United Kingdom in February 1918.

While on leave in the United Kingdom it seems Sidney visited relatives still living there including his first cousin, Irene Beckett who was probably living in the area of Lewsiham in London. Her son recounts that he made a great impression Irene and she remembered him all her life even though she was only approaching seven years of age. It was only sometime later that Irene overheard a conversation between adults and learnt that he was killed later that year, only weeks before the Armistice was declared. Irene’s son also recalled that her mother wrote to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to find out where Sidney was buried. She arranged flowers to be placed on his grave and wanted to visit his grave and pay her respects.

After his leave Sidney had returned to his unit, and to front-line service, in late February. In August Sidney was again promoted, this time to Sergeant. Unfortunately only a little after a week later Sidney was wounded in action. Evacuated to a casualty clearing station with a gunshot wound to his lower extremities, Sidney died the following day. A little over a month later the war was over.

Two of Sidney’s brothers Leslie and Roland also served in World War One.

Sources

Temuka through the years: an informal history (Temuka History Book Committee, 2009); Cenotaph Sep 2013; SCroll web submission by S Sinclair 4 January 2019

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

• Letters of Sidney H Ashwell, 1916 (pdf, 6.2 MB updated 02-Jun-2023)
• Letters of Sidney H Ashwell, 1917 (pdf, 15.0 MB updated 02-Jun-2023)
• Letters of Sidney H Ashwell, 1918 (pdf, 6.3 MB updated 02-Jun-2023)
• Letters of Sidney H Ashwell, 1919 - or undated (pdf, 310.8 KB updated 02-Jun-2023)

Researched and Written by

Carol Bell, SC branch NZSG & Timaru Herald; Tony Rippin, South Canterbury Museum

Currently Assigned to

Not assigned.