| Regimental number | 5033 |
| Place of birth | Durham, England |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Occupation | Miner |
| Address | c/- Miss Daniels, Marsden Street, Parramatta, New South Wales |
| Marital status | Married |
| Age at embarkation | 28.4 |
| Height | 5' 4" |
| Weight | 115 lbs |
| Next of kin | Wife, Mrs R P Ashcroft, C/- Miss Davies, Marsden Street, Parramatta, New South Wales |
| Previous military service | Served for 5 years in the Royal Navy. |
| Enlistment date | |
| Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll | |
| Place of enlistment | Liverpool, New South Wales |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 13th Battalion, 16th Reinforcement |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/30/4 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A16 Star Of Victoria on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Driver |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 11th Field Artillery Brigade |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Photo: Andrew Richardson |
| Discharge date | |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Western Front Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 7 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 14 June 1916. Detached to 4th Australian Light Trench Mortar Battery, 23 August 1916. Wounded in action, 28 August 1916 (gun shot wound, right arm); admitted to 13th Stationary Hospital, Boulogne, 31 August 1916; declared fit to return to duty, 3 September 1916. Mustered as Driver, 1 December 1916. Transferred to 11th Field Artillery Brigade, 5 January 1917. Found guilty, 3 April 1917, of being absent without leave from 9 pm, 2 April, to 9 pm, 3 April 1917: awarded 28 days' Field Punishment No 2, and forfeited a total of 30 days' pay. Found guilty, 20 June 1917, of being absent from morning parade: awarded 5 days' Field Punishment No 2. Tried by Field General Court Martial, 14 June 1917, on charge of when on Active Service disobeying a lawful command given by his superior Officer: awarded 9 months' imprisonment with hard labour, and forfeited 290 days' pay. Released from Military Prison, Rouen, 21 February 1918, and remainder of sentence remitted on entraining for the front. Rejoined 11th Field Artillery Brigade, 23 February 1918. On leave to United Kingdom, 17 August 1918; rejoined unit from leave, 22 September 1918. Found guilty, 1 September 1918, of being absent without leave, 1-18 September 1918: awarded 7 days' Field Punishment No 2, and forfeited 25 days' pay. Admitted to 12th Australian Field Ambulance, 17 January 1919 (soft sore); transferred to 55th Casualty Clearing Station, 19 January 1919; to No 3 Canadian General Hospital, 23 January 1919 (venereal disease); to 8th Stationary Hospital, 4 February 1919 (syphilis); to England, 13 February 1919, and admitted to 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital, Bulford, 14 February 1919; discharged, 16 February 1919; total period of treatment for venereal disease: 31 days. Tried by District Court Martial, Sutton Veny, 10 April 1919, on charged of an act to the prejudice of good order and military discipline, i.e. failing to comply with para. 3 of Declaration of loss of soldier's paybook: awarded forfeiture of 21 days' pay. Commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Port Napier', 12 May 1919; disembarked, Sydney, 5 July 1919; discharged (termination of period of enlistment), Sydney, 4 August 1919. Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal Death attributed to War Service. |
| Date of death | |
| Age at death | 64 |
| Place of burial | Rookwood Necropolis, Sydney, New South Wales |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, ASHCROFT William |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
