William Thomas Ashby
Location: St.Mary Magdalene Church, Cowden, Kent, TN8 7JE
Details on cross:
Carved on Cross:
SOLD ASHBY
7BRW.KENT.R
(On Cross-section)
Cross
6.5.17
(On down section of cross)
Metal GRU tags with stamped tags:
5238 PTE.W. Ashby.
(First tag under carved date)
7/ R.W.Kents.
(Second tag under first)
6.5.17.
(Third tag under second)
Two tags on top section unreadable without ladder.
Text type (e.g. hand-written, GRU tags, carved):
Cross dimensions (millimetres please)
Shaft Height: 820mm
Cross beam width:380mm
Width of wood: 100mm
Thickness or depth: 50mm
Other information
Mounting to wall: uncertain fixing
Detailing:
Evidence of use in field (earth marking, cracking, staining, shrinkage): Evidence of being in ground clear from colouring.
Surface insertion depth (into ground if apparent): approx. 200mm
Finish (varnish, paint, oiled, unfinished etc): Appeared unfinished
Condition (cracked, paint peeling, woodwork, damage etc): Evidence of woodworm – brittle – top section snapped short
Information, notes and observations:
Fixed on to wooden shelf – v.high up church wall. Pictures taken whilst stood on pew – I’m 6ft tall.
Will need ladder to take picture at same height – may return at some point to do this and will forward these pics if taken.
(William was subject to a concentration burial moved from Bouchain German Extension (51a.H.34.b.6.5.) which now appears to be an orchard on the side of the D132 just outside the west of the Ville. THis would possibly indicate that either his cross is german or that this may not be his original marker and may be a replacement, it’s impossible to ascertain for certain but it certainly looks German in construction and type – Ed)
From CWGC
ASHBY, WILLIAM THOMAS
Rank: Private
Service No: 5238
Date of Death: 06/05/1917
Age: 25
Regiment/Service: Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) 7th Bn.
Grave Reference: XVI. F. 15.
Cemetery: CABARET-ROUGE BRITISH CEMETERY, SOUCHEZ
Additional Information: Son of Mrs. A. E. Ashby, of North St., Cowden, Edenbridge, Kent.
Photographs and survey courtesy of Sebastian St John
Date of survey: 5-3-17
