Description
Military Medal, GV, with 2nd award clasp, British War & Victory Medal, 241003 Sergeant Wilfred Ashworth, Lancashire Fusiliers. With original divisional gallantry card.
MM officially impressed: “241003 Cpl – A. Sjt. W. Ashworth. Lan. Fus.”
Pair officially impressed: “241003 Sjt W. Ashworth. Lan. Fus.”
With original 29th Division, Divisional Gallantry Card which specifies his award for service on 14th October 1914 near Ledeghem.
Only 55 second awards of the Military Medal were earned by the Lancashire Fusiliers, of which 7 were by 1st Battalion, out of 143 recipients of the Miltiary Medal to the 1st Bn Lanc Fus, just 7 earned the second award.
Sergeant Wilfred Ashworth earned this Military Medal and the his second award bar for service with 1st Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers.
His first Military Medal was announced in the London Gazette on 25th June 1918. These awards were primarily for the German Spring Offensive of 23rd March – April 1918.
The clasp was announced in the London Gazette on 13th June 1919.
The Divisional Gallantry Card specifies a brave act by him on 14th October 1918 which was most likely what led to his second MM this gazette lines up with the timing precisely as these recommendations were for “awards largely for September and October 1918 on the Western Front (The Advance to Victory)” according to the findings of the MM Project.
During his time in the war, he served with 2nd Bn Lancashire Fusiliers as 70361, then 1st Lancashire Fusiliers and also was at some point Sergeant of 2/6th Lanc Fus.
AWARD OF THE BAR
The war diary recalls that from 14th October 1918 at Ledeghem the, “Battalion in Attack, see narrative of operations attached”
The narrative of operations reads:
“The Battalion left YPRES by train on the afternoon of 13th, detraining near WATERDAMHOEK at 6-00 p.m. Thence the march to the assembly positions began and the assembly West of LEDEGHEM, and East of the ROULERS-MENIN Road was accomplished without casualties and completed by 10-30 p.m.
The Battalion was the reserve battalion for the operation with the exception of “B” Company (Captain P.D.W. DUNN) which was detailed to mop up LEDEGHEM.
Zero hour was at 5-35 a.m. and at that hour “B” Company moved into LEDEGHEM. A number of the enemy were killed but in most cases he surrendered freely. The town was mopped up by 7-00 a.m. and 85 prisoners and many machine guns taken at a cost of 13 casualties to “B” Company. The material captured was considerable but could not be counted without impeding the advance. Of the 85 prisoners, Captain P.D.W.DUNN together with his C.S.M. and a L/Cpl. and 2 men, of whom the C.S.M. and 2 men were early wounded, captured 74 and 5 machine guns.
The remainder of the battalion was ordered to move and moved from their assembly positions at Zero plus 60 or 6-35 a.m. The advance was considerably impeded by a very thick fog which descended at 6-30 a.m. and did not lift until 8-00 a.m.
The advance was, however, continued on a compass bearing. By 9-20 a.m. the line of the road in L.12.a. (the 1st Objective) had been gained and was held by “D” and “C” Companies of this unit and elements of the 1st R.D.F. and 2nd R.F. Progress from this point was held up by M.G. and T.M. fire from the ridge in G.7.c. and the right flank. At 11-00 a.m. orders were received from Brigade for this unit to hold the line of the road in L.12.a. with two companies, the remaining two companies to be in support, and the 1st R.D.F. were to be withdrawn into support and the 2nd R.F. into reserve.
“A” Company took over the line on the RIGHT and “D” Company on the LEFT. “C” Company was drawn into close support and “B” Company who had then come up was kept in reserve. The battalion was to hold the line gained and conform to the movements of the 88th Brigade on the RIGHT and 28th Brigade on the LEFT with both of which units the Battalion was in touch.
At 12-30 p.m. the Brigade on the left moved forward whereupon the advance of this unit was ordered and the line of the road from G.8.d. central to G.8.a. central was gained by 2-00 p.m. From there progress was difficult, and much opposition from M.G. and light artillery fire was encountered. By night-fall the line ran from G.8.d.25.65 to G.9.a.1.7. touch being established on the RIGHT and LEFT at these points. The battalion was organized for defence in depth, “A” and “D” in the front line with “C” and “B” in support, and four M.G.’s disposed about G.8 central, and Bn.H.Q. at G.8.a.2.9.
Casualties for the day, 1 officer killed, 2 officers wounded, 83 other ranks killed, wounded and missing.
The night was fairly quiet and consolidation was carried out.”
Another account writes:
On the afternoon of the 13th October 1918, the 86th Infantry Brigade moved by Light Railway from YPRES to near WATERDAMHOEK. Considerable delay was caused by the first train being held up by a derailed engine. The engine was however got on the Railway again by the efforts of the Light Railway personnel and men of the 2/Royal Fusiliers.
On detrainment Battalions moved to a reconnoitred concentrations areas by cross-country track, and there had Tea.
At dusk the Approach March to Assembly Positions commenced and the Assembly was most successfully completed, with only one casualty. Hot Tea was again served to the Troops in Assembly Positions.
At Zero (5-55 a.m.), minus three minutes, the barrage fell and was closely followed by the leading troops. Shortly after the commencement of the attack, a very thick mist fell.
This resulted in loss of direction on the part of the leading battalion, and loss of communication by the two succeeding Battalions.
The RED Line (the first objective) was, however, captured by elements of the 2/Royal Fusiliers and 1/Royal Dublin Fusiliers, under the Brigade Intelligence Officer and Captain C.M.Mc.NEELY, D.S.O., M.C.
As the mist cleared, disorganised elements of the 2/Royal Fusiliers and 1/Royal Dublin Fusiliers, (whose Commanding Officer was killed at this phase,) and two Companies of 1/Lancashire Fusiliers moved forward on to the RED Line (first objective). Here the line was temporarily held up by heavy Machine Gun fire and direct fire from Field Guns.
It was decided to withdraw the 2/Royal Fusiliers and 1/Royal Dublin Fusiliers into positions in which they might re-organise, and hold the line of the first objective with the 1/Lancashire Fusiliers.
The 2/Royal Fusiliers and 1/Royal Dublin Fusiliers successfully withdrew and re-organised, by which time the 1/Lancashire Fusiliers had overcome the enemy resistance, and the advance was renewed, and before dusk a line some 1000 yards in rear of the BLUE Line (second objective) was reached.
The mopping up of LEDEGHEM was completed by 7-0 a.m. and 85 prisoners and many Machine Guns captured.
Of the 85 prisoners, Captain P.D.W.DUNN, Commanding ‘B’ Company 1/Lancashire Fusiliers, together with a Lance Corporal and two men, captured 74 and 8 Machine Guns.
The line gained by dusk on October 14th 1918, was held by 1/Lancashire Fusiliers, and the 1/Royal Dublin Fusiliers and 2/Royal Fusiliers were retained in Support and Reserve respectively.
