Henry Wilson Ashforth was born on the 14th January 1895 at 8 Victoria Terrace, Whitley Bay, Northumberland, the eldest boy of four children, to William Wilson Ashforth, [born 22nd October 1865, died 14th May 1949, at Skelmersdale, {the second eldest son of eight children}, to James Henry Ashforth, born 1840, Seaham, died 4th September 1912, and his wife Mary Leslie Orwin, born Newcastle 1840, died 1906], and his wife Edith Sarah [nee Johnson], Ashforth, [born 13th May 1873, West Rainton, baptised at West Rainton, on the 27th July 1873, died June 1971, daughter of Christopher Johnson, born 1852, and his wife Emily Anne, born 1855], they were married in 1894.

The other children were Leslie Baxter Ashforth, born 28th January 1900, married in June 1935, to Adeline Victoria T. [born 1st November 1908], at Newcastle-upon-Tyne> In 1939, both were residing at Mowden Lodge, Staindrop Road, Darlington, Durham, him a Poultry Chicken Farmer, [they were both A.R.P., wardens]. He died June 1982, Dorothy Ashforth, born 9th May 1902, [married a Frank Watkins, born 1912, Builth, Breconshire, Wales, {son of Wilfrid Watkins born 1891, died 1921}, died 22nd August 1971, at West Hallam, Derbyshire], they had two children, she died 25th August 1989, at Little London, Suffolk, and Edith Mary Ashforth, born 3rd December 1907, [married a Bernard Arthur Tuersley, born 15th August 1906, at Leyton, Essex, in 1939 was residing at 3 Ayden Gardens, Alnwick, Northumberland, with his mother Gertrude, he was a District Collector for the Electric Supply and an A.R.P., died April 1987, son of Arthur John Tuersley, born 1868, died 8th January 1927 and his wife Gertrude Louise Ewing, born 18th September 1875, died 1969], died 25th December 1996 at Morpeth. They were all born at Whitley Bay.

Henry's father William, was a Land Agent, and he was born at 30 Wesley Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, his father Thomas was a printer compositor, eventually becoming a Manager of a printing company, residing at 10 Grafton Road, then moving to 25 Grafton Road at Whitley Bay after 1882.

In 1881 Edith Sarah Johnson was residing at Princess Street, Framwellgate, whilst her father was a Grocers assistant.

Henry worked for Lloyds Bank at Grey Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Yet Lloyds Bank archives are unable to find him in their records.

Henry Wilson Ashforth was possibly in the 8th Company, 'A' Battalion of the Tank Corps. He was promoted to a temp lieutenant from temporary 2nd Lieutenant on the 31st July 1918. He initially enlisted around the 30th January 1917. Henry went to France in August 1917.

Heavy Branch of the Machine Gun Corps (MGC).
In November 1916 the eight companies then in existence were each expanded to form battalions still lettered 'A' through to 'H', another seven battalions, 'I' through to 'O', were formed by January 1918, when they all were converted to numbered units. On the 28th July 1917 the Heavy Branch was by Royal Warrant separated from the rest of the MGC and given official status as the Tank Corps, meaning that by the beginning of 1918 the fifteen units were changed from letters to numbers as 1st Battalion to 15th Battalion, Tank Corps. More battalions continued to be formed, and by December 1918, 26 had been created. (At this time there were only 25 tank battalions, however; the 17th had converted to using armoured cars in April 1918). The first commander of the Tank Corps was Hugh Elles.

War Diary entries.
November 17th – 19th.
A Battalion: Tanks of No 3 Company and spare tanks, eg Supply, Wire Pullers moved from Bray to Dessart Wood, detraining at Ytres siding, P.32.d.

18th November
'C' Battalion: No 9 Company and details arrived at lying up places without incident. Preliminary Instructions No 14 issued. 2 lorry loads of filled LG drums arrive. Being sent up with trucks on light railway to Villers-Guislain tonight. Clearer weather.

19th November
A Battalion: No 3 Company’s tanks moved from Dessart Wood to Villers Plouich. Battalion Advanced HQ with 20th.
'B' Battalion: All tanks move to their starting points. Those of No 5 Company left at 4-15 pm, all tanks being in position by 3 am.
'C' Battalion: Gonnelieu. Operation Order No 6 issued. Battalion HQ moves to battle HQ 2 pm. Weather – fine. Approach march to starting point commenced at 4.50 pm and completed by about 11 pm. After completion of assembly Battalion HQ moved to battle HQ near Gonnelieu.

His battalion was involved in the Battle of Cambrai, According to a letter received by his parents, his tank was hit and all of his crew were wounded, the crew then made their escape through a German trench whilst Henry held off the Germans. The last sight of Henry was going along the trench approaching some more Germans. He was captured on the 20th November and there is an entry in the International Red Cross POW records. On the POW card his date of birth was incorrectly entered as the 16th January 1895. He was captured and was taken to the Officers Camp at Karlsruhe. And was taken there from Le Cateau.

Whitley Seaside Chronicle and Visitor's Gazette Saturday, December 15th, 1917.

The following sympathetic letter has been received from Henry's officer:- No. 8 Company, 'C' Battalion, Tank Corps Dear Sir, Having your address I feel it my duty to write to you with reference to your son, who I regret to say has not been seen since we commenced the offensive on the 20th November. No doubt you have had an official intimation. His Tank was a direct hit and all his crew were wounded so the Tank had to be evacuated. His wounded men had to go up a trench occupied by Germans, so he held them back to enable his men to get clear, and he was last seen chasing two Germans down a trench. I am sorry to say this is the only information we have had up to the present. It is my opinion that he ran into a strong party of the enemy and was taken prisoner, I sincerely hope that nothing worse has happened to him.

I sympathise with you in the matter, and trust you will have definite news at an early date, and if I can be of any service to you please let me know.
Believe me,
yours faithfully,
F. FIRTH (Lieut.)

On the 20th November 1917, Byngs Third Army launched a limited and tactically radical attack at Cambrai, where ground conditions were far more favourable than any seen to date. Following a surprise, hurricane artillery bombardment 378 Mark IV tanks smashed through the Hindenburg Line positions, temporarily creating a rupture to the German lines and the chance for a breakthrough. Insufficient mobile reserves could not get through in time to exploit the success, and within days the chance had gone. However, Cambrai proved to be a key learning experience for the British command.

Henry Wilson Ashforth married in March 1920 at Christchurch, Hampshire, Annie A. Holmes, born 13th January 1887 at Hull, [daughter of William Holmes, born 1864 and his wife Annis, born 1863], she died in June 1968.

They had one child Anthony Wilson Holmes Ashforth, born 14th November 1920, at Christchurch, Hampshire, died April 1996.

In 1939, Henry Wilson Ashforth was residing with his wife and son at 32 Devonshire Avenue, Belper, Derbyshire. The son Anthony Wilson Holmes was an Aero Engineers Apprentice and Henry was a Sales Manager in Printing and Officer Equipment. Dorothy Watkins, Henry's sister was also residing at 32 Devonshire Avenue, Belper, Derbyshire.

In 1939, William Wilson, now a retired Estate Agent, and his wife Edith Sarah, Henry's parents were residing at 'Wreighville', Rothbury, Northumberland.

Henry was residing at Derby, prior to this he was residing at Bournemouth, at 'Heathfields' 16 Gerald Road. He claimed his two medals on the 24th August 1920.

Henry Wilson Ashforth died in 1969.

Research : Angela Conroy/James Pasby

Note: His name has been incorrectly recorded on other sources as Harry William, it should be Henry Wilson, as his father's name.

Henry Wilson Ashforth is possibly remembered at Whitley Bay in W84.30 on page 5, however his name has been recorded as Frank Ashforth. There was a Frank J. Ashworth, but not in the Tank Corps.

Lloyds Bank plc Roll of Honour
Tank Museum
Battle of Cambrai