Private Theophilus Ashfield

 

Theophilus Ashfield was born on 25 February 1891 at Sixmilecross, County Tyrone, the second of six children of farmer Alexander Ashfield and his wife Esther Jane (née Condy). His father died when he was just five years old. At the time of the 1911 Census he was living in Sixmilecross with his mother and three of his four surviving siblings, and working as a postman and farm servant.

Ashfield enlisted in the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron on 12 November 1915 (No. UD/308). The squadron had embarked for France as divisional cavalry to the 36th (Ulster) Division on 6 October 1915. Ashfield trained at the reserve depot at Enniskillen before being sent to France as a reinforcement for the squadron in 1916 or the first half of 1917.

In June 1916 the Inniskilling squadron had joined with C and F Squadrons of the North Irish Horse to form the 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment, serving as corps cavalry to X Corps. In August-September 1917 the Regiment was disbanded and its men, following training at the 36th (Ulster) Division Infantry Base Depot at Harfleur, were transferred to the Royal Irish Fusiliers, an infantry regiment. Most, including Ashfield, were transferred on 20 September and posted to the 9th (Service) Battalion – renamed the 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion – joining it in the field at Ruyaulcourt. Ashfield was issued regimental number 41378.

He was wounded in the right shoulder on 22 or 23 November 1917 in the fighting for the village of Moeuvres during the Battle of Cambrai. The wound was a serious one, and on 27 November 1918 he was discharged, being 'no longer physically fit for war service' (paragraph 392 (xvi), King's Regulations).

Ashfield was granted a pension due to his injury, his level of disability assessed at 60 per cent on 5 November 1919. By April 1921 it had improved to 30 per cent, but was classed as permanent.

Following his discharge Ashfield returned to work as a postman. By 1959 he was living as a retiree at 40C Donegall Pass, Belfast. He died there on 2 February.

 

Ashfield's brother, William James, also served in the war, in the 2nd Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (No.4326). Twice wounded, he was captured near St Quentin on 21 March 1918. He was granted a pension due to pulmonary tuberculosis, which was attributed to his military service, his level of disability assessed at 100 per cent. He died in Belfast on 12 January 1930.

 

This page last updated 13 March 2023.