Sergeant Archibald Ash
Killed in Action 23 February 1917

 

575
Archibald Ash
Royal Newfoundland Regiment
1st Battalion

Son of Geo. Edward and Sarah Frances Ash
Red Bay, Labrador
----- ----- 188? - 23 February. 1917

Enlisted, Sept. 22, 1914;
Lance Corporal, Sept. 2, 1914;
Embarked: October 3rd, 1914 aboard the SS Florizel
Acting Corporal Dec. 5, 1915; Sergeant, Feb. 3, 1916; British Expeditionary Force Oct. 3, 1916; joined Battalion, Oct. 14, 1916; Killed in action, Sailly-Saillisel, Feb. 23, 1917; Mentioned in dispatches, April 9, 1917

Highest rank attained: Sergeant

Archibald Ash was one of the Regimental medics. On January 27, 1917, Sgt. Ash went out in the front of the trenches to tend to some of the wounded under very heavy shell fire. He directed the stretcher-bearers and made several trips with them. Later on he went out three more times searching the ground for more of his wounded comrades until he was satisfied there were no more there. The shellfire was heavy the whole time, but he showed a total disregard for danger and set a great example to the stretcher-bearers working with him. On February 23, 1917, Sgt. Ash and his Battalion moved into the firing line at Sailly-Saillesel, where the enemy bombardment was fierce and heavy. It was during this battle that Sgt. Ash was killed, three of his comrades wounded and one gassed.

Excerpt from Veterans of the North by Francis Patey

Commemorated on Page 8 of the Newfoundland Book of Remembrance.

Burial Information:
Cemetery: SAILLY-SAILLISEL BRITISH CEMETERY, France
Grave Reference: II. A. 5. Location: SAILLY-SAILLISEL BRITISH CEMETERY is 16 kilometres east of Albert and 10 kilometres south of Bapaume.

The Cemetery is situated on the right hand side (direction Peronne) of the N17 just outside of Sailly Saillisel and before Rancourt.