Also Served: William (Billy) ASHCROFT - William (Billy) ASHCROFT
12, Atherton Street, Prescot Pte 3380, 5th Bn., South Lancashire Regiment
The above picture has been kindly provided by Alan Roughley, great nephew of William
Born in Prescot in 1884 and one of three brothers, the other two being Henry and Alfred Ashcroft, when the 1911 census was taken, William lived at 23, High Street, with his wife of three years, Jane, and their 7 month old daughter Ada. He worked at the Wire Works as a Labourer in the Insulating Room. William was 30 years old and recorded his occupation as 'Labourer'. He was 5 foot 4 inches tall.
He recorded his wife Jane as next of kin, further recording that they had three children- Ada (11/06/1910), William (03/12/1913) and Thomas (18/03/1914?)
The table below shows key dates and events in William's service
09/11/1914 Attested at Prescot to 1/5th Bn, South Lancashire Regiment
11/02/1915 The Battalion sailed to France, but William Ashcroft remained in the UK
15/05/1915 Listed in Prescot Reporter as one of the town's men serving with the colours
19/06/1915 Posted to 49th Provisional Battalion of the Regiment
12/10/1915 Signed agreement to serve overseas
06/11/1915 Posted back to 1/5th Bn, South Lancs
04/03/1916 Appointed to Lance Corporal (Unpaid)
06/05/1916 Reverted back to Rifleman
11/05/1916 Sailed to France
12/05/1916 Joined Base Depot at Rouen
23/10/1916 Admitted to No 10 Casualty Clearing Station (Boulogne) suffering from Trench Fever
07/12/1916 Discharged and proceeded to the front
09/12/1916 Rejoined Battalion
01/03/1917 Renumbered to 241187 as part of Territorial Force renumbering
03/04/1917 Admitted to Field Hospital with contusions to the back
31/07/1917 Wounded in action, admitted to 46 Casualty Clearing Station
01/08/1917 Admitted to 18 General Hospital
04/08/1917 Probably discharged
24/08/1917 Proceeded to the front
26/08/1917 Rejoined Battalion
27/09/1917 Granted 10 days leave to the UK
01/10/1917 Appointed to Lance Corporal (Unpaid)
07/02/1918 Admitted to Field Ambulance - Accidental injury to left knee
09/03/1918 Rejoined Battalion
21/04/1918 Now converted to paid Lance Corporal
03/06/1918 Deprived of Lance Corporal stripe for 1) being absent from parade and 2) insolence to superior officer
11/08/1918 Special leave to the UK for 14 days (reason unknown)
19/01/1919 Returned to England and Posted to Dispersal Centre at Prees Heath, Shropshire
19/02/1919 Demobilised
On demobilisation, his home address was given as 19, Duke Street, Prescot. He was entitled to the British |War Medal and Victory Medal, receiving these in February 1921
Billy (known as Sprogger) played football for Prescot Athletic Football Club and is pictured below.
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