The Ashton family worked at Walkington Hall during the time of the Ferguson-Fawsitts and following retirement from their service on the death of John Daniel Fawsitt, Harold’s father and mother, Thomas and Beatrice lived at the White House, East End (opposite the village hall); until they both died in 1917. A daughter, Dora Scholefield lived with them and a son Louis was landlord of the Ferguson-Fawsitt Arms helped by his sisters Martha and Beatrice. Harold George Ashton who was born in 1881 had by this time left home, the 1901 census shows him boarding in Beverley, with James Thomas, as an apprentice wheelwright.
The Beverley Guardian of 29th August 1915 had an announcement about the death of Beatrice Ashton aged forty five. She had been licensee of the Ferguson Fawsitt Arms over the past years and was a life-long resident and respected member of the village. It details her poor health and says she succumbed to pneumonia. The newspaper also gives us news of her brother Harold who is listed on the war memorial as serving under the initials. (S.A.L.H). To find the report of Beatrice Ashton’s funeral was a great clue for it reported that she had two brothers serving in the South African Field Force, (S.A.L.H.). My research now took me down a different track. In August, 1914 Louis Botha and Jan Smuts took the Union of South Africa into war in support of Great Britain. Over 146,000 men served in South African units during the war fighting on three principal fronts. The first engagement was to capture German South-West Africa. They then took part in the major engagements during the Battle of the Somme. The entire Brigade attacked at Delville Wood; of 3,153 officers and men who mustered on 14th July, only 750 were left alive by 20th July.
There is a plaque at the Delville Wood memorial depicting the remnants of the South African
Brigade coming out of the wood after being relieved. The Division was rebuilt with new drafts in the summer of 1916 in the Arras and Vimy area and took part in attacks in appalling weather and conditions during 1916. In 1917 the brigade took part in the Battle of Arras and in the third Battle of Ypres. There most impressive feat took place in March, 1918 when the Germans attacked during Operation Michael, the South Africans fought on until only 100 men were left. Harold George Ashton joined the South African Mounted Rifles in August 1915, and died in Johannesburg whilst awaiting discharge on 6 July 1918. He is buried in the Johannesburg (Brixton) cemetery.
Graves in Walkington churchyard show Ashtons coming from Long Riston in Holderness and chairs in Walkington church commemorate various members of the family including Harold.
