Albert Percival Ash
Attended All Saints schools. In 1911 he was a messenger boy and may already have been working for the Post Office.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Albert was the son of James and Clara Ash (née Turton).
Both his parents were born in Nottingham. In 1881 his mother Clara (17) was living at 74 Raleigh Street, with her widowed mother, Frances E Turton (52), a grocer.
Clara married James Ash in 1884 (reg. Nottm) and they had five children; Mabel F, Ethel ME, Gwendoline A, James E and Albert Percy birth registered 1897 (J/F/M). All the children were born in Nottingham apart from Gwendoline who was born in London.
In 1891 James (29) and Clara (26) were living on Great Titchfield Street in the civil parish of Marylebone, London. James was a machine mechanic. They had two children Mabel V (4) and Ethel M (3).
By 1901 the family was back in Nottingham living at 27 Russell Street. James and Clara now had five children; Mabel (14) a cigar maker, Ethel (13) a confectioner's assistant, Gwendoline (9), James (6) and Albert (4). Also in the household were James' nephew and niece, John C Ash (17) an iron turner, and Annie M. (15) who worked in the lace industry.
Clara Ash died in 1907 (reg. J/F/M) and by 1911 James (49) was living at 3 Gamble Street, Nottingham. He had a housekeeper, Gertrude Skinner (29), who worked in the hosiery trade.
In 1911 all James' children were living at 42 Raleigh Street, Nottingham, with Mabel (24), the eldest child, head of household. Mabel worked as a dressmaker and Ethel (23) worked in the lace industry as did her younger sister, Gwendoline (19). James (16) was a grocer's assistant, and Albert (14) was a messenger boy.
According to a notice of Albert's death in the All Saints parish magazine, the family no longer lived in the parish by the time of Albert's death. A newspaper report of his death gave his address as 36 George Street, West Bridgford.
Sergeant Albert Percival Ash served with the 2/7th Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment (Robin Hood Rifles).
He was wounded and taken prisoner following the attack at Le Verguier on 2 April 1917. Albert succumbed to a head wound on 24 April 1917 while still a prisoner and is buried Le Cateau Military Cemetery, France (grave ref V.G.20).
He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
CWGC history of Le Cateau Military Cemetery (extract): Le Cateau is about 27km from Cambrai. 'Le Cateau-Cambrésis and the country to the west of it was the scene of a battle fought by the British II Corps on 26 August 1914 against a greatly superior German force. The town remained in German hands from that date until the evening of 10 October 1918, when it was rushed by the 5th Connaught Rangers and finally cleared a week later. During the war Le Cateau had been a German railhead and the site of an important hospital centre. The military cemetery was laid out by the Germans in February 1916 with separate plots for the Commonwealth and German dead ... The Commonwealth plot is the site of almost 700 graves and commemorations of the First World War. The majority of the graves in Plots I, III, IV and V are those of British dead buried by the Germans, mainly from the battleground of 1914.' (www.cwgc.gov)
Nottingham General Cemetery. Turton family grave, inscription: Face 1. In ever loving memory of Frances Elizabeth Turton, who died June 27th, 1822, in her 93rd year. ‘At Rest.’ Also of Evelyn Thomas who died Feb. 3rd, 1910, aged 38 years. And of Edson Buller, sons of the above, who died April 12th 1914, aged 41 years. ‘They will be done.’ ‘In loving memory of Clara Ash, the beloved daughter of FE Turton, who died Jan. 24th 1907 aged 43 years. Also of Sgt. Albert Percival Ash 2/7 Sherwood Foresters son of the above, who died of wounds in Germany, April 10th. 1917, aged 20 years. ‘We cannot Lord thy purpose see, But all is well that is done by thee’ Face 3. In loving memory of Annie E Davies daughter of Frances E Turton died Dec. 26th ? 1933 aged 77 years. ‘At Rest.’
Nottingham Evening Post, Roll of Honour (Killed), 23 July 1917: photographs including 'Sgt AP Ash (SF), 36 George-st, West Bridgford, died of wounds as prisoner in Germany, age 24.' (britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
All Saints Church News, 'War obituary', August 1917: 'Albert Percival Ash, Sergeant Sherwood Foresters, aged 20, died of wounds in Germany, April 24th 1917. He joined the army at the beginning of the war but had not been long in France. Lived at Raleigh Street and Russell Street and attended All Saints Schools. His relatives have now removed from the Parish.'
Register of Soldiers' Effects: first names Percival Albert. His three sisters, Mabel, Ethel (Burrows) and Gwendoline were his legatees.
Arthur Percival Ash
Nottingham Evening Post, 23 July 1917.
Photo of Albert Percival Ash
Nottingham General Cemetery, Turton family grave commemorating AP Ash. Photograph Rachel Farrand (26 February 2026)
Photo of Albert Percival Ash
Nottingham General Cemetery, Turton family grave commemorating AP Ash. Photograph Rachel Farrand (26 February 2026)