Ashton Archer
In 1939 Ashton was living at Ellesmere Road, Forest Town and was working as butcher shop manager for Mansfield, Sutton & District Co-Op.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
The younger son of Ashton and Elizabeth Tracey Archer. Ashton snr died in 1932 and Elizabeth married George Schofield in 1934. In 1939 Ashton was living with his mother and his step father at "Lyncroft" Ellesmere Rd, Forest Town along with his older brother Arthur Edgar (1909)
Initially enlisted in the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regt) before transferring to the Coldstream Guards.
Coldstrem Guards: Battle Honours & Anniversaries:
23rd September; The Nederrijn.
Attempting to reach the Airborne Divisions who were fighting for the bridges over Nederrijn at Arnham.
30 corps advanced along the Eindhoven-Arnham road, leaving the flanks to be cleared later. On the 22nd September the Germans cut the the supply route and the Coldstrem Guards composed the 1st Armoured Division and the 5th Bn were ordered to clear the road. The next day (23rd) in bitter fighting that lasted 2 hours, the group cleared the village of Vokel and re-opened the road to supplies.
War Diary:
1/9/44:Arras:
2/9/44:Vitry Airfield near Douai
3/9/44: Brussels: 07:00 hrs: some resistance was met on routewhich caused delay. Brussels was reached at dusk. Scenes of great enthusiam.
4/9-5/9/44 spent in Brussels
6/9-15/9/44: advanced via Tessenderloo; Pael; Beverloo; Staal; Locht.
16/9/44: Locht: Bn prepare for advance on Operation Garden.
17/9/44: Locht: Operation Garden commenced. Bn prepared to move but was ordered to remain in same area till next day.
18/9/44: South of Aalst: Bn moved out under command 5th Bn Coldstream Guards as a Regimental Group in 32nd Guards Brigade and crossed Escault Canal, harbouring in area South Aalst.
19/9/44: Overasselt: Advance continued. Bn harbouring in area Overasselt, south west of Nijmegen.
20/9/44: North West of Groesbeek: Regimental Groupput under command General Gavin, 83rd US Airborne Division and moved to defend Heumen Bridge in support of a company of 5th Bn Coldstream Guards.The squadron counter attacked with US Forces cleared Mook. No1 sqdn supported US Forceson Wyler.
21/9/44: No1 sqdn patrolled Wyler, shooting at enemy in village. Later No1 sqdn was withdrawn and patrols of Recce Troop covered the village.
22/9/44: Near Zeealnd: The regimental group taken out of command of 83rd US Airforce Division and sent south to clear Division Centre Line at 17:00 hrs harbouring near Zeeland. A troop of No2 sqdn was sent under command of No2 coy 5th Coldstream Guards to hold OSS. 4754.
23/9/44: East of Udan: Bn less one troop continued move south with 2 companies of 5th Coldstream Guards attacking Volkel under command 101 US Airborne Division. Bn harboured in area East of Uden at 5541.
Buried at Uden War Cemetery Netherlands plot 3. G. 10.
No photos