Second Lieutenant

William Frank Ashley

Conflict: 
WW2
Additional Information: 

Son of William Arkinstall Ashley and Phoebe Ashley, of Invercargill, Southland; husband of Christiana Ashley, of Blenheim, Marlborough. Also served in 1914-18 War.

References:
  • CWGC
  • Archives New Zealand
NZ WAR GRAVES

Biographical Notes:

"The funeral of Lieutenant William Frank Ashley, who died suddenly at Trentham Camp on Thursday, was carried out with full military honours at the Soldiers' Cemetery at Karori on Saturday. The coffin was draped with the Union Jack, and on arrival at the cemetery gates the cortege was met by a firing party from Trentham, which fell in behind the funeral coach and followed it to the graveside. The service at the graveside was conducted by the Rev. T. Skuse, and a choir from the Returned Soldiers' Association sang "Lead Kindly Light." Lieutenant Ashley saw service in the last war, and  each of the returned soldiers present was given a poppy, which he cast into the grave as he paid his last respects. The other commissioned ranks stepped up to the graveside and paid their respects separately. The "Last Post" was sounded by buglers from Fort Dorset, and at the conclusion of the service, the empty cartridge cases used by the firing party were handed to deceased's relatives. The chief mourners were Mrs. Ashley and her son and daughter. The pall-bearers were Captains Hollis, Britten. Porritt, Bale, Crane, and King. The cars for the funeral party were supplied by the Ladies' Auxiliary Transport Corps. The Westland County, Council, to which Lieutenant Ashley had been engineer, was represented at the funeral by. Mr. E. M. Campbell, of the Hutt County' Council."[Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 52, 3 March 1941, Page 5]

Public Contributions:

There are no public contributions written for this casualty

Personal Tributes:

Casualty

Service Number: 
35066
Name:
William Frank Ashley
Rank: 
Second Lieutenant
Date of Birth:
19 October 1896
Place of Birth:
Invercargill, Southland, New Zealand
Next of Kin: 
Christiana Ashley (wife), Gibson Quay, Hokitika
Religion:
Methodist
Date of Enlistment:
23 June 1940
Locality on Enlistment: 
Greymouth, New Zealand
Place of Enlistment: 
Gibson Quay, Hokitika
Marital Status:
Married
Occupation on Enlistment:
County Clerk
Employer:
Westland County Council
Unit:
New Zealand Infantry

Casualty Details

Cause of Death:
Died of natural causes
Date of Death:
27 February 1941
Day of Death:
Thursday
Age at Death: 
44
Conflict: 
WW2

Embarkation Details

Text in italics supplied by Cenotaph Online, Auckland War Memorial Museum

Cemetery

Cemetery Reference: 
25. A/3. (S).
Cemetery Location: 
New Zealand
William Frank Ashley
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