108203 2nd Lieutenant John Forbes Campbell ASHBURNER, DLI: 27/05/1940

Discussion in 'Durham Light Infantry' started by Bigglesbird, May 24, 2018.

  1. Bigglesbird

    Bigglesbird New Member

    Hi, I'm a newbie to this forum and was wondering if anyone could help me with some information on 2nd Lieutenant Ashburner. I know he served with the Durham Light Infantry (Service No 108203) and was killed when the ship that he boarded at Dunkirk was torpedoed. I was wondering if anyone could shed light on which Battalion he served with. Any details would be very much appreciated.
    Casualty
     
  2. 51highland

    51highland Very Senior Member

    Find my Past has him listed as 50 div HQ.
     
    Tricky Dicky, CL1 and Steve Mac like this.
  3. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    The 6th, 8th & 9th Bns Durham Light Infantry, 151st Infantry Brigade, were in 50 Div., 2nd Lt. JFC Ashburner is not listed in any of the 3 Rolls of Honour.

    I have done some online research and found mention of his father and one of his two brothers, his eldest brother also being killed during WWII:

    The Parish of Owermoigne Church Records

    World War II unit histories & officers

    You have to scroll down both attachment/pages to find the pertinent details.

    I also know that he was born in 1912 and was 28 years old when he died, but nothing further at this stage.

    Best,

    Steve.
     
    Tricky Dicky and CL1 like this.
  4. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    The memorial to him can be found here;-
    St Michael's Church
    Church Lane
    Owermoigne
    West Dorset
    Dorset
    DT2 8HS
    England

    Born 1912 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

    St Michael's Church - WW1 and WW2

    Kyle
     
    Tricky Dicky, CL1 and Steve Mac like this.
  5. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    UK, Army Roll of Honour, 1939-1945
    Name: John Ashburner
    Given Initials: J F C
    Rank: Second Lieutenant
    Death Date: May 1940
    Number: 108203
    Birth Place: Sussex
    Residence: Dorset
    Branch at Enlistment: Infantry
    Theatre of War: France and Belgium Campaign, 1939/40
    Regiment at Death: Durham Light Infantry
    Branch at Death: Infantry

    England, Andrews Newspaper Index Cards, 1790-1976
    Name: John Forbes Campbell Ashburner
    Father's name: L F Ashburner
    Mother's name: Jones
    Death Date: 27 May 1940
    Death Place: Belgium
    31031_A100005-02518.jpg
    31031_A100005-02520.jpg

    John Forbes Campbell Ashburner
    Birth: 1912 - India
    Death: 28 May 1940 - Belgium
    F: Lionel Forbes Ashburner
    M: Ethel Hermione Bayley

    Interesting last item

    Surrey, England, Regimental Rolls, 1914-1947
    Name: John Forbes Campbell Ashburner
    Event Date: 21 Oct 1939
    Regiment Number: 6091980
    Regiment: Queen's Royal West Surrey
    40816_1831101883_1470-00044.jpg

    TD
     
    timuk, CL1 and Steve Mac like this.
  6. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    This may back up TD`s last find?


    The undermentioned Cadets (ExGentlemen
    Cadets, Royal Military College)
    from Officer Cadet Training Unit, Sandhurst,
    to be 2nd Lts. 22nd Oct. 1939:—
    Durham L.I.—John Forbes Campbell
    ASHBURNER.
    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34719/page/7251/data.pdf

    Just to add this reply from Jim/Verrieres @
    DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY 1920-46

    Kyle
     
    Last edited: May 24, 2018
    timuk and Tricky Dicky like this.
  7. Bigglesbird

    Bigglesbird New Member

    Thank you so much everyone, this is brilliant, so much information and very much appreciated. Just a thought, are there any records of who boarded which ships or was it just impossible in all the chaos to try and track battalions or individuals? I only ask because I've seen some records where next of kin seem to have known which ship their family members where on during the evacuation when they were hit or sunk.
     
  8. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

  9. PaulE

    PaulE Senior Member

    I'll check the McGregor DLI Officers archive for you and see if any actual Bn is listed
     
  10. Bigglesbird

    Bigglesbird New Member

    Thank you, that would be fantastic
     
  11. PaulE

    PaulE Senior Member

    Have checked McGregor Ashburner was posted to GHQ BEF on 29/1/1940 and was reported drowned at Dunkirk on 27/28 May 1940 unfortunately it does not state the DLI Bn he was with .

    Regards

    Paul
     
  12. Blackdog968

    Blackdog968 Member

    Hi I am currently researching my wife's grandfathers Military Service and he was on the SS Aboukir with a 2Lt JFC Ashburner when it was torpedoed after leaving Oostende at 2200hrs on 27 May 1940, they were part of a Military Cipher/Signal Unit attached to the British Military Mission at St Andre in Bruges, apparently all of them were killed except CQMS Duncan and Pte Carter. My wife's grandfather survived and was Capt P.H. Seymour. I am trying to research exactly which unit he served with. Kind regards Steve


    Mod. edit:
    See Captain P. H. SEYMOUR
     

Share This Page