Cecil Robert and Eric James Ashton

This story is shared by the Trust with kind permission from Mavis Williams, Researcher.

The story of two brothers who died in June 1944 in the Normandy campaign – Cecil Robert & Eric James Ashton.

Eric and Cecil Ashton were the youngest sons of Robert and Rachel Ashton. Robert had been married before but his first wife, Eliza Ann Ashton (née Maidens), had died in 1908. They had had three children but, after her death, Robert married her sister, Rachel Maidens, the following year (until 1907 it was illegal for a man to marry his dead's wife's sister).

The 1911 census sees the newly wed couple living at Brandon, Hough on the Hill, Lincolnshire, with Robert Ashton as head of the household, now 42 years old. He is a Farm Foreman and had been born in Stubby, Lincs. His wife, Rachel Ashton, was 27 and she tell us that she had 2 children, born in Frith Ville, Lincs. The children were Kate Ashton, 15, single and ‘At Home,’ born in West Willouby (sic), Lincs. Ernest Oliver Ashton, 4, Edmund Jonathan Ashton, 2 and Frank Ashton, 1 had been born in Belton Ashes, Lincs. Margaret Ellen Ashton, 4 months old had been born in Moor Houses, Lincs.

We see Cecil Robert & Eric James Ashton for the first time on the 1921 census. The family had moved to Barkston Heath, Nottinghamshire. The children were Horace Ashton, 15 years and 6 months old, single and a Waggoner for the same company as his father, born in Belton Ashes, Lincs, as was Edmund Ashton, 13 years and 2 months old and Frank Ashton, 11 years and 10 months old.  Evelyn Ashton, 5 years and 11 months old and Doris Ashton, 4 years and 3 months old had both been born in Little Ponton, Lincs.  Cecil Ashton, 2 years and 1 month old had been born in Panton, Lincs., while Eric Ashton, 3 months old had been born in Barkston Heath.

Cecil Robert’s Royal Engineers Casualty Card tells us that he enlisted on the 1st of January 1937 at Lincoln and his date of birth was the 22nd of May 1918 although, if you look at the census information, it appears he lied about his year of birth when he joined up.

Cecil married Joyce G.B. Ferris in the September quarter of 1941 in the Swindon Registration District. They had two children, a son who died a year after he was born and a daughter who was born a week before Cecil left for Normandy.

The casualty card  for Eric James tells us that he had been born on the 1st of December 1919 at Grantham and he had enlisted two days before his brother on the 30th of December 1937, but I am sure that he too altered the year of his birth!  It was definitely 1921 so he would have only been 16 years old.

The Casualty List tells us that Cecil was killed in action on the 6th of June 1944. He landed on Juno Beach and the CWGC Graves Concentration Report Form tell us that he was buried at Graye-sur-Mer. On the 6th of December 1944 he was reburied at Bayeux British Cemetery where he now lies.

Eric was killed in action 11 days later, on the 17th of June 1944. The CWGC Graves Concentration Report Form tell us that he was buried at Beny-sur-Mer and then, on the 23rd of November 1944, he too was reburied at Bayeux British Cemetery where he now lies.

The Grantham Journal, dated the 14th of July 1944, tells us a little about both brothers.

Two Brother’s Killed.
Mr. & Mrs Ashton have just received official notification that their two sons, L.Sergt. Cecil Robert ASHTON, aged 25, and Cpl. Eric James ASHTON, aged 23, both of the Royal Engineers have been killed in action in Normandy. Prior to joining the Forces in 1936, Cecil was gardening with the late Col. W.V.R. King Fane. He had been married for about three years and leaves a young wife and daughter born a week before he went abroad. In civil life, Eric was also a gardener under Capt. J.S. Reeves, Leadenham Hall and joined up in 1937.

In the Grantham Journal, dated the 22nd of June 1945, the family left a Memorial notice:

ASHTON - In loving memory of our dear son Sergt. Cecil Robert Ashton, killed in Action June 6th, 1944. In loving memory of our dear son Cpl. Eric James Ashton, killed in action June 17th, 1944.
“One year has passed how long it seems, but in our hearts their kind faces beam.
We, who loved them, only know how much we lost one year ago.
Their heats were kind, their friendship true, loved and respected by all they knew.
To beautiful lives came sudden ends, they died as they lived everyone’s friend.”
From their sorrowing Father, Mother, brother and Sisters. Fulbeck.

They also put one in the Grantham Journal in 1947

ASHTON – In loving memory of our two dear sons, Cecil and Eric killed in action 6th and June 17th, 1944.
“We shall see them one bright morning, waiting on the other side.
We shall see their dear faces smiling, not changed but glorified.”

From loving Mother, Father, Sister and brothers. Fulbeck.

I believe that Joyce G.B. Ashton married again in the December quarter of 1951 to Ronald K Birley.

British Normandy Memorial - Additional Information

Unfortunately, we do not have a photo of Cecil and Eric Ashton. If you are aware of one or you are related to Cecil and Eric we would love to hear from you so we can add to their story.