Next of kin plaque: Trooper William Walter Ash, 4th Light Horse Regiment, AIF

Places
Accession Number AWM2019.1075.3
Collection type Heraldry
Object type Heraldry
Physical description Bronze
Maker Royal Arsenal Woolwich
Place made United Kingdom: England, Greater London, London
Date made c 1922
Conflict First World War, 1914-1918
Description

Bronze next of kin plaque, showing on the obverse, Britannia holding a laurel wreath, the British lion, dolphins, a spray of oak leaves and the words 'HE DIED FOR FREEDOM AND HONOUR' around the edge. Beneath the main figures, the British lion defeats the German eagle. The initials 'ECP', for the designer Edward Carter Preston appear above the lion's right forepaw. A raised rectangle above the lion's head bears the name 'WILLIAM WALTER ASH'. A checker's mark, '1', is impressed above the lino's left rear paw. The back of the plaque carried the stamp of the Woolwich arsenal, 'W' within a circle.

History / Summary

Born in near Hay, New South Wales, William Walter Ash was employed as a labourer at Lake Bogo, Victoria, when he enlisted in the AIF in Melbourne on 9 February 1916, aged 21. After training in Melbourne and Seymour he was posted a private, service number 2638, to the 18th Reinforcements for 4th Light Horse Regiment. The unit sailed from Melbourne on 11 July, aboard RMS Mongolia.

Ash undertook further training in Egypt before joining his regiment on 12 October.

In September 1917 he was admitted to hospital suffering from malaria. He rejoined his regiment at in Tel-el-Fara on 16 October, in time to take part in the renowned charge at Beersheba at the end of the month.

Ash was killed on 2 May 1918 during the Es Salt raid in Palestine. His body was not recovered for burial and his name is commemorated on the Jerusalem Memorial in the Jerusalem War Cemetery.

This memorial plaque was issued to his mother, Frances Ash, in November 1922.