Hunt for a hero’s medals

WAR hero . . . Dave Neild with James Ashworth’s Distinguished Conduct Medal and Military Medal

Collector Dave Neild is hoping to reunite the First World War medals of a Chadderton hero.

The 37-year-old recently bought 14051 Company Sergeant Major James Ashworth’s Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) and Military Medal (MM).

And he now wants to complete the collection by tracking down the other three medals which he was awarded: the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Mr Ashworth was born in 1890 and lived at 36 Ogden Street, Chadderton.

A cotton spinner, he served with the 24th Battalion, Manchester Regiment — formed in the town in October, 1914 and known as The Oldham Pals. The regiment saw action at Somme, Ypres and Asiago.

Wounded in the leg by shrapnel in September, 1916, he continued to supervise the work of his platoon until he received a second injury, returning to battle a few days later after treatment.

He was awarded the DCM, the honour below the Victoria Cross, and the MM for his role in operations at Beaumont Hamel, Bullecourt and Ypres, and his gallantry during the Asiago offensive.

His citation in the London Gazette read: “His coolness under the heaviest shell fire and his personal influence with his men were frequently and largely instrumental in the completion of urgent work.

“On several occasions he was in charge of important wiring in No Man’s Land, south of Asiago, when his energy and determination contributed largely to the quality of the results received.”

Mr Ashworth attended a 50th anniversary reunion when he was chairman of the old comrades association and his last known address was in 1964 at 35 Parkway, Chadderton.

Dave who grew up in Moorside, believes the medals should be reunited.

The missing ones will be inscribed with his details and Dave explained: “I am hoping some of the family still live in the Oldham area and might have these three medals.

“James Ashworth must have been a fairly important person and he must have been well known.”

David, who now lives in North Wales, became passionate about medals when he was told war stories by his late grandfather Vincent Marland, of Huddersfield Road, Austerlands.

Mr Marland was awarded the MM during the Second World War and his grandson’s collection now includes hundreds of medals from Waterloo to Afghanistan.

“Some people collect watches — it is just something I do,” explained David who is an aircraft fitter.

“When I buy a medal it is building a story about a person.”

Anyone who has information about James Ashworth or his medals can contact Dave on 01745 851120. He is also interested in buying old medals and militaria, especially Oldham related.