Medals of war hero finally reunited

THE medals of First World War hero James Ashworth have been reunited after an appeal in the Oldham Chronicle.

Collector Dave Neild is delighted after the cotton spinner’s family came forward with his Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) and Military Medal (MM) awarded for valour.

He was searching for the honours to complete the set of five given to the company sergeant-major from Chadderton who served with the 24th Battalion Manchester Regiment, known as the Oldham Pals

David, who grew up in Moorside, has hundreds of Medals from Waterloo and Afghanistan, and is particularly interested in Oldham soldiers. He believes sets of medals should be together and already had Mr Ashworth’s 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Both Trevor Ashworth and his niece Sue Hill contacted David after reading his appeal in the Chronicle and it turned out that Trevor’s sister, Sylvia Hilditch, had the other medals

Trevor did not know that his grandfather, who died in 1975, had received the MM and the DCM — the honour below the Victoria cross — and explained: “He was a big guy and his voice was as big as himself. When he spoke everybody stood up straight.

“You could tell he had been in charge of men in the army and it did not change when he came out, but but he never mentioned the war. It was a closed book and he did not open old wounds.”

James Ashworth was born in Chadderton in 1890, living in the town all his life, and signed up with the Oldham Pals which was formed in October, 1914.

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 again a few days later after treatment. He was awarded the DCM 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.”

James married Hannah at St Matthew’s Church in 1909 and the couple had three children — James, Benjamin and Alice — and seven grandchildren.

Chairman of the old comrades association, he was pictured wearing his medals at a 50th anniversary reunion of the Oldham Pals before a memorial service in 1964.

When the photograph was taken, only 150 of the Pals remained out of the 1,200 who signed up.

Trevor (61), from Chadderton, remembers his grandfather as an “unassuming chap” who played football before the war and loved bowling and his allotment.

He does not know when his medals were split up, and is pleased that they have been reunited after the family presented them to Dave.

He added: “We did not want to make any money out of it and he gave us a donation for Dr Kershaw’s Hospice.”

Dave is interested in buying medals and militaria, especially Oldham related, and can be contacted on 01745-851120


James and his Pals

Steam bellowed from the engine as troops leaned from the windows of every carriage waving goodbye to loved ones and their mill-town home.

The Mayor of Oldham was among the huge crowed which had lined the route to Clegg Street station to cheer the volunteers on their way.

This was the scene in March 1915 as the Oldham Pals left their Chadderton camp for the horrors of the First World War.

The 24 Battalion — part of the Manchester Regiment — had been launched the previous October following Lord Kitchener’s national call to arms.

Men from close-knit communities were encouraged to join up together, with the promise of being able to serve side by side in the same unit.

Oldham had already raised two battalions so recruitment was slower than expected. But following a post-Christmas rush, the battalion met its target of 1,120 volunteers by January.

Among those taking the King’s Shilling was 25-year-old James Ashworth and the battalion left Britain for active service in November, 1915.

On February 6, they took over part of the lines above Fricourt, on the Somme. In the first 24 hours, 17 Pals were killed and 15 wounded.

The Pals went on to serve at Ypres and Asiago and lost a total of 179 men, a thankfully low casualty rate compared with many battalions.

A jubilee reunion in 1964 attracted 88 former pals who were photographed on the Oldham Town Hall Steps.