This cabinet photograph appears to be a portrait of Captain Frederic Ellis Ashton of the York and Lancaster Regiment.
Ashton was born in 1867 in Flintshire, Wales the son of Charles Ellis Ashton a member of the Liverpool stock exchange, and his wife Mary Caroline Shand. He was educated at Eaton.
Ashton was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the 6th Battalion, the King's Royal Rifle Corps on 19 February 1887.
2nd Lieutenant, 7th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps - 1 July 1889
2nd Lieutenant, 2nd Battalion, the York and Lancaster Regiment - 28 June 189
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Lieutenant - 27 November 1894
Captain - 26 July 1901
Adjutant, 2nd Vol. Battalion, the York and Lancaster Regiment - 19 June 1902
Major - 2 June 1909
Temporary Lieutenant Colonel, 6th Battalion, the York and Lancaster Regiment - c. 1914
Temporary Lieutenant Colonel, the Royal Dublin Fusiliers - 20 February 1916
Temporary Lieutenant Colonel, the York, and Lancaster Regiment - 16 January 1919
As a Lieutenant during the Anglo-Boer War Aston commanded B Company of the 1st Battalion, the York and Lancaster Regiment in Natal. Promoted to captain while on active duty Aston received a Mention in Despatches from General Roberts on
4 September 1901. He was entitled to the Queen's South Africa Medal with clasps for "Cape Colony", "Orange Free State", "Transvaal" and "Laign's Nek".
Seeing active duty again during World War One, Ashton received another Mention in Despatches and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order on 2 June 1918 for military operations in Egypt. In addition to the DSO, Ashton was entitled to the
British War and Victory Medals. Ashton's entire war service was in the Egyptian and Salonika theaters of operations beginning in 1916 so he was not entitled to either the 1914 or 1914-15 star medals. His medal index card also mentions Ashton being issued a Silver War Badge.
Ashton married Alexandra Shirreff Abercromby of Cape Town, South Africa, the daughter of Alexander Abercromby in 1896. They had at least two children: Nicholas Charles Ellis Ashton, b. 1904, and Gladys Lilian.
Frederic Ellis Ashton died on 31 May 1949.
Cabinet Photograph
Robertson - Photographer
Pietermaritzburg, Natal, South Africa
c. 1902