Ashton Burton

Story:
Ashton Burton was born in Litchfield, Hampshire, on 7 Oct 1887 the son of Thomas Burton and Sarah Burton (nee Harrison).  He lived his early life in Litchfield until the death of his father in 1896 when he and his mother moved to Andover, Hampshire, and by 1911, to 25 Bimport, Shaftesbury, Dorset.  Ashton had taken up employment with the local firm of Stratton, Sons & Mead as an Assistant Grocer.   He had enlisted on 7 Sep 1914 and joined the Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire) Regiment as a Private (Service No. 14439).  He served for a short time in France and Flanders from 19 Sep 1915 before being posted to Salonika on 24 Nov 1915 with the 7th Battalion.  It was here he contracted malaria in November 1916 which severely affected his health.  He was hospitalised on many occasions both abroad and in the UK.  He was eventually attached to the 3rd Battalion at the Regimental Depot until his discharge on 11 Mar 1919.  He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star.  His name was also placed on his employer's Roll of Honour.  The 1921 Census shows him now living with his widowed mother in Waverley Lane, Gillingham, Dorset, described as a Confectioner's Clerk. By the time of the 1939 Register he was still single and living with his mother and sister (who were both incapacitated) in French Mill Lane, Shaftesbury, Dorset, working as an Assistant Grocer.  His death was recorded at the Sturminster, Dorset, Registry in 1963 and he was buried in the Town Cemetery, Shaftesbury, on 26 Oct 1963.