| Regimental number | 5363 |
| Place of birth | Bega, New South Wales |
| School | Sydney Grammar School, New South Wales |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Occupation | Engineer |
| Address | 40A Cabramatta Road, Mosman, Sydney, New South Wales |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 18 |
| Height | 5' 9" |
| Weight | 136 lbs |
| Next of kin | Mother, Mrs Florence Ashdown, 40A Cabramatta Road, Mosman, Sydney, New South Wales |
| Previous military service | Served for 4 years in the Royal Australian Naval Cadets. |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Sydney, New South Wales |
| Rank on enlistment | Sapper |
| Unit name | 7th Field Company Engineers, Reinforcement 2 |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 14/26/2 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A35 Berrima on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Sapper |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 14th Field Company Engineers |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Place of death or wounding | Fleurbaix, France |
| Age at death | 19.6 |
| Age at death from cemetery records | 19 |
| Place of burial | Anzac Cemetery (Plot I, Row C, Grave 4), Sailly-sur-la-Lys, France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 23 |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: Edward Parker and Florence Eleanor ASHDOWN, 25 Muston Street, Mosman, New South Wales |
| Family/military connections | Brothers: 1819 Pte Edmund Arthur ASHDOWN 13th Bn, killed in action, 11 April 1917; 5361 Pte Clive ASHDOWN, 1st Australian General Hospital, returned to Australia, 8 August 1918; 1704 Pte Ernest Edwin ASHDOWN, 13th Bn, returned to Australia, 11 March 1916; Sister: Staff Nurse Maud ASHDOWN, Australian Army Nursing Service, discharged, 7 March 1917. |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Western Front Admitted to Government Hospital, Suez, 24 January 1916 (mumps); discharged to duty, 26 January 1916. Taken on strength, 14th Field Company Engineers, Tel el Kebir, 18 March 1916. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 18 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916. Killed in action, 20 July 1916. Buried in Sailly-sur-la-Lys Cemetery, Rev. Meredith Holliday officiating. Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal Mother wrote to Base Records, 20 January 1921: 'I have to once again to thank you for your great kindness in sending me the photograph of my darling son's grave, although it is a heart break to receive it still I am glad to have it. My boy was very young when he left for the Front - being only 19 years of age when he was killed. Yet I would not have had it otherwise, as I am proud of him, and of his other three brothers who went to the war. I lost two sons, but I gave them gladly for their Country to save the dear old "Union Jack".' |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, ASHDOWN Cecil Parker |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
