Henry Ashton was born in Glossop, Derbyshire in 1873, the second of five children of John Ashton, a railway wheel-smith, and his wife Harriet.

In the late 19th century Henry joined the Seaforth Highlanders and served a term of 12 ½ years with them, earning medals for campaigns in India, Egypt, Sudan and South Africa. On leaving the army he joined the Midland Railway Company. He married Hetty Martin in 1905, and together they had two children – Herbert William born in 1905 and Winifred Beatrice born in 1909.

In March 1915, Henry rejoined the army – first attesting for service with the Derbyshire Yeomanry. He underwent a period of training and service at home before leaving for France in late-September 1916. In October 1916 he transferred to the 14th Bn Durham Light Infantry (DLI), and at around the same time he was promoted to the rank of Serjeant.

Henry joined his new unit near Meaulte, in the Somme region of France until November 1916 when they moved north towards the industrial towns around Lens and Bethune. Much of early 1917 was spent in training and reinforcing the front line, work that stepped up in intensity as preparations were made for what would become known as the Battle of Arras.

On the night of 20 April 1917, the 14th DLI were in trenches in the Loos & Lens sector – occupying Netley Trench and Novel Alley, with the objective to capture a concrete point and Dynamite Magazine.

These objectives were won by the time the Battalion was relived on the morning of the 23rd April, but not without cost. 35 men had lost their lives, whilst a further 24 were missing and 183 were injured. Henry was one of those killed.

A letter received at home from his officer, Captain Allden Owles, stated that he had died instantly and served bravely. Following the war Henry’s body was not recovered, and he was listed on the Memorial to the Missing at Loos.

Over one hundered years later, remains were discovered during construction work for a new hospital in Lens. Further research showed they belonged to a man of the Durham Light Infantry (DLI), with extensive pre-war service demonstrated by the tattered remains of medal ribbons still attached to his uniform. DNA testing then led to formal identification of Sjt Henry Ashton.

Henry was laid to rest with full military honours in CWGC Loos British Cemetery Extension on 10 June 2025, the first named soldier to be buried in the new Extension, all earlier burials up to this time had been unidentified.