Feb 13, 1878

Born in Beckenham, England to David and Alice (nee Mugridge) Ashdown

Mar 7, 1907

Embarked the SS Lake Manitoba in Liverpool

Mar 14, 1907

Disembarked in Saint John, New Brunswick and proceeded to Toronto, Ontario

Jul 21, 1915

Shown on the payroll of the 12^th Regiment, York Rangers in Toronto, Ontario

Aug 11, 1915

Attested into the 83^rd Battalion CEF in Toronto, Ontario

Ø  Number 171020

Ø  Next of kin given as Alice Ashdown, mother, 79 Kimberley St., East Toronto, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Labourer

Ø  Previous military experience given as the 12^th Regiment, York Rangers in Toronto and 4 years in the West Surrey Regiment in England

Ø  Religion given as Church of England

Ø  Posted to the 1^st Regimental Draft

Initial training was carried out at the Niagara Camp, Niagara-on-the-Lake from August 1915 to April 25, 1916 when the battalion moved to the Riverdale Barracks in Toronto

Sep 25, 1915

The 1^st Regimental Draft embarked the SS Corsican in Montreal, Quebec

Oct 6, 1915

Disembarked in Plymouth, England and proceeded to Shorncliffe where the draft was absorbed into the 39^th Reserve Battalion to continue training

Feb 29, 1916

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Mar 2, 1916

Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France and Taken On Strength of the 21^st Battalion

Mar 16, 1916

After leaving the base depot, Private Ashdown joined the 21^st Battalion resting in La Clytte, Belgium

Aug 28, 1916

Attached to the 4^th FCCE (Field Company Canadian Engineers) for duty with the Carrying Party

Sep 12, 1916

Rejoined the 21^st Battalion just east of Albert, France from duty with the engineers

Nov 12, 1916

Attached to the 4^th Field Company Canadian Engineers for duty

Dec 18, 1916

Rejoined the 21^st Battalion in Calonne, France from duty with the engineers

Mar 22, 1917

Attached to the Canadian Corps Agriculture Section for duty

Jul 21, 1917

Awarded the Good Conduct Badge

Aug 20, 1917

Admitted to the No. 10 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with a diagnosis that reads Furunculosis (Boils) on right leg

Aug 23, 1917

Discharged to duty and rejoined the Canadian Corps

Sep 27, 1917

Granted 10 days leave

Oct 6, 1917

Rejoined the Canadian Corps Agriculture Section from leave

Oct 28, 1917

Rejoined the battalion in Caestre, France from duty with the Canadian Corps

Dec 2, 1917

Attached to the Canadian Corps for duty with the Agriculture Department

May 7, 1918

Rejoined the 21^st Battalion in the front line near Mercatel, France

Jul 5, 1918

Transferred to the Canadian Labour Pool

Jul 14, 1918

Transferred to the 1^st Canadian Infantry Works Battalion

Sep 13, 1918

The 1^st Canadian Infantry Works Battalion was reorganized into the 1^st Canadian Infantry Works Company

Oct 21, 1918

Granted 14 days leave to the United Kingdom

Nov 9, 1918

Rejoined the works company from leave

Jan 10, 1919

Transferred to England and transferred to the CGD (Canadian General Depot) and attached to the CCD (Canadian Command Depot) in Witley

Jan 30, 1919

Ceased to be attached to the command depot and reported the Canadian General Depot in Witley

Feb 15, 1919

Transferred to Military District No. 2 Wing in Kinmel Park, Rhyl pending return to Canada

Feb 23, 1919

Embarked the SS Belgic in Liverpool

Mar 2, 1919

Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia and proceeded to Toronto, Ontario where he was Taken On Strength of Military District No. 2 Casualty Company in the Exhibition Camp

Mar 6, 1919

Granted leave until March 20, 1919

Mar 29, 1919

Discharged from the CEF in Toronto, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Private

Ø  War Service Badge Class “A” issued number 140698

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge 58 Enderby Rd., East Toronto, Ontario

Following his discharge, the British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 58 Enderby Rd., East Toronto, Ontario

Jan 17, 1920

Married to Florence Sarah Town in Toronto, Ontario

Mar 7, 1962

David Ashdown died in Scarborough, Ontario and was buried in the Pine Hills Cemetery in Scarborough