| Full Name: |
George Ashby |
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| Rank Last Held: |
Trooper |
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| Forename(s): |
George |
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| Surname: |
Ashby |
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| War: |
South African War, 1899-1902 |
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| Serial No.: |
2447 |
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| Place of Birth: |
County Tipperary, Ireland |
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| First Known Rank: |
Trooper |
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| Occupation before Enlistment: |
Groom |
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| Enlistment Address: |
Dannevirke, New Zealand |
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| Embarkation Unit: |
5th New Zealand Mounted Rifles, 13 Company |
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| Embarkation Date: |
31 March 1900 |
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| Place of Embarkation: |
Wellington, New Zealand |
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| Vessel: |
Waimate |
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| Destination: |
South Africa |
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| Campaigns: |
South Africa |
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| Last Unit Served: |
5th New Zealand Mounted Rifles |
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| Place of Death: |
Krugersdorp, South Africa |
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| Date of Death: |
27 April 1901 |
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| Year of Death: |
1901 |
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| Cause of Death: |
Enteric fever |
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| Memorial Name: |
- Ranfurly Veterans' Home, 539 Mount Albert Road, Three Kings, Auckland, New Zealand
- Auckland War Memorial Museum, South African War Memorial 1899 - 1902
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| Biographical Notes: |
- George Ashby, of Anglo-Irish descent, was the eldest son of a well-to-do Irish farmer and magistrate, Robert Ashby of Clonamondra and Kilbraugh in the Parish of Kilcooley-Gortnahoe, to the east of Thurles, County Tipperary.
- A keen huntsman and distinguished horserider, George came to New Zealand with the intention of buying a farm of his own, but instead volunteered for service with the New Zealand Contingent to the Boer War. He survived a number of wartime engagements, but died of enteric in South Africa at the war's end.
- He is remembered as a kindly man who was sadly missed by his family. His South African medal with bars is missing (1998).
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| Description of Image: |
- Roll of Honour, Ranfurly Veterans' Home, detail, 1st - 7th Contingents, (photo J. Halpin September 2011)
- Roll of Honour, Ranfurly Veterans' Home, (photo J. Halpin September 2011)
- Roll of Honour, Ranfurly Veterans' Home, detail, commemoration panel (photo J. Halpin September 2011)
- Auckland War Memorial Museum, South African War Memorial 1899-1902 Name panel: Armstrong, W.D. - Bottom, O. (photo John Halpin, December 2011).
- Auckland War Memorial Museum, South African War Memorial 1899-1902 Dedication panel. (photo John Halpin, December 2011).
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| Additional Information: |
Before World War I, enteric fever, or typhoid fever, was the scourge of armies, and in the Anglo-Boer War killed more soldiers than enemy action. It is caused by a bacteria entering the body via contaminated food or water. Early symptoms include high fever, headaches and lassitude. Follicles along the intestinal walls later become inflamed, often leading to perforation and hemorrhaging. Other complications include gall bladder, pneumonia or heart failure. At the time of the Boer War, there were no antibiotic remedies for the disease. |
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