VC Action: Thomas Elsdon Ashford (1859 - 21 February 1913) was about 21 years old, and a private in The Royal Fusiliers, British Army during the Second Afghan War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 16 August 1880 at Deh Khoja, near Kandahar, Afghanistan, Private Ashford assisted a Lieutenant William St. Lucien Chase in rescuing and carrying for a distance of over 200 yards under the fire of the enemy, a wounded soldier who had taken shelter in a block-house. Several times they were compelled to rest, but they persevered and finally brought the wounded man to a place of safety.
Ashford later served for many years as a postman and he passed away at his home in Whitwick at the age of approximately 53. |
