James Robert, son of Marie Anne and Robert Ashworth who had emmigrated from England before WW1. Jim was born January 20, 1911 at Mortlach, Saskatchewan.
In the 1911 census the family was in Moose Jaw and Jim a four month old baby. Five years later the family was living in Swift Current. They also homesteaded SW 2-18-1-S3, NE of Mortlach.*1 In 1920 they moved to Loreburn, Saskatchewan and operated the rural telephone company.
For a time Jim worked at a grain elevator. On 25 June 1940, he enlisted in Regina and shortly after married Marjorie Katherine MacMillan who was later moved to Elbow, Saskatchewan.
He joined the Regina Rifles, number (L27804), and left for England with his regiment.
The Rifles and their support embarked 1 June 1944 with Jim part of C Company and a corporal. They landed on 6 June at 8:35, hitting the most heavily-fortified position of the beaches at Courseulles-sur-Mer. The Canadians knew the town, having reviewed aerial photos of the area before leaving England. C Company was to be the reserve, arriving after A and B Companies. Led by Major Tubb, they were to clear blocks 8 through 11 and take control of the mouth of Seulles River, part of the port before pushing on to Reviers, headquarters for the Germans and where they set up a battalion headquarters by 15:00. Once completed they moved south, taking Fontaine-Henry and Le Fresne-Camilly. Heavy casualties in D Company stopped their progress for a while, but they were able to take prisoners.
From noon on June 7 until midnight on June 17, they held the village of Norrey-sur-Bessin, an important defense on the Bayeux-Caen Road, the approach to Bretteville-l'Orgueilleuse and the railroad embankment. During this time they were attacked at least eight times by mortar, tanks and infantry and held their position against the SS Panzergrenadier under the command of Kurt Meyer who needed to retake the lost towns and control of the beaches.
Helped by narrow streets, stone walls, hedges and high banks for train lines in the countryside, Canadians pushed back, were able to hold the line and their headquarters through the vicious attacks. At one point, they thought they had repelled a small group of Germans, unaware that their 250 Canadians had repelled a 1000-man force of Germans. During the attacks 9 Regina Riflemen and 4 Cameron Highlanders were captured and executed by the SS.
The Regina Rifles was the only unit taking part in the invasion to reach and hold its D-day target.
It was during the fighting on June 10 that Jim was killed in action around Bretteville-l'Orgueilleuse. He was buried at grave site (11 G 5) in the Beny-sur-Mer Cemetery, Reviers.
Honoring the memory of one of their fallen men, the province of Saskatchewan named Ashworth Bay situated in Spreckley Lake (74P7) 59 degrees 26' 104 degrees 53" after Corporal Ashworth.*1
*1 Saskatchewan Virtual War Memorial
In the 1911 census the family was in Moose Jaw and Jim a four month old baby. Five years later the family was living in Swift Current. They also homesteaded SW 2-18-1-S3, NE of Mortlach.*1 In 1920 they moved to Loreburn, Saskatchewan and operated the rural telephone company.
For a time Jim worked at a grain elevator. On 25 June 1940, he enlisted in Regina and shortly after married Marjorie Katherine MacMillan who was later moved to Elbow, Saskatchewan.
He joined the Regina Rifles, number (L27804), and left for England with his regiment.
The Rifles and their support embarked 1 June 1944 with Jim part of C Company and a corporal. They landed on 6 June at 8:35, hitting the most heavily-fortified position of the beaches at Courseulles-sur-Mer. The Canadians knew the town, having reviewed aerial photos of the area before leaving England. C Company was to be the reserve, arriving after A and B Companies. Led by Major Tubb, they were to clear blocks 8 through 11 and take control of the mouth of Seulles River, part of the port before pushing on to Reviers, headquarters for the Germans and where they set up a battalion headquarters by 15:00. Once completed they moved south, taking Fontaine-Henry and Le Fresne-Camilly. Heavy casualties in D Company stopped their progress for a while, but they were able to take prisoners.
From noon on June 7 until midnight on June 17, they held the village of Norrey-sur-Bessin, an important defense on the Bayeux-Caen Road, the approach to Bretteville-l'Orgueilleuse and the railroad embankment. During this time they were attacked at least eight times by mortar, tanks and infantry and held their position against the SS Panzergrenadier under the command of Kurt Meyer who needed to retake the lost towns and control of the beaches.
Helped by narrow streets, stone walls, hedges and high banks for train lines in the countryside, Canadians pushed back, were able to hold the line and their headquarters through the vicious attacks. At one point, they thought they had repelled a small group of Germans, unaware that their 250 Canadians had repelled a 1000-man force of Germans. During the attacks 9 Regina Riflemen and 4 Cameron Highlanders were captured and executed by the SS.
The Regina Rifles was the only unit taking part in the invasion to reach and hold its D-day target.
It was during the fighting on June 10 that Jim was killed in action around Bretteville-l'Orgueilleuse. He was buried at grave site (11 G 5) in the Beny-sur-Mer Cemetery, Reviers.
Honoring the memory of one of their fallen men, the province of Saskatchewan named Ashworth Bay situated in Spreckley Lake (74P7) 59 degrees 26' 104 degrees 53" after Corporal Ashworth.*1
*1 Saskatchewan Virtual War Memorial
James Robert, son of Marie Anne and Robert Ashworth who had emmigrated from England before WW1. Jim was born January 20, 1911 at Mortlach, Saskatchewan.
In the 1911 census the family was in Moose Jaw and Jim a four month old baby. Five years later the family was living in Swift Current. They also homesteaded SW 2-18-1-S3, NE of Mortlach.*1 In 1920 they moved to Loreburn, Saskatchewan and operated the rural telephone company.
For a time Jim worked at a grain elevator. On 25 June 1940, he enlisted in Regina and shortly after married Marjorie Katherine MacMillan who was later moved to Elbow, Saskatchewan.
He joined the Regina Rifles, number (L27804), and left for England with his regiment.
The Rifles and their support embarked 1 June 1944 with Jim part of C Company and a corporal. They landed on 6 June at 8:35, hitting the most heavily-fortified position of the beaches at Courseulles-sur-Mer. The Canadians knew the town, having reviewed aerial photos of the area before leaving England. C Company was to be the reserve, arriving after A and B Companies. Led by Major Tubb, they were to clear blocks 8 through 11 and take control of the mouth of Seulles River, part of the port before pushing on to Reviers, headquarters for the Germans and where they set up a battalion headquarters by 15:00. Once completed they moved south, taking Fontaine-Henry and Le Fresne-Camilly. Heavy casualties in D Company stopped their progress for a while, but they were able to take prisoners.
From noon on June 7 until midnight on June 17, they held the village of Norrey-sur-Bessin, an important defense on the Bayeux-Caen Road, the approach to Bretteville-l'Orgueilleuse and the railroad embankment. During this time they were attacked at least eight times by mortar, tanks and infantry and held their position against the SS Panzergrenadier under the command of Kurt Meyer who needed to retake the lost towns and control of the beaches.
Helped by narrow streets, stone walls, hedges and high banks for train lines in the countryside, Canadians pushed back, were able to hold the line and their headquarters through the vicious attacks. At one point, they thought they had repelled a small group of Germans, unaware that their 250 Canadians had repelled a 1000-man force of Germans. During the attacks 9 Regina Riflemen and 4 Cameron Highlanders were captured and executed by the SS.
The Regina Rifles was the only unit taking part in the invasion to reach and hold its D-day target.
It was during the fighting on June 10 that Jim was killed in action around Bretteville-l'Orgueilleuse. He was buried at grave site (11 G 5) in the Beny-sur-Mer Cemetery, Reviers.
Honoring the memory of one of their fallen men, the province of Saskatchewan named Ashworth Bay situated in Spreckley Lake (74P7) 59 degrees 26' 104 degrees 53" after Corporal Ashworth.*1
*1 Saskatchewan Virtual War Memorial
In the 1911 census the family was in Moose Jaw and Jim a four month old baby. Five years later the family was living in Swift Current. They also homesteaded SW 2-18-1-S3, NE of Mortlach.*1 In 1920 they moved to Loreburn, Saskatchewan and operated the rural telephone company.
For a time Jim worked at a grain elevator. On 25 June 1940, he enlisted in Regina and shortly after married Marjorie Katherine MacMillan who was later moved to Elbow, Saskatchewan.
He joined the Regina Rifles, number (L27804), and left for England with his regiment.
The Rifles and their support embarked 1 June 1944 with Jim part of C Company and a corporal. They landed on 6 June at 8:35, hitting the most heavily-fortified position of the beaches at Courseulles-sur-Mer. The Canadians knew the town, having reviewed aerial photos of the area before leaving England. C Company was to be the reserve, arriving after A and B Companies. Led by Major Tubb, they were to clear blocks 8 through 11 and take control of the mouth of Seulles River, part of the port before pushing on to Reviers, headquarters for the Germans and where they set up a battalion headquarters by 15:00. Once completed they moved south, taking Fontaine-Henry and Le Fresne-Camilly. Heavy casualties in D Company stopped their progress for a while, but they were able to take prisoners.
From noon on June 7 until midnight on June 17, they held the village of Norrey-sur-Bessin, an important defense on the Bayeux-Caen Road, the approach to Bretteville-l'Orgueilleuse and the railroad embankment. During this time they were attacked at least eight times by mortar, tanks and infantry and held their position against the SS Panzergrenadier under the command of Kurt Meyer who needed to retake the lost towns and control of the beaches.
Helped by narrow streets, stone walls, hedges and high banks for train lines in the countryside, Canadians pushed back, were able to hold the line and their headquarters through the vicious attacks. At one point, they thought they had repelled a small group of Germans, unaware that their 250 Canadians had repelled a 1000-man force of Germans. During the attacks 9 Regina Riflemen and 4 Cameron Highlanders were captured and executed by the SS.
The Regina Rifles was the only unit taking part in the invasion to reach and hold its D-day target.
It was during the fighting on June 10 that Jim was killed in action around Bretteville-l'Orgueilleuse. He was buried at grave site (11 G 5) in the Beny-sur-Mer Cemetery, Reviers.
Honoring the memory of one of their fallen men, the province of Saskatchewan named Ashworth Bay situated in Spreckley Lake (74P7) 59 degrees 26' 104 degrees 53" after Corporal Ashworth.*1
*1 Saskatchewan Virtual War Memorial
Inscription
L27804 CORPORAL
J. R. ASHWORTH
THE REGINA RIFLES REGIMENT
10TH JUNE 1944 AGE 34
REST IN PEACE
Gravesite Details
Corporal, Regina Rifle Regiment, R.C.I.C. Son of Robert and Mary Ann I. Ashworth; husband of Marjorie Katherine Ashworth, of Elbow. Saskatchewan. Age 34.
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