A Great War ‘Salonika’ O.B.E. group of seven awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel C. C. G. Ashton, East Surrey Regiment, he commanded the 2nd Battalion at Ypres 1915 until wounded and later commanded the 1st Battalion in North Russia, Ireland, Egypt and Sudan 1919-23

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, hallmarks for London 1919; Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, West Africa 1908 (Captain C. C. G. Ashton. E. Surrey Regt.); 1914-15 Star (Major C. C. G. Ashton. E. Surr. R.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Lt. Col. C. C. G. Ashton; Greece, Republic, Military Cross 1916-1917; Russia, Empire, Order of St Vladimir, 4th Class breast badge with swords, gold and enamels, both sword hilts with partial post-1908 Kokoshnik marks, illegible marks to eyelet, mounted court-style as worn, nearly extremely fine (7) £1,200-£1,600

O.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1919 (Balkans).

M.I.D. London Gazette 5 June 1919 (Salonika).

Greek Military Cross London Gazette 21 July 1919.

Order of St Vladimir not gazetted.

Cecil Charles Gough Ashton, known as ‘Father’ or ‘Uncle Dick’ to his friends, was born on 17 December 1870. He was commissioned in The East Surrey Regiment on 13 August 1882. from R.M.C. Sandhurst, joined the 1st Battalion at Agra in 1893 and served with the Battalion in India and UK. From September 1908 to August 1911 he was seconded for service with the Royal West African Frontier Force. He commanded the Depot at Kingston from 1912 to August 1914, and was then appointed to raise, command and train the 7th Battalion. On 22 April 1915, he was appointed to command the 2nd Battalion at the start of the battle for Ypres in 1915. On 25 April he was wounded but remained in command but in August 1915 he was invalided to U.K. He then commanded, in succession, a Service Battalion of The Gordon Highlanders and of The Royal Irish Rifles. He again commanded the 2nd Battalion from 25 April 1918, and, on 21 June 1919, having brought the 2nd Battalion (which had been reduced to a cadre) from Turkey back to the Depot he was transferred to command the 1st Battalion which he led in England, North Russia, Ireland, Egypt and Sudan until 21 June 1923.
For his services during the 1914-18 War he was made an O.B.E. and awarded the Greek Military Cross. He retired from the Army on 5 January 1924, and died on 16 December 1952.