A Memorial Plaque to Lieutenant Guy Arthur Jones Ashwin, "L" Flight, 1st Wing, Royal Air Force
Bronze, (GUY ARTHUR JONES ASHWIN), marked with the worker's number "24" between the lion's rear foot and tail on the obverse, maker marked "WA" (Royal Arsenal, Woolwich) on the reverse, 121 mm, lightly lacquered and spotting on the obverse, scattered contact marks on the reverse, better than very fine. Accompanied by copies of his Service Records from the National Archives, along with assorted research papers.
Footnote: Guy Arthur Jones Ashwin was the only son of Albert John Ashwin of London and a native of Kent. He was educated at Ramsgate College and joined the 1st Battalion, London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers) as a Private in September 1914, at the age of 17. He entered the French theatre with the 1st Battalion, London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers) in January 1915, fighting in numerous battles, including the Second Battle of Ypres, Neuve Chapelle, Loos, High Wood, Vimy and in the Somme, and is acknowledged as having been wounded twice while in France. He returned to England in February 1917, where he joined the Royal Flying Corps. Cadet Guy Arthur Jones Ashwin (referred to as Guy Arthur Jones) was named a Temporary 2nd Lieutenant (on probation), effective June 7, 1917, the announcement appearing in the Second Supplement to the London Gazette 30170 of Friday, July 6, 1917, on Friday, July 6, 1917, page 6786. Upon receiving his commission, he returned to the front and was to see considerable service. Flying Officer Temporary 2nd Lieutenant (on probation) Guy Arthur Jones Ashwin was confirmed in this rank, effective September 26, 1917, the announcement appearing in the Fourth Supplement to the London Gazette 30347 of Friday, October 19, 1917, on Tuesday, October 23, 1917, page 10872 and in Flight Magazine of Thursday, November 1, 1917, page 1146. He was posted to No. 56 Training Station on September 29, 1917, then transferred to No. 88 Squadron on January 5, 1918, followed again by another transfer, this time to No. 16 Squadron on March 30, 1918. Two days later, the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service merged to form the Royal Air Force on April 1, 1918. Ashwin was confirmed in the rank of Lieutenant in May 1918 and is credited with having flown various aircraft, including the Maurice Farman Biplane, the B.E.2c, B.E. 2d and B.E.2e, an R.E.8, a Pup and a Spad, as well as having passed the Ayr Fighting Course, a Gosport Instructors Course, a Turnberry Aerial Gunnery Course and achieving status as a Scout Instructor on H.C. The well-liked Lieutenant Guy Arthur Jones Ashwin, "L" Flight, 1st Wing, Royal Air Force and London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers) was killed as the result of a flying accident on September 16, 1918, at the age of 21. It was noted that he "crashed through a machine and began breaking up (when) 2,000 feet in the air". He is buried in Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extention, Grave IV. B. 33., his grave marker formed from a wooden propeller of an aeroplane of the time, with its one end buried in concrete. Also killed in the accident was his Observer, Lieutenant Cyril Clive Glandfield Ravine, age 18, with the two airmen buried next to each other. The burials were attended by Reverend H.C. Perry, along with all of No. 16 Squadron.