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SOG Chronicles: Volume One

By John Stryker Meyer

Long Range Desert Group

By W.B.Kennedy Shaw

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Bob ashby" data-source="post: 42077" data-attributes="member: 2194">Frederick Turrall AshbyThe Military Cross has been awarded to Lieut. Frederick T. Ashby, Army Air Corps, son of Mr.and Mrs. C.R. Ashby of Apethorpe Lodge. Lieut Ashby was at Stamford School for eight years, being head prefect when he left to enter London University, where he gained his B.A. degree. He subsequently spent a year at Leeds University, which he left to enter the Army. The citation reads: On 1 June, Lieut. Ashby was a member of a parachute force dropped near Avezzano behind enemy lines, with orders to operate on the road Sora-Avenzzano and force the enemy to withdraw with such speed as to be unable to implement their demolition plans. The enemy re-acted quickly and attacked the party on 2 June, but Lieut. Ashby managed to disengage and succeeded in mining the road that night. By the night 2 June. Ashby again reached the road and attacked the German convoy, two vehicles and passengers being destroyed. The area was now full of Germans and Lieut. Ashby found that he was unable to reach supplies dropped to him. The advance of the Allied relieving troops had, moreover, stopped and he had no wireless. Lieut. Ashby kept his party together and continued to operate until picking up a leaflet dropped by Allied aircraft ordering him to return on 7 June. Lieut. Ashby showed himself to be a most determined and courageous fighter not to be deterred from his objective. He returned with his complete party except for one man killed and three captured.</blockquote>

Verification