Ashworth, Richard - Trooper

(No soldier photo available)

40th Bn.

Royal Tank Regiment

Died 20th Sept 1943

Age 37

Trooper Richard Ashworth served with the 40th Battalion throughout the heavy fighting in the Western Desert from July 1942 in Egypt and the Battle of Alamein in October 1942, through to the Tunisian campaign which ended with the surrender of the German and Italian forces there in May 1943.  When the Battalion went to Italy in August 1943 Richard was a patient in No.24 (U.S.) General Hospital, near Massicault, Tunisia.  He subsequently died there of Ulcerative Colitis and Acute Peritonitis.

Richard was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Ashworth and the husband of Annie.  He was aged 37.  When war was declared in September 1939, Richard was serving with the King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment).  He was transferred to the 40th Battalion, Royal Tank Regiment, on 1st November 1941.

Richard lies in Massicault War Cemetery, Tunisia.  Many of those buried there died in the battles leading up to the final drive towards Tunis in April 1943, and in that advance at the beginning of May. The capture of Tunis brought the war in North Africa to an end.  The cemetery contains 1,576 Commonwealth burials, 130 of which are unidentified.  Richard is in Plot 6, Row J. Grave 12.