Ashton, John

died 13 February 1902 at the residence of his son-in-law, Mr R. Forsey, 10 St Asaph Street, Linwood, Christchurch aged 85 years
buried 16 February 1902 , plot 1432B, Addington Cemetery, Christchurch

A SOLDIER'S FUNERAL.
THE LATE STAFF-BUGLER ASHTON.

The remains of the late Staff - Bugler John Ashton were accorded a military funeral yesterday afternoon, and a large number of people, estimated at over 10,000, turned out to witness the procession.

The local Volunteers mustered at the drillshed at 2 p.m., and marched to the late residence of the deceased, in St Asaph Street east, where the cortege was formed in the following order: Firing party, with reversed arms, of thirteen City Rifles, under Sergeant Yates Garrison Band; the coffin, covered by the Union Jack, surmounted by the sword, bugle, cap and accoutrements of the deceased soldier, on one of the E Battery Nordenfeldt gun carriages, drawn by four horses, with the bearers, ex-Quartermaster-Sergeant Fox and five Sergeants of the Battery.

About one hundred private friends of the family, three mourning coaches, one hundred Oddfellows, representing the various Lodges of the Manchester Unity in the Canterbury district the Volunteers, while a number of carriages brought up the rear. The streets through which the cortege passed to the Addington Cemetery were thickly lined with people.

En route the Garrison Band played the Dead March in "Saul," The Garland of Flowers and Beethoven's "Funeral March." Upon arrival at the cemetery some little difficulty was experienced in forcing a passage through the vast crowd which had gathered there. The gun carriage was taken into the cemetery and the coffin was met by the Rev A. W. Averill, chaplain to the Civil Service Corps, who read the Burial Service.

The deceased's accoutrements were carried to the grave by Mr James Perrin, of Kaiapoi, a Crimean veteran, and around the grave were assembled a number of other veterans, wearing their medals. The City Rifles and the Natives Corps had provided a detail to keep a space clear round the grave.

At the conclusion of the Burial Service, P.P.G.M. Bro Caterer read the Oddfellows' Ritual, after which three volleys were fired, and the last trumpet call was given by the E Battery bugler. The Oddfellows then filed round the grave, and each deposited a sprig of green on the coffin.

The Volunteers then reformed in review order and marched back to the drillshed, headed by the Garrison Band, which played the quickstep marches "El Capitane" and "King Cotton."

Amongst a large number, of floral tributes was a handsome wreath from the E Battery.

The parade was under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Slater who had on his staff Lieutenant-Colonel Day, Major Wolfe, Captain Hobday, district adjutant, Captain M'Gee and Staff-Sergeant-Major Farthing. The parade state was as follows:-

Lyttelton Naval Artillery (Chief, P.O. Toomey 34
Canterbury Mounted Rifles (Sergeant Bradley) 22
E Battery (Captain Donald) 60
Engineers (Lieutenant Jones) 46
City Guards (Captain Sandford) 48
City Rifles (Captain Foster) 40
Sydenham Rifles (Captain Smith) 44
Civil Service Corps (Sergeant Garton) 20
New Zealand Native Rifle Corps (Captain Oakes) 50
Highland Rifles (Sergeant M'Lean) 20
Linwood Rifles (Lieutenant Johnson) 30
Imperial Rifles (Lieutenant Matheson) 45
Christ's College Rifles (Captain Harper) 34
Cycle Corps (Lieutenant Finnis) 14
Bearer Corps (Lieutenant Finlayson)28
Garrison Band (Bandmaster Merton) 25
Staff 6

Star, Issue 7330, 17 February 1902, Page 1