Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Walter Ashby a railway signalman, born 1867 in Northampton and his wife Sarah Kate Ashby (nee Stevens, married 1892), born 1867 in Lutterworth, Leics. Burt’s father died in 1898 aged 31. In April 1901 Burt who was born in 1896 in Asfordby, Leics., was residing in the family home at Main Street, Asfordby, Leics., together with his step father, William Toon, a general labourer, born 1866 in Asfordby, Leics., and his mother Sarah, together with his siblings, Catherine, born 1893 and Daisy, born 1898, the latter two siblings were both born in Asfordby, Leics., also his half blood sibling Kate Toon, born 1901 in Asfordby, Leics.
On Friday June 18th 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – ANOTHER ASFORDBY LAD DIES OF WOUNDS. - The death has occurred at the No. 11 General Hospital, Boulogne, of Gunner Bert Ashby, from shrapnel wounds, received in action on May 28th. The deceased was a native of Asfordby, and on the outbreak of hostilities enlisted in the R.F.A. His wounds were so severe that his leg had to be removed, and a few days later it was found necessary to also take his right hand off, but he never recovered from the shock of the operation. His mother received the news from the Chaplain who stated that everything possible was done for him, and he passed peacefully away, and was buried in the English cemetery at Boulogne with other soldiers who have died there. The deceased was a bright genial lad, and had been a great comfort to his widowed mother. Special mention was made of him as an old scholar at the Wesleyan Sunday School on Monday.