Ashton Bluett Cutcliffe DSO

Rank:

Lieutenant

Unit at enlistment:

Canadian Army Veterinary Corps

Force:

C.E.F.

Volunteered or conscripted:

Volunteered

Survived the war:

Yes

Cemetery:

All Saints Anglican Cemetery, Mount Pleasant, Ontario

Awards or decorations:

Distinguished Service Order and Bar, Mentioned in Despatches

Birth country:

Wales

Birth county:

Glamorganshire

Birth city:

Swansea

Address at enlistment:

17 Hawarden Avenue, Brantford, Ontario

Next of kin address:

17 Hawarden Avenue, Brantford, Ontario

Trade or calling:

Veterinarian

Religious denominations:

Church of England

Marital status:

Married

Age at enlistment:

Gallantry medals:

Yes

Letters and documents

BX December 4, 1915

No Further Word

No further particulars have been received by Mrs. A.B. Cutcliffe of the accident to her husband, who is a veterinary officer at the front. The information as to the accident came in a letter from Dr. Cutcliffe, written while on his back in the hospital. The leg was broken in two places and so badly crushed that a cast could not be put on it. Mrs. Cutcliffe has cabled for further particulars, but to date has had no further word.

London Gazette: 29453
Date: January 27, 1916
Honour or Award: Mentioned in Despatches
Name: Cutcliffe, Ashton Bluett (Major)
Unit: Canadian Army Veterinary Corps

London Gazette: 30706
Date: May 28, 1918
Honour or Award: Mentioned in Despatches
Name: Cutcliffe, Ashton Bluett (Major)
Unit: Canadian Army Veterinary Corps

London Gazette: 30716
Date: June 3, 1918
Honour or Award: Distinguished Service Order
Name: Cutcliffe, Ashton Bluett (Major)
Unit: Canadian Army Veterinary Corps

BX February 26, 1916

Major Ashton Bluett Cutcliffe is Recommended – For Gallant and Distinguished Services on the Field of Battle

Amongst the Canadian soldiers who have been recently recommended for gallant and distinguished services on the field is the name of Major A.B. Cutcliffe of the headquarters staff of the second division.

Major Cutcliffe was mentioned in despatches some time ago. He recently had his leg broken in two places, but according to a letter recently received here he was on horseback again seven weeks later, and on the day he wrote he had been on horseback all day. The enforced holiday from the accident was the first holiday he had.

Before leaving with the First Contingent Major Cutcliffe was the civic veterinary and dairy inspector and went to the front as a veterinary surgeon. He is now connected with the headquarters staff. Major Cutcliffe is a brother of Lieut. Col. M.E.B. Cutcliffe, commanding he 125th Battalion.

BX September 6, 1916

Recommended For Services

Militia orders for June 1916 contain the following interesting information regarding Brantford officers:

War Office, January 1, the following have been recommended for gallant and distinguished service by Field Marshal Sir John French, at that time commander in chief of the British Army in France:-

Lt.-Col. Nelles of the Royal Canadian Dragoons.
Lt.-Col. M.A. Colquhoun of the 4th Battalion
Major A.B. Cutcliffe of the Canadian Forces Staff

BX June 3, 1918

Honour for Col. Ashton Bluett Cutcliffe – Awarded the Distinguished Service Order for Efficient Service

In the list of Canadians recently invested by the King with war honours, as cabled today from London, the name of Lieut.-Col. Ashton Bluett Cutcliffe of this city was included among the S.S.O’s. Col. Cutcliffe left Brantford with the originals, and was soon promoted to the rank of Major. His promotion to a Lieut.-Colonelcy came through recently. He has served in France ever since the Canadians landed there, and has done most efficient work in the Veterinary Corp, in which he now doubtless commands a unit. Some of Col. Cutcliffe’s friends believe that the recent investiture was a bar to the D.S.O. as he was mentioned many months ago as having won that decoration.

BX February 23, 1915

Letter From Dr. Cutcliffe – City Veterinary Officer Writes Interestingly of His Experiences at Salisbury Plains

A letter was received this morning by Sanitary Inspector William Glover, From Dr. A.B. Cutcliffe formerly veterinary officer of this city, who is now with the engineers in the first Canadian contingent. Dr. Cutcliffe stated that he has been having a good time, though busy and though the weather has been very bad indeed. He had charge of 260 horses and of these only four died, in spite of the fact that they were in the open most of the time and latterly in a shed with a roof only, and no sides. A horse arrived at his lines without an owner, and he promptly corralled it, taught it to canter and gallop and now is the envy of all the officers. At the time of writing, Feb. 5, the Canadians were under orders to be ready to entrain in 48 hours, and he expected that they would leave within a day or two – which expectations bore fruit, as the Canadians are now in France. In closing his letter he wished to be remembered to the city hall family and the police.

BX January 6, 1916

“Something From Home” Greatly Appreciated by Men in Trenches – Gifts of Brant Chapter, I.O.D.E. Were Made Very Welcome at Christmas Time – Letters Received From Some of the Recipients Tell of the Conditions Under Which Fight is Made

To a man on active service, the greatest luxury obtainable is “something from home.” When the Christmas gifts, forwarded by Brant Chapter, I.O.D.E., to officers at the front were received on the firing line, the joy was great. In terms of deep gratitude the recipients have replied to the donors, in the following letters among others:

December 18, 1915
In the Field

The Secretary
Brant Chapter, I.O.D.E.,
Brantford

Please convey to the members of Brant Chapter my sincere thanks for the kindly Christmas greetings received through James Pascall, Ltd., London England.

It was a very pleasant surprise to me and I appreciate it very much indeed.

I am enclosing a little souvenir in the form of a Christmas card made by hand by a young women and girls of this country.

Wishing you all a very happy New Year, I remain,

Yours Sincerely,

A.B.G. Cutcliffe

BX September 16, 1914

Ashton Bluett Cutcliffe Called to Valcartier

Dr. Ashton Bluett Cutcliffe, V.S., who volunteered his services to the Militia Department, left yesterday for Valcartier, having received orders to report at once. As he volunteered to go to the front if his services were needed. It is expected that he will go to the continent with the contingent. He is the veterinary and milk and dairy inspector of the municipality.

BX January 23, 1946

Dr. Cutcliffe Died Today

Dr. Ashton Bluett Cutcliffe, distinguished soldier and citizen of Brantford, died at his residence, 17 Hawarden Avenue, this morning. He served through the First Great War, rising in rank and honor, and was Food Inspector here for many years.

Dr. Cutcliffe was born in Swansea, Wales, August 11, 1869 the son of John Charles and Susan Maria Cutcliffe. He came to Canada with his parents in May, 1870. The family lived for a short time in Brantford and then moved to Mount Pleasant. Dr. Cutcliffe was educated in the public schools there and at the Brantford Collegiate Institute, before going to the Ontario Veterinary College.

He graduated from O.V.C. with honors in 1892 and practiced successfully in Brantford until 1914. When the 25th Brant Dragoons was organized he was appointed veterinary officer and upon the declaration of war in 1914, volunteered and was accepted. He left Valcartier Camp with the 1st Canadian Division for overseas, having the rank of lieutenant and rising to lieutenant-colonel. Overseas he was attached to the First Canadian Engineers and rose to be chief veterinary officer with the Canadian Corps in 1918. He was mentioned in dispatches by Field Marshal Sir John French in 1915 and by Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig in 1918. In 1918 he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and held the Mons Medal, British War Medal, Victory Medal and Officers’ Long Service Medal.

From 1921 to 1937, Dr. Cutcliffe was Food inspector for the City of Brantford and was very well-known and most highly esteemed to all who knew him in his public capacity or in private life. Dr. Cutcliffe attended the Anglican Church.

Surviving besides his widow are two daughters Mrs. Lindsay Spence, Hamilton, and Mrs. Arthur Woodland, Orangeville; one sister, Mrs. Albert T. Biggs, Toronto and one brother, DeCoucy Cutcliffe, Norwood, Ont.

Dr. Cutcliffe is resting at Thorpe Brothers’ Funeral Home, West Street, where the service will be conducted on Friday afternoon. Interment will be in All Saints Anglican Church Cemetery, Mount Pleasant.

BX January 26, 1946

Dr. A.B. Cutcliffe

Funeral services for Dr. Ashton Bluett Cutcliffe, 17 Hawarden Avenue were conducted from Thorpe Brothers’ Funeral Home, West Street, Friday afternoon. Ven. Archdeacon A.L.G. Clarke, Rector of Grace Anglican Church, had charge of the service at the Funeral Home and of the committal service at the graveside. Interment was in All Saints Anglican Cemetery, Mount Pleasant. The pallbearers were Dr. A.A. Overholt, Arthur Woodland, Jack Cutcliffe, Norman Welsh, Jeff Gould and A.L. Spence.