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THOMAS WILLIAMS ASHLEY, AMHERST, 1916,
DIED, LIEUTENANT OF MARINES, AT CHATEAU THIERRY, JUNE 7 1918.

I count it a great privilege to be here today among the friends and neighbors ot Tom Ashley’s youth to bring testimony of the esteem which the outside world learned to place on his character and achievements. In a peculiar sense, among my students Tom was my friend and I was his. I well remember the day when as he was about to enter college Mr. Boyden brought him to my home and asked me to keep a special eye upon him. From that day to his death he was constantly in my thoughts and never did I find cause for aught but approbation of him whether as a student or as a man. I unhesitatingly affirm that he was of the very best in mind, body, and character. He was particularly interested in the study of history and he and I often planned how he should become a teacher of that subject.

Let me recall some incidents in his life at Amherst which will show how the boy was father to the man who so nobly gave up his life on the bloody fields of France. His early days in college were not without their scholastic difficulties. His English work troubled him because of lame spelling, and the courage, intelligence and persistence with which he conquered this weakness led those who were watching the struggle to be sure of what he would do in matters of great moment. Conquer he did. The last work

(c) Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Deerfield MA. All rights reserved.
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There is currently no available "Beginner" label. The following is the default level label: Amherst professor Frederick L. Thompson delivered this memorial tribute to Tom Ashley (1894-1918) on September 1, 1918 . Speaking in Deerfield, Massachusetts, the hometown of Lt. Ashley, Dr. Thompson celebrated the life of the young marine and affirmed that he was "of the very best in mind, body, and character." Tom Ashley graduated from both Deerfield Academy and Amherst College. He was a particular favorite of Deerfield headmaster, Frank L. Boyden, himself an Amherst College man.

 

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Memorial Service text for Thomas Williams Ashley

author   Frederick L. Thompson, Ph.D.
date   Sep 1, 1918
location   Deerfield, Massachusetts
width   8.5"
height   11.0"
process/materials   typescript
item type   Personal Documents/Letter
accession #   #L01.033


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See Also...

Thomas Williams Ashley (1894-1918)

Letter to Charles Hart Ashley

WWI Letter from Thomas Williams Ashley


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