Hugh Ashcroft was the son of William and Sarah Ashcroft. He was born in Coagh on 19th February 1887. He was on fourteen children, eleven surviving. His father was a horse trainer and a farmer. Hugh Ashcroft enlisted in the North Irish Horse on 6th July 1908, although by 1911 he was working on his father’s farm. Sergeant Ashcroft embarked for France with the North Irish Horse at the outbreak of the war. He served with the regiment through the war.