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The above film clip was provided by The North West Film Archive, a department of Manchester Metropolitan University.

North West Film Archive <-- (Links) - ->Manchester Met University

Company Sergeant Major George ASH was born in Dorset in 1858 and initially joined the Scots Guards at the age of 17 and served with them in Egypt during 1882.
In 1886 he transferred to the Royal Fusiliers by which time he was a Colour Sergeant and served with the battalion on Garrison Duties at such places as Dublin Castle and the Tower of London, where 2 of his eight children were born.
In 1884 he they moved to Bury where he joined the 1st Volunteer Battalion of The Lancashire Fusiliers until retiring from the Army in 1907 after 32 years service.
After leaving the Army he became the landlord of the Grey Mare Hotel in Bury and the Nob Inn in Little Lever, but on the outbreak of war in 1914, he re-enlisted aged 56 years, in charge of the training of recruits at the Drill Hall of the Castle Armoury, Bury.
On the 8th March 1915 he died from a heart attack at home in School Brow, Bury. The film was shown at the Art Picture Hall on Knowsley Street, Bury a few days later. According to the Bury Times the funeral was attended by thousands before his burial in Manchester Road Cemetery, Bury.
CSM Ash's son Private George Vivian ASH was killed afterwards in the Gallipoli Landings."