Phil Ashby

Phil Ashby
Birth name	Philip James Conyers Ashby
Born	(1970-04-29) 29 April 1970 (age 54) Queen's Gallantry Medal

Philip James Conyers Ashby

in 2000.

Early life

Ashby was brought up in Helensburgh on the west coast of Scotland, the son of a Royal Navy officer based at HMNB Clyde, and educated at Glenalmond College on a scholarship. While in school he started rock climbing.^[1]

Career

Ashby joined the

on an armed forces bursary. Later on in his career he trained as a mountain leader and was also a jungle warfare instructor.

Sierra Leone

In May 2000, Ashby was deployed to

. His escape is also documented by the War historian Mark Felton. War Stories with Mark Felton You Tube Channel; 'Death & Diamonds: SAS & Paras Raid Sierra Leone 2000' (2020) [5]

Other work

Ashby's autobiography, entitled both Unscathed: Escape from Sierra Leone and Against All Odds: Escape from Sierra Leone was published in 2003. He has also written for other publications including

-certified mountain guide and runs his own consultancy.

Personal life

In September 2000, he learned that he had contracted a parasite from his time in Sierra Leone; it had entered his spine and left him

paralysed from the waist down, although he has since made a full recovery.^[6]

He and his wife have two daughters.

During climbing seasons, he is usually based at the French Alps.[7]

References

1. ^ "Helensburgh Heritage Trust". www.helensburgh-heritage.co.uk. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
2. ^ "UN observers escape from rebels". BBC. 12 May 2000.
3. ^ "Jungle escape for British soldiers". BBC. 12 May 2000.
4. ^ "No. 56168". The London Gazette (Supplement). 6 April 2001. p. 4246.
5. ^ "Mark Felton | Author and Military Historian". 16 October 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
6. ^ "Survivor's tale". The Scotsman. 5 May 2002.
7. ^ Phil Ashby Mountaineering – About Archived 18 August 2013 at the Wayback Machine

External links

• Phil Ashby Mountaineering
• Helensburgh Heroes – Major Phil Ashby QGM