William Henry Newman
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
William Henry Newman was born in 1900 in Nottingham and was the son of Alfred a bricklayers labourer and Mary Ann Newman née Reynolds of 6 Arrow Terrace, Fisher Gate, Nottingham. His father Alfred was born in 1864 in Nottingham and his mother Mary Ann Reynolds was born in 1863 in Lincolnshire, they were married in 1885 in Nottingham, they went on to have 13 children, sadly 6 were to die in infancy or childhood, 5 of their surviving children are shown on the 1911 census and were Alfred b1895, Sam b1897, Wiliam b1900, George b1893 and Ernie b1908, all were born in Nottingham. In 1911 census the family are living at lived at 16 Thoresby Street Nottingham and are shown as Alfred 47 yrs a bricklayers labourer , he is living with his wife Mary 48 yrs and their children, Alfred 16 yrs a printers boy, Sam 14 yrs a scholar, William 11 yrs a scholar, George 8 yrs a scholar and Ernie 3 yrs.
Private William Henry Newman, enlisted on 8th August 1918 at Nottingham , he was mobilised on 24th August 1918 and served with the 51st (Young Soldier) Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment. He went out to France on 10th March 1919, he left Germany on 28th August 1919 and arrived in Ireland on 2nd September 1919. He was shot by Irish Nationalists on 28th February 1920, and admitted to military Hospital at Queenstown where he succumbed to his wounds at 5.35am the next day, 29th February 1920. He is buried in Nottingham General Cemetery.
His army services record contains the following details written on 2nd March 19120 by Captain (signature illegible ) 51st battalion Sherwood Foresters :- The commanding officer regrets to report the death of No 123987 Pte Newman W.H. of this battalion . The soldier was one of an escort which proceeded to escort explosives from Rocky Ireland to Government Dock, Rusbrook and on returning to camp this party was attacked by a body of Sien Feinners and their rifles and ammunition and equipment were taken from them. The late Pte Newman endeavoured to escape from the raiding party and was pursued by two armed men, one of whom fired and wounded the late 123987 Pte Newman in the neck, the bullet entering the side of his neck and coming out of his side. His brother Private Samuel Newman, served with the 10th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, he was killed in action 20th September 1917. He is buried in Zantvoorde British Cemetery. A further brother Private Alfred Newman, 12th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, was invalided out on 18th September 1916 after receiving a disabling gunshot wound in the back.
