Harold Newell
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Harold was the son of Henry and Mary Winifred Newell (née Pepper). His father Henry was born in Shroton, Dorset, in about 1855. His mother Mary Winifred was born in Gotham in 1859, the daughter of Theophilus and Ann Pepper (née Rivington); she was baptised at Gotham St Lawrence on 4 March 1860. Henry and Mary were married at Gotham St Lawrence in February 1879 and had six children who were all born in Gotham: Harriett Elizabeth b. 1880, Rebecca birth registered 1882 (J/F/M), William Henry b. 1884 bap. Gotham St Lawrence October 1884, Harold b. 1888, Alice b. 1892 bap. St Lawrence August 1894 and John Christopher b. 1902. In 1881 Henry (26), a gypsum miner, and Mary (21) were living at The Rushes, Gotham, with their first child, Harriet (1). Also in the household was Mary's brother, William Pepper (19), who was also a gypsum miner. By 1891 the family was living on Kegworth Road, Gotham. Henry and Mary now had four children; Harriet, Rebecca (9), William (6) and Harold (3). They were still living at the same address in 1901 but only three of their five children were in the home on the night of the census: William, a farm labourer, Harold and the youngest child, Alice (9). Harriet had married John Hallam (b. Gotham 1878) at Basford Register Office in 1899 and they were living on Monks Lane, Gotham, with their son Ernest (under 1 year); John was a plaster miner and Harriet a dressmaker. Rebecca was a domestic servant in the household of George Drewry, a hosiery manufacturer, in Lenton, Nottingham. Henry and Mary had moved to Meadow End, Gotham, by 1911 and only William a gypsum labourer, Harold a gypsum boiler and the youngest child John (9) were still living at home. Harriet and John Hallam were now living in Radford, Nottingham, with their sons Ernest and John Wilfred (5 b. Gotham). The youngest daughter, Alice, was a housemaid, one of six domestic servants in the household of Austin Porritt, a woollen manufacturer, in Stubbins, Bury, near Manchester. Rebecca has not yet been traced on the 1911 Census.
Harold enlisted in the 13th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers. The 13th (Service) Battalion was part of Kitchener’s Third New Army and was formed in Newcastle in September 1914. The battalion went to France during the first week of September as part of 62nd Bde, 21st Division, and was first in action in the British assault at Loos on 26 September, suffering heavy casualties. Harold served in France from 9 September 1915 and was killed in action less than three weeks later. His death was presumed to have occurred on 26 September, the second day of the Battle of Loos. Harold has no known grave and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial, France (Panel 20 to 22). He qualified for the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of the Loos Memorial (extract): 'The Loos Memorial commemorates over 20,000 officers and men who have no known grave, who fell in the area from the River Lys to the old southern boundary of the First Army, east and west of Grenay, from the first day of the Battle of Loos [25 September to 8 October 1915] to the end of the war.' (www.cwgc.org)
Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his father, Henry, was his legatee
