Ernest Alfred Newton
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Ernest Alfred was the eldest son of Herbert and Elizabeth Newton (née Lindley). Both his parents were born in Mansfield Woodhouse, Herbert in 1875 and Elizabeth in 1870. They were married at Mansfield Woodhouse St Edmund King and Martyr on 5 February 1898 and had six children who were all bornin Mansfield Woodhouse: Ernest Alfred b. 1898, Gladys May b. 1899, Florence b. 1901, Herbert b. 1904, Horace b. 1909 and Fred (Frederick) b. 1912. In 1901 Herbert, a bricklayer's labourer, and Elizabeth were living on Castle Street, Mansfield Woodhouse, with their two children Ernest (2) and Gladys (1). The family was still living in Mansfield Woodhouse in 1911. Herbert was now a slater's labourer. He and Elizabeth had five children; Ernest, Gladys, Florence (8), Herbert (6) and Horace (1). Their youngest son Fred was born the following year. The later CWGC record gave Ernest's parents' address as 11 Leaming Lane, Mansfield Woodhouse. Herbert and Elizabeth were still living in Mansfield Woodhouse in 1939; also in the home were their three sons, Herbert, Horace and Frederick. Elizabeth died in 1949 and her husband in 1952.
5th Bn King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Ernest enlisted in January 1917. He was killed in action on 28 March 1918. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, France (Bay 7). CWGC - History of the Arras Memorial (extract). The memorial is adjacent to the Faubourg D'Amiens Cemetery. The memorial 'commemorates almost 35,000 servicemen from the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand who died in the Arras sector between the spring of 1916 and 7 August 1918, the eve of the Advance to Victory, and have no known grave. The most conspicuous events of this period were the Arras offensive of April-May 1917, and the German attack in the spring of 1918.' (www.cwgc.org)
Mansfield Chronicle Advertiser, 2 May 1918: 'Pte Ernest Newton, eldest son of Mr & Mrs Herbert Newton of Leeming Lane Mansfield Woodhouse has been reported killed in action on 28 March 1918. Aged 19.' Registers of Soldiers' Effects: legatee father Herbert.
