Leonard Newell
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Leonard Newell was the third son of Arthur Henry and Eliza Newell (née Taylor). His father Arthur Henry was born in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, in 1865 and his mother Eliza Taylor was borni n Turnditch, Derby, in about 1861. They were married at Basford St Leodegarius in August 1891 and had four children, one of whom did not survive infancy. Their three surviving children, who were born in Netherfield, were Ernest Arthur b. 1892 and Walter b. 1893, who were both baptised at Netherfield St George in October 1893, and Leonard b. 7 January 1896. Arthur, a railway guard with the Great Northern Railway (later with the London North Eastern Railway), his wife and their three sons were living at 16 Arthur Street, Netherfield, in 1901. By 1911 the family had moved to 88 Dunstan Street, Netherfield. All three sons were still living with their parents and like their father, both Ernest and Walter worked for the Great Northern Railway, Ernest as a number taker and Walter as a call boy, while Leonard was a layer-on at a printing factory. Their mother may have died in 1917 (reg. O/N/D). In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled her widowed husband, Arthur, now retired, was living with his married son, Ernest, a railway guard with LNER, and his wife. Arthur may have died in 1953. Leonard's brother, Walter, enlisted on 3 September 1914 and was posted to the Bedfordshire Regiment (201300 Private, 1/5th Bn). He was 21 years 9 months old and working as an engine cleaner. Walter served in France from 21 April 1915 to 11 July and was then in the UK from 12 July to 17 January 1916. He then embarked at Devonport (HMT Ingoma) on 18 January for Egypt, disembarking at Alexandria on 1 February 1916. Walter was compulsory transferred (permanent) from the Bedfordshire Regiment to the Royal Engineers Railway Operating Division (WR/291005 Sapper), having been tested at Kantara on 2 July 1918 and passed as a skilled locomotive fireman. Walter transferred to the Army Reserve on demoblization on 16 July 1919. In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled Walter and his wife were living in Gedling and his occupation was given as locomotive driver LNER.
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Howe Bn Royal Naval Division Leonard enlisted on 13 September 1915. 13.9.15 - Drafted to 5th Battalion. 11.11.15 - Drafted from 5th Battalion Depot to 1st Reserve Battalion, Blandford, Dorset. 16.2.16 - Drafted from 1st Reserve Battalion, Blandford to Nelson Battalion, Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (M.E.F.) 30.3.16 - To Tenedos, remaining at Tenedos 8.4.16 - Disembarked from R.M.S. Olympic and discharged to Depot Battalion, west Mudros, Lemnos, Greece. 17.7.16 - Serving at Tenedos, Greece. 26.7.16 - Embarked at Mudros on H.T. “Kentucky” 29.7.16 - Disembarked at Alexandria, Egypt. 2.8.16 - Embarked Alexandria 9.8.16 - Disembarked Marseilles 20.8.16 - Embarked Le Havre for England 22.8.16 - Attached to 4th Reserve Battalion from Nelson Battalion, British Expeditionary Force (B.E.F.) 6.9.16 - Attached to 4th Reserve Battalion, Blandford from Mudros, Buda Point and Tenedos. 21.11.16 - Entrained at Blandford on night of 21st/22nd November 1916 from 4th Reserve Battalion for Howe Battalion B.E.F. 22.11.16 - Embarked Folkestone on SS “Victoria” 22.11.16 - Disembarked Boulogne. 23.11.16 - Joined Base Depot, Calais. 14.12.16 - Joined Howe Battalion. 17.2.17 - Killed in action at Miraumont on the Ancre in France during the battle of Boom Ravine Leonard was killed in action on 17 February 1917 and according to a report in a local newspaper, was buried behind the firing line. His grave was either lost or his body later unidentified and he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial (Pier and Face 1 A). He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
CWGC: date of death 17 March 1917. Beeston Gazette and Echo, ‘Roll of Honour’, 10 March 1917: ‘Newell. Killed in action on February 18 (sic), Leonard the dearly-beloved youngest son of Arthur Henry and Eliza Newell, Dunstan street, Netherfield, aged 21 years. A bitter blow, a shock severe, To part with one we loved so dear. From his sorrowing mother, father, brother Ern and Edie, and Walter (in Egypt).’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Beeston Gazette and Echo, 10 March 1917: ‘Netherfield Hero Killed. It is our sad duty to chronicle the news that Private Leonard Newell, the youngest son of Mr and Mrs Newell, of 82, Dunstan street, Netherfield, has given his life for King and country on the battlefields of France. He was only 21 years of age and was killed in action on Sunday night, February 18 (sic). Further details, along with photograph, will be published in a future issue.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Beeston Gazette and Echo, 17 March 1917 (photograph): ‘A Netherfield Hero. As briefly stated last week, Able-bodied Seaman Leonard Newell, whose father and mother reside at 82, Dunstan street, Netherfield, was killed in action in France on February 18 (sic). He was only 21 years of age and was born in Arthur street, Netherfield. As a boy he attended the schools in Manvers street and Chandos street, and prior to the war was employed at Stafford’s. He enlisted on 13 September 1915, joining the Royal Naval Division. For six months he served in the Eastern Mediterranean and last August [1916] came home on leave for ten days. It was in November last that Leonard was sent out to France and though he had many narrow escapes at various times, he was killed outright on Sunday night, February 18 (sic), and buried behind the firing line in a hero’s grave. Private Walter Newell, an older brother, is in the Bedfordshire Regiment and serving in Egypt. He enlisted on September 6, 1914 and prior to this date worked as a cleaner at the Colwick Loco.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
