Arthur Newton
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Arthur was the son of Samuel and Mary Newton (née Gill). His father Samuel was born in Mansfield Woodhouse in 1857, the son of Samuel and Eliza Newton. He was baptised at St Edmund King & Martyr on 30 August 1857. His mother Mary Gill was born in about 1864, also in Mansfield Woodhouse. Samuel and Mary were married at St Edmund King & Martyr on 22 April 1888. The 1911 Census does not give the number of children they had had but eight were named on the census between 1891 and 1911; all were born in Mansfield Woodhouse: Arthur GILL birth registered 1886 (J/F/M), Ada Florence b. 1891, Sarah Ann b. abt. 1894, Frank birth registered 1896 (J/F/M), Winifred birth registered 1898 (J/F/M), Agnes b. 1900, Elizabeth b. 1902 and Samuel birth registered 1904 (J/F/M ). In 1891 Samuel (33), a slater, and Mary (27) were living on High Street, Mansfield Woodhouse, with their five year old son Arthur (Gill). On subsequent civil and military records Arthur used the surname 'Newton'. By 1901 Samuel and Mary were living at 2 Portland Street, Mansfield Woodhouse, with their children Arthur a machine minder in a cotton mill, Ada (9), Sarah (7), Frank (5), Winifred (3) and Agnes (1). Samuel Newton died in 1908 aged about 50. The widowed Mary was still living at 2 Portland Street in 1911. Seven of her children were still at home: Ada a cotton packer, Sarah Ann a cotton winder, Frank, Winifred an errand girl, Agnes, Elizabeth (9) and Samuel (7). Mary probably died in 1940. Arthur married Clara Stafford (b. Heanor 1890) in 1908. They had four children who were born in Mansfield Woodhouse: George Edward b. 1909 d. 1910 (reg. J/F/M), Margaret Evelyn b. 1911, Phyllis May b. 1913 and Dorothy Mary b. 1916. In 1911 Arthur a slater, and Clara (21) were living at 27 Charles Street, Mansfield Woodhouse. Their first child had died in 1910 and their second child, Margaret, was born later that year. They later lived at 37 Park Road, Mansfield Woodhouse. His widow Clara married Walter Illingworth in 1919 and in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled they were living in Mansfield Woodhouse in 1939 with their two children, Gwendoline C. and Norman Walter. Norman served in the 5th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (4986833 Private) in the Second World War and was killed in Italy on 8 June 1944 aged 21 (Minturno War Cemetery).
Essex Yeomanry, Household Cavalry & Cavalry of the Line According to a report of his death in the local paper, Arthur Newton enlisted in the Sherwood Rangers in 1915, later transferring to the Dragoon Guards. He served in France from April 1917. Arthur was killed on 24 October 1917 in an explosion caused by a bomb dropped from a German aircraft. He was buried at Wietlege that afternoon by a chaplain of the 52 Bn Canadians. CWGC: Oxford Road Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium (grave ref. I.F.11). CWGC - History of Oxford Road Cemetery (extract): 'Oxford Road was the name given to a road running behind the support trenches, from a point west of the village of Wieltje south-eastwards to the Potijze-Zonnebeke road. Plot I is the original Oxford Road Cemetery and was used by the units fighting on this front from August 1917 to April 1918.' (www.cwgc.org)
Arthur's brother Frank served in the Prince of Wales' Volunteers (South Lancs) and was killed on 6 September 1917 (Tyne Cot Memorial). Their brother-in-law, Louis Bernard Neale, the husband of their sister Ada Florence, was killed on 27 December 1916. (See records on this Roll of Honour) Arthur's widow Clara remarried in 1919 (Illingworth). Clara's son, Norman Walter Illingworth, served in the 5th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (4986833 Private) in the Second World War and was killed in Italy on 8 June 1944 aged 21 (Minturno War Cemetery). Mansfield Reporter, 16 November 1917: ‘Another Woodhouse Hero Killed. Trooper Arthur Newton.' 'The toll of the war amongst Mansfield Woodhouse young men, as in other towns and villages, has been very great, and it is our painful duty to record yet another victim in the person of Trooper Arthur Newton, who gave his life for King and country, on the 24th October. Trooper Newton, who was 32 years of age, joined up in November, 1915, and enlisted in the Sherwood Rangers. After training at several places he was transferred to the 5th Dragoon Guards, and finished his training at Aldershot. Going to France on the 20th April of the present year he was amongst some severe fighting on several of the fronts with the Essex Yeomanry, to which regiment he was transferred on arriving at the front. He was well known in the village, of which he was a native. For some time he was employed as a salter by Mr. Singleton, of Mansfield, but for the past few years had been working on his own account. What makes the occurrence more pathetic is the fact that only a few weeks ago his brother was killed in action [Frank Newton, 6 September 1917], while just prior to that his brother-in-law was killed in action [Louis Bernard Neale, 27 December 1916]. Newton was married, and leaves a wife and three children. The following letters have been received by Mrs Newton: '5th Cav. Pioneer Battalion, 24th October, 1917. Dear Mrs Newton, By the time you receive this letter, you will no doubt have heard from the War Office that your poor husband was killed in action this morning. I regret to say that as the battalion has only been formed a few days, I only just knew your husband by sight, but from what I have seen of him one could not wish for a braver or more willing worker under very trying circumstances. His loss is deeply felt throughout the platoon. All his friends, who were present at the time wish me to tender you their sincerest sympathy. If it is any consolation to you he was killed instantaneously. I personally collected all his valuables, and am sending them to you. He was buried at Wietlege this afternoon by a Church of England chaplain, the Rev. RW Ridgeway, of the 52nd Battalion Canadians. If there is anything I can do for you or your children in their fearful blow, please let me know. With the very deepest sympathy, yours very sincerely, WH Hartley, Lieutenant. 'Flanders, 6th November, 1917. Dear Mrs Newton, I hope that by now you will have got the small box of your husband’s belongings which I despatched about a week ago. Your poor husband was killed by a bomb dropped from a German aeroplane. He was killed instantaneously by the effects of the explosion, being hit in the right side. This took place about a mile east of the place he was buried at. Yes, I am afraid that it must have been a terrible blow to you, and the little ones, but I sincerely hope that they are getting over it all right. Yours very sincerely, WH Hartley.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Note: Lt. WM Hartley. Probably Lieut. William Holliday Hartley MC, 8th (King’s Royal Irish) Hussars, KIA/DOW 22 March 1918 age 21 (Pozieres Memorial). Commissioned 10th Reserve Regiment Cavalry, 4 August 1916; France 1917. Commemorated Chaffecombe war memorial, Somerset. Mansfield Reporter, ‘Thanks’, 16 November 1917: ‘Mrs Arthur Newton and Family, of Mansfield Woodhouse, beg to thank their many friends for kind enquiries and letters of sympathy received on the death of Trooper A Newton, who was killed in France on October 24th. (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Clara received a pension of 31 shilling and 8 pence for herself and their three surviving children with effect from 6 May 1918.
