John Newton
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
John was born in East Drayton in 1890 and was the son of Joseph a wheelwright and Sarah Ann Newton (nee Spencer) Joseph and Sarah had four sons, Joseph - William - Tom and John . In the 1901 the family are living at 3 Low Street, East Drayton, however by 1911 only John who is by now 21 years of age and single and working as a house painter is living with his parents in East Drayton . John marries his wife Ellen Watkin in East Retford on 14th October 1914 and they lived in the village. His father, Joseph Newton, died 2 January 1926 aged 67, and his mother, Sarah Ann, died 31 January 1929 aged 72.
John enlisted in Retford in June and 1916 and served with the 1st bn Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derbys) regiment. He went to France in November 1916. he was killed in action whilst acting as a stretcher bearer on 14th April 1917. he has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Thiepval memorial on the Somme.
Pte John Newton Retford Times 18th May 1917 The above is a reproduction of a photograph of Pte John Newton, Sherwood Foresters Regt, who was killed in action in France on April 14th last. He was 27 years of age and was before the war a joiner in East Drayton, working for his father, Mr J Newton. He was a native of the village and a Churchman and was one of the bell ringers. He joined the colours in June 1916 and went to France in the following November. Much sympathy is felt for the widow and parents in their bereavement. Private Newton was a comrade of Pte J E Fox who also was killed on April 14th and whose photo we gave in our last issue. The circumstances of Pte Newton’s death are related in a letter received by Mr J Rolfe, East Drayton, from his brother, Sergt Rolfe. The writer says:- “I want you to do a sad job for me. Tell Mr Newton that Jack was killed on April 14th while carrying out his duties as a stretcher bearer. The company and myself sympathise with the parents in the loss of a son who was a good soldiers. Young Jack Fox was killed the same day. I was not in that action .I now only go up with rations. Inscription on family headstone, East Drayton (St Peter) churchyard: 'Also John, son of the above [Joseph and Sarah Ann] killed in action at Gouzeaucourt, April 14th 1917 aged 28 years'
