Newport News: Newport's fallen heroes

NewportNews SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT • MAY 2014

www.newportnews.org.uk

Newport’s fallen heroes

by Jeff Bines

100 centenary

OUR BOYS We saw them off at the station, On the day they went away To serve their King and their nation, High-spirited, laughing and gay.

We heard from them- many a letter Came telling us how they fared, So cheery and bright- we felt better, Praying their lives might be spared.

We saw them not in the battle, When the shells shrieked overhead, We heard not the noise of the rattle Of guns and their torrents of lead.

We saw them not in their dying, Alone with their wounds and their pain, Gasping and moaning and sighing For homes and their dear ones again.

We saw them not when their bodies Were buried and covered with earth But sure and certain, as God is, Their death was the day of their birth.

Baptised in blood! Each a witness To honour, to truth, and to right: The Christ has vouched for their fitness To wait in the glad realms of light.

We see them not. They have vanished.

For us there is sadness and pain.

Yet hope from our grief is not banished, We know we shall see them again.

See them again in their beauty, The loved ones now far out of sight Who answered their clear call of duty And fought for the right against might.

W.M. Bellamy, 15 October 1917

WW1 Centenary

“See them again in their beauty” JEFF BINES

Early in 2012 ‘Newport News’ was reminded that 2014 marked the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War. The suggestion was that an article should be written in commemoration of those patriotic men whose sense of duty called them to the colours, and who were killed in action during this war. Most of their names are easy to find and visible to all on the War Memorial standing in the Churchyard. In relation to the First World War, 41 Newport men are listed on both sides of the stone plinth with a further 11 commemorated elsewhere.

A

s an indication of the tragedy suffered by all during what became known as the Great War, it is worth taking into account the population of Newport at the time, one that would have been fairly typical of a British village. According to census records, of a total of roughly 920 Newport men some 161 were either conscripts or volunteers to the cause, of which over 25% made the ultimate sacrifice. Imagine now, so many men in Newport suddenly being killed in the next four years and the effect it would have on the families and on Newport itself. So just how did these Newport men come to die in the muddy fields of France, Belgium and the hotter climates of further afield?

On June 28th 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated by men thought to be members of a Serbian secret army know as the ‘Black Hand’.

Austria threatened to act against Serbia and broke off diplomatic relations within the month. On 27th July Austria

invaded Serbia, (a full day before they actually declared war), and Germany reaffirmed her alliance with the aggressor. The, soon to be infamous, German Kaiser Wilhelm II warned his cousin the Czar of Russia that Germany would mobilise unless Russia remained neutral. The Czar was not prepared to respond to threats so Germany declared war on Russia on 1st August. When the Germans invaded Belgium, Great Britain declared war on Germany and the First World War had begun.

Things did not start well for the British Expeditionary Force. By the end of August they were in retreat at Mons and throughout Alsace and Lorraine as Belgian cities fell before the invaders.

The French army also crumbled before the German advance, crossing the Sambre and Meuse rivers and falling back to the Somme. Britain’s General Kitchener called for 500,000 volunteers and many Newport men responded to the call. On 14th October, Ypres (Ieper), known as ‘Wipers’ by British troops, was occupied by British and French forces and five days later a continuous line of trenches stretching from Switzerland to the English Channel was completed.

In November income tax was almost doubled to 1/6 (7.5p) in the pound for earned, and to 2/6 (12.5p) for unearned income to pay the cost of what was to happen in the following years.

1915

It was near the beginning of 1915 that the first Newport man was killed.

Sidney Alfred Nathaniel Shafto Barthropp was commissioned 2nd

Lieutenant with the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Sussex Regiment. He was killed aged 22 whilst on detachment to the 2nd Battalion on 29th January 1915 and is buried on the outskirts of the town towards the rear of the Cuinchy Communal Cemetery in France. plot 2, row D, grave 27. He was the only son of Major Alfred Barthropp and lived in Newport House. A tablet to his memory is in the South Transept of Newport Parish Church.

Ann Elizabeth Horton came from Fryerning, Essex with her husband George Gibson Horton who was the Congregationalist Minister in Newport in 1918. Their son John Holland Horton was killed aged 43 on 4th May 1915 in Gallipoli serving as Private 1242 with the 5th Battalion of the Australian Infantry. His grave is in the Alexandria (Chatby) Military and War Cemetery Grave ref. C.172, which is situated in the eastern part of the town between the main duel carriageway to Aboukir

Sidney Alfred Nathaniel Shafto Barthropp Newport’s Fallen Heroes Newport News 3

WW1 Centenary

and the Mediterranean Sea. (Although John died before his family moved to Newport, I have included his name because his father was an eminent member of the community who would have had sympathy with any member of his congregation who had suffered a similar loss).

Despite major actions taking place, the British taking Neuve Chapelle, the spring offensive at Ypres and the first use of gas by the Germans, it was not until July that the next Newport man died.

Sidney Pallett was born in Widdington. One of a family of nine, he was the son of Harry and Mary Hannah Pallett, who lived first in London Road and later in Station Road. Sidney’s father was groom and gardener to Herbert Barnard who lived in what is now ‘The Georgians’ but was then called ‘The Cedars’. Sidney had joined the 9th Battalion Essex Regiment as no. 10596 during the week ending 11th September 1914 and died on the following 3rd July aged 29. His body was never found on the battlefield of the Somme but he is commemorated on the memorial at Thiepval in France, pier and face number 10D. The total number of casualties by the end of July had reached 330,995, one month later it had risen to 381,983. On August 25th, attempted offensives at Artois and Champagne had resulted in stalemate, but in September the Allies had smashed through the German lines at Champagne, Flanders and around Loos.

During this time Alfred Webb, a former boy scout, was 21 when he was shot by a sniper on 20th September 1915 whilst on patrol between the lines. Alfred was born in Clavering, the youngest of 10, the children of Mr and Mrs Joseph Webb of the ‘Homestead’ Wicken Road. On leaving

4 Newport News Newport’s Fallen Heroes

ALFRED WEBB

school he became errand and stable boy for Robert Beard who was grocer and draper in Waterloo House. Alfred became a regular soldier when he joined the 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment becoming Corporal 10069.

He was wounded during the previous October with shrapnel in his hand and discharged from hospital in December to take part in the 1st battle of Ypres. He is buried in the small town of Vermelles, north of Lens near the Belgian border plot 6 row C grave 23.

Following these encounters British casualties had reached 510,230 dead. The Western front line from Ostend, Flanders, a deep salient above ‘Park East’ and on to Verdun had hardly changed during the year. At home, Stonehenge and 30 acres of surrounding land was sold as lot 15 at auction for £6,600. Evidently far

cheaper than land prices in France and Belgium at the time!

On September 26th an Autumn offensive smashed through the German lines, which resulted in Marshal Joffre’s view that this could ‘possibly end the war’.

He was wrong but the war did end for John Cann, no. 15571, the son of B. Cann of Elephant Green, Newport was aged 37 when he was killed on that same day in 1915. A former agricultural worker, he was one of the original ‘Old Contemptibles’. He left two daughters in the house he occupied in the Wicken Road just opposite the school, his wife Sarah Jane having pre-deceased him aged 30 in 1908. His name is recorded on the Loos Memorial, panel 85–87 off the Rue De Bethune at ‘Dud’ corner, near Lens.

1916

Conscription was introduced in Britain for the first time on January 6th in order

WW1 Centenary

Frederick James Sell

to replace the ranks of those lost.

One who had not waited for an order to report was Charles Barker. Charles was the 20 year old the son of John and Victoria Barker who lived in Shortgrove Hall’s second lodge, where John Barker was Head Gamekeeper for both Sir James Bailey and Sir Carl Meyer.

Charles had joined the 11th Battalion of the Essex Regiment as Private 14827 and was killed on 9th January. He is buried in the Potijze Burial Ground, on the outskirts of Ypres in Belgium, row 5, grave 12.

Frederick James Sell, signed up for four years service with the Territorial Force on 18th November 1914, and was killed on 11th April serving with the 5th Battalion Essex Regiment as Private 13215. Aged 21, he was the younger son of John and Emily Sell of the High Street Newport. He is buried in Cerisy-Gally Military Cemetery about 10 kilometers west of Albert on the edge of the town of Cerisy in plot 2 row G grave 9.

W. Jackson was possibly related to two Jacksons whose names appear on the Newport role. He served with the 6th Battalion Essex Regiment as Private 23306 and died on 26th April 1916. He is buried in Newport churchyard.

On 1st July the Somme campaign began.

Another man with Newport connections was to fall at this time, George Law G/11122. He was the son of G.W. Law of 59 Ray Lodge Road, Snakes Lane, Woodford, Essex, and possibly related to Jesse Law of Newport who also served in the First World War. Happily Jesse survived the conflict but George was killed aged 24 whilst serving with the Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment on 3rd July

1916. His name appears on pier and face 11c on the monument at Thiepval.

Walter Palmer (19767) was a member of another well known Newport family, that of Arthur and Rhoda Palmer of Jubilee Cottage on Star Hill where he lived with his parents. Originally from Hemingstone in Suffolk, he had joined the Royal Army Service Corps in July 1915 aged 19 and served later with 9th Battalion Essex Regiment. Formerly a stockman, he died of wounds on 16th July 1916 and is buried at St. Sever Cemetery in the centre of Rouen plot A row 27 grave 10.

William Drury fell at Carnoy on 20th July. The son of Frederick Drury who lived in Church Street, William, formerly a labourer, had joined Kitchener’s Army on 13th November 1914 and served with 10th Battalion Essex Regiment as Private 15674.

Aged 20, he was the son of Fred and Grace Drury of Ayot St Lawrence. He is commemorated just off the Rue De Ginchy at Delville Wood, Longueval, plot 10 row K grave 9.

On 27th August William John Miller was killed serving as Private 306708 with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment.

Originally he lived in Teffont Manor, Salisbury and was related to the Camp

William Edgar Francis

family in Newport. His parents lived at one time in the ‘Meeting Yard’. (At the rear of the White Horse Public House). He was one of the first to have a villa erected on the brow of the hill on Wicken Road, called ‘Hillcrest’, on land which had been allotments, in which he lived with his mother and two sisters.

He is recorded on the Loos Memorial panels 22–25.

While William Miller was laying his life down for his country, thousands of trade unionists were protesting in Hyde Park about the cost of food.

Bread was shortly to rise in price to 10d (4p) per loaf.

September saw the first use of tanks on the battlefield.

On the 18th of that month William Edgar Francis, who had enlisted at Warley, Essex died, aged 18, of his wounds suffered while serving with the 11th Battalion Essex Regiment as Private soldier 19575.

His body is interred at Bronfay Farm Military Cemetery, opposite the gate to the farm itself, at Bray-Sur-Somme, in plot 1, row B, grave 5. He was the son of James and Alice Francis who lived in the Council Cottage, Newport, and the brother of Bertie Francis who was killed later in the war.

Private Victor Searle was 26 when he went to France from Australia, but he was originally a Newport man. His

Thiepval MONUMENT Newport’s Fallen Heroes Newport News 5

WW1 Centenary

BRONFAY FARM

family had moved first to 5 Common Hill, Saffron Walden before Victor, at 19 years of age, emigrated; leaving his parents James and Louisa. Victor’s battalion was transported to France and there transferred to Pozieres Ridge.

The battle for the ridge began on 23rd July and Victor was killed three days later aged 26. His personal effects reached Australia in March 1917 and a letter saying he had been buried on the battlefield but his grave has never been found. He is commemorated on the memorial overlooking the valley of the Somme at Villiers-Bretonneau together with 10,797 of his adopted countrymen one of whom also came from Saffron Walden. The following month, August, left a further 127,000 British dead for that month alone.

Closer to home, on 24th September a lone village special constable arrested the entire crew of a downed Zeppelin at New Hall Farm, Little Wigborough in the Essex countryside. During October the Allies broke the Somme front over a distance of 10 miles.

Thomas Whyman died on 9th October aged 25. He was born in Clavering and became an agricultural worker in Newport, formerly living in White Ditch Field but later the High Street, Newport. He was married to Florence Emily Chesham of Rickling, and lived in one of four small cottages at the rear of the White Horse Public House,(the Meeting Yard). His mother, living in 3 Belmont Place, was informed in October that her son was missing, but it was later confirmed that he had been killed serving with the 11th

6 Newport News Newport’s Fallen Heroes

Somme at Villiers-Bretonneau

Somme at Villiers-Bretonneau

Battalion of the 4th Essex Regiment (no. 40007) on October 9th 1916.

His name appears on the Thiepval Memorial pier and face 10d.

Bernard Trundle, the 20 year old son of Newport’s policeman and formerly of Nolton Cottage, Elephant Green, was wounded, and having been brought back to Blighty received treatment in Cardiff Hospital. He died of his wounds on 19th October. Bernard had been serving as Guardsman 18901 with the 5th Battalion Grenadier Guards.

His funeral at Newport church was attended by fourteen members of Walden Divisional Police Force and representatives of his former employers, Messrs Dolby (seed growers) of Marks Tey. On 20th October Arthur Gordon Wright died of wounds received the previous day. He was 19 years of age and the son of Arthur and Caroline Ann of Clavering. He is reported as serving with the 102nd Battalion Canadian Infantry

as 135609 and is commemorated in the Warloy-Baillon Cemetery extension plot 6 row C grave 12, which lies on the outskirts of Warloy-Baillon on the Rue Du General Leclerc D919).

In hard fighting British casualties for the last three months were 350,000 (40% of the total losses of the war thus far). By Christmas 1916 some 650,000 allied and 500,000 Germans were dead and virtually nothing had been gained.

The war was estimated to be costing £5,700,000 per day!

Malcolm White in his article ‘Newport’s Heros’ (Newport News Summer 1993) claims another victim

Thiepval

WW1 Centenary with connections with Newport, W. Brett. I have been able to find one soldier named Private Walter Thomas Brett who died at this time, aged 25 number 18253, he served with the Essex Regiment and came originally from Walthamstow. He died on 13th November 1916 and is commemorated on the Thiepval memorial on pier and face 10D.

1917

1917 therefore, began much as had 1916, but it would prove to be the year that saw the greatest number of losses for Newport.

Charles Joseph Judd was the son of William and Helen Judd and born in Kentish Town. He joined the Yorkshire and Lancashire Regiment’s 6th Battalion as Private 31858 but later was posted to the Northamptonshire Regiment. He was married to Nora Ella Judd, formerly of Chapel Cottage,

Charles Joseph Judd

Wenden. He was first reported missing at Ypres in January 1917 and it was later discovered that he had in fact been killed on 17th of that month aged 35. His name appears on Thiepval Memorial pier and face 14a and 14b.

He is also commemorated on the graves of his wife and three children and on the grave of his sister-inlaw Lillian Dyer both in Newport churchyard graves 142 and 393. Two of Charles Judd’s brothers were also killed in the First World War. Around this time George Brace died.

George Brace lived in a house at the corner of Church Street, and was the village postman. He was well known, liked and respected. He took an active part in Newport’s social life, being a bellringer, cricketer and was associated with other local sports. He was sent to France in 1916 as Private 27385 with the Northamptonshire Regiment but later was with the 1st/4th Suffolk Regiment as Private 5017. He contracted a chill in the trenches and was transferred to hospital. Here his malady developed into pneumonia and pleurisy from which he died aged 40 on January 20th 1917 leaving a widow and two children.

A service was held in Newport church

by Rev. W Bellamy and he is buried north of Abbevile in the Abbeville Communal Cemetery plot 2, row B, grave 19.

During March and April British troops had finally beaten the Turks at Gaza and the Americans had entered the war. British, Canadian and Australian/New Zealander (ANZAC) troops launched a massive attack against the Hindenberg line opposite Arras. The Easter offensive pounded the German trenches into a mess of mud and the Canadian troops found the defences completely wrecked. All objectives were taken and secured as well as about 2000 prisoners.

During March (16th) the Russian Czar abdicated as the Russian revolt grew, a revolt that would eventually establish communism in Russia.

The Russian offensive in 1915 alone had resulted in two million Russian casualties. The allies were in danger of losing a valuable ally if any new regime pulled Russia out of the war.

The Arras offensive opened and the British piercing of the lines resulted in the taking of 11,000 German prisoners.

At around this time three more Newport men were to give their lives for their country, Frederick Wedd, William Camp and Thomas George Wilson.

Frederick Wedd the son of Charles, the baker and grocer, and his wife Elllen of Church Street, was killed in action on 14th April 1917, whilst serving with 1st Battalion Essex Regiment having enlisted as a Private (32960). His body was never found and his name is recorded on the monument at the Arras Memorial bay 7.

Also commemorated on the Arras Memorial is William Arthur Camp who was born in Debden but lived in Newport in an old thatched cottage in the Wicken Road at Cuckingstool End. He was one of a family of 10, that of George Thomas and Harriet Camp. He enlisted in the 5th Essex Regiment on 29th Jan 1915 and shortly after transferred to the 10th Battalion as Private 17088. William worked for Barnard Brothers as a horse keeper on the same farm as his father. He was killed on 13th May and his body never found but his name appears on the memorial at Arras on bay 7.

The third member who died during these first six months of the year, and the third victim of the Arras campaign, was Sergeant Thomas George Wilson.

Another of Kitchener’s Army, Thomas Wilson had joined the Essex Regiment on 11th September 1914 as Private 13214 but later served with 10th Battalion

Newport’s Fallen Heroes Newport News 7

WW1 Centenary

ARRAS MEMORIAL

Royal Welsh Fusilliers as 56002. He was killed by a shell on 17th June 1917 aged 28. He was the son of Charles and Mary Wilson of the High Street, his father being the head of Barnard Bros. coal depot. His body was never recovered and he is recorded on bay 6 of the Arras Memorial.

July saw a new offensive launched in Flanders and proved a particularly bad month for the British army. Also in July the cost of the war had risen to £7,000,000 per day and the cost of more Newport men.

Lt. Godfrey Stanton Evans of the Royal Defence Corp. had lived in Parsonage House before he enlisted, later moving to The Cottage, Newport.

His first wife, with whom he had two daughters, died in 1915 and he had remarried in February 1917. The cause of his death, aged 51, is not known, perhaps he had been invalided home.

He was buried in the Churchyard in Newport on 3rd July 1917.

Ernest Shuttlewood was formerly a Grocer’s assistant to William Barnard, draper and grocer of the High Street Newport. He had joined the Essex Regiment as Private 32657 but at the time of his death he is listed as

8 Newport News Newport’s Fallen Heroes

being Private 28225 with the Border Regiment. He died on 10th July aged 30 and is recorded on the splendid memorial at Nieuport in Belgium on the edge of the town at a busy road junction (the D318/D381). He was the son of Jessie Shuttlewood of Rayne, Braintree.

His brother George also was killed during the war and is buried in Thetford Cemetery.

One who was definitely invalided back to England at this time was George Frederick Westwood. Frederick had previously worked at Shortgrove Hall with his father, a stable man, and later at Carnation Nurseries. From his home in Bridge End, Frederick joined in October 1916 and was invalided home in June 1917 having contracted meningitis and shell shock in the trenches. He was sent to Newcastle-upon-Tyne Hospital where he died the following month on 10th July. He did not have the opportunity to return to Newport or see his wife and two year old girl or his parents. He was buried in Newport churchyard on Saturday 14th July. The Roll of Honour shows he had formerly been with the Norfolk Regiment as 33805, but later transferred to the 61st Provisional Battalion (Labour Corps) as 83880.

34138 Private Fred Lavender, the son of Agnes Jane Saville of Sparrows End, was killed on the 17th serving with the Essex Regiment, formerly the Essex Yeomanry (9th Batt) as Private 2602, aged 27. He was described as a ‘Gamekeeper’s Lad‘ at Shortgrove Hall.

Agnes had presumably been widowed because, after her marriage to John Saville, her second son Sydney George Saville was born and who was later to also give his life serving his country.

Fred’s name appears on the Arras Memorial bay 7.

Another Newport soldier met his death at this time, Private Charles Cracknell (10600). Also serving with the Essex Regiment he was killed during the week ending 17th July 1917. He too is named on the Arras Memorial bay 7.

Captain William George Philip Hunt MA MC died of his wounds aged 26 on 15th August having been hit by a shell on the Menin Road. He had been Assistant Headmaster at Newport Grammar School teaching English, Geography and Latin. He was a popular officer, serving with the 10th Battalion Essex Regiment, and his death was recorded ‘with great sorrow‘ by his

ARRAS MEMORIAL

William George Philip Hunt MA MC

WW1 Centenary comrades. He is buried near the coast north of Etaples in the Etaples Military Cemetery plot 17 row B grave 26. In a book called “With the 10th Essex in France” it was written ‘The heaviest loss of the day for us was Willie Hunt – imperturbable in battle, and loved as a man. He was severely hit by a 5.9 (shell) on the Menin Road and died in hospital some little time later, to the great sorrow of the Battalion”.

On 20th August the Third Battle of Ypres unfolded to the accompaniment of a ceaseless bombardment of shells and torrential rain, immediately causing the advance to become bogged down in Flanders mud.

The British launched a new offensive at Cambrai, to the south-east of Lens.

By now things were getting desperate for both sides as death tolls rose, and the Germans were asking for boys of 15 years to join up. Some deaths did not result from military action though.

Hugh Barnard, the son of William and Kate Barnard, worked for his father as a grocers assistant in the ‘Brown House’ when he joined the 8th Essex Regiment no. 1459 but transferred to the Army Cyclist Corps of the 1/1st Kent Cyclists as no. 266327 in October 1914 telling the recruitment sergeant he was 19 when in fact he was only 17. He was posted to India and unfortunately drowned while swimming on 20th March 1917. He is commemorated on the Kirke 1914–1918 Memorial face 10. It is easy to forget that this war’s actions were not confined to Europe as Britain still had an empire to police and administer and it should be remembered that the war spread further than France and Belgium. Hugh Barnard was the first of four Newport men to have served and died in the Middle or Far East.

George Searle. George, was the son of Joshua and Louisa Searle and husband to Eva F Searle, all of Newport.

He lived in Shortgrove Lodge in 1914

MENDINGHAM

MENIN GATE, YPRES

but removed to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and served as Private 811713 with Canadian forces. He was killed aged 31 on 22nd May 1917 and is buried in the Villers Station Cemetery on the D65 north west of Viller-Au-Bois Plot 7 Row F Grave 15.

Ernest Jeffery worked with his father William at Shortgrove Hall for both Sir James Bailey and Sir Carl and Lady Meyer. He lived with his family at Sparrows End. He served with the Essex Regiment as private 3258 but later transferred to the Hertfordshire Regiment as private 269625. He was killed in Flanders on 31st July 1917 and listed on the Menin Gate panels 54 and 56.

Two other Newport brothers died during this phase of the war, Sidney and Edward Searle. Their parents were Henry and Sarah Ann of Bury Water.

Sidney and Edward were two of nine

children belonging to this labourer and his wife. The two brothers had originally joined the Essex Regiment. Edward, no.

33217, was killed aged 21 in Flanders serving with the 1st Battalion East Surrey Regiment on 18th July 1917, and is recorded on the Arras Monument bay 6. Sidney Charles, the elder brother, was 28 and initially served with the 10th Essex no. 16423 later transferring to the 12th Battalion Royal Scots Lothian as Private (353220). His parents were notified of his death as ‘killed in action’ 20th September. Previously a gardener, he left a young widow Amelia Jane in their small house on Belmont Hill and is commemorated on the memorial at Tyne Cot, panels 11 to 14.

Lieutenant Robert Cyril Barnard was the auctioneer son of Sidney and Ellen Barnard of Braeside. He was a well known sportsman in the village, playing football for the school when he was 12 years of age and later vice captain of the cricket team. He voluntarily joined up in 1914 becoming a Second Lieutenant in the 58th Division, Training HQ of the Royal Army Service Corps. His parents were informed that he had been severely wounded during an air raid on 7th September on the headquarters of the RASC at Poperinge but the information

Robert Cyril Barnard Newport’s Fallen Heroes Newport News 9

WW1 Centenary

HARRY CLARK

CEMENT HOUSE CEMETERY, BELGIUM

was wrong. He had in fact died of wounds on 5th September aged 25.

He is buried in Mendingham Military Cemetery, just off the main road, at Proven, Belgium, plot 3, row D, grave 18. (Mendingham is so called because of the work done there, ‘Mending them’, there were two other similar places named by the soldiers showing that humour was not dead, Dosinghem and Bandagenhem).

The area known as Ypres/ Passchendaele/ Flanders according to the part where or when the fighting was taking place, claimed another Newport victim late in 1917, Private 29296 Harry Clark. Harry was the son of Charles, a blacksmith, and his wife Annie Elizabeth who lived near the railway crossing at Wenden. He was married, his wife also coming from Wenden and, like so many others, served with the 10th Essex Regiment. He was killed on 22nd October and is buried at Cement House Cemetery, south west of Langemarck in Belgium plot 6, row B, grave 23.

Private Harry Cornell no. 250691 was killed serving with the Essex Regiment’s 1/5th Battalion in the Middle East and is buried in the Gaza War Cemetery in Palestine, plot 29 row G grave 15. He

was the son of a Gas Company worker and lived in the old Gas House in the village (just across the railway station footbridge). Harry was the second of four known to have died in the Middle or Far East. He was killed in action on 2/11/17 at Gaza during Suez canal defence.

Before the end of the year, another name had to be noted down to later be commemorated on the Passchendaele memorial at Tyne Cot, that of Ernest Cole. Ernest lived in a small house adjoining Corby Cottage in the High Street. Before the war he worked on Palletts Farm and his father (Alfred) was a saddle and harness maker who worked in a room above what became the Paragon Cafe, opposite the junction of the High Street and the Wicken Road. Ernest joined the Essex Regiment as a private 204403 in January 1917 and went to France on the Tuesday of Easter week that same year. In France he transferred to the 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment and was killed aged 34 on 30th October. His body was

10 Newport News Newport’s Fallen Heroes

never found and his name is listed on panels 48–50. He died just one week before the Canadians took what was left of the village of Passchendaele.

George Cook’s wife was informed at their home on Star Hill of the fact that her husband had been killed in action on 20th November. He was previously an agent of the Prudential Assurance Company, the continuation of which task his wife took on. He left one child.

He is commemorated as Private 28713 of the 11th Battalion Essex Regiment at Fifteen Ravine British Cemetery at Villers-Plouich, which stands in a side road off the D89 south east of VillersPlouich. His grave is marked as plot 4 row H grave 16.

On December 9th the British took Jerusalem.

George and Mary Ann Hanchett of Elephant Green lost their son John on 22nd December serving with the 5th Essex Regiment in the Middle East. He had formerly served with the Northamptonshire Regiment as Private 39993. A former groom, John Hanchett, lived on Elephant Green, and died of his wounds in Damascus aged 29. He is buried in the Damascus Commonwealth War Graves Protestant Cemetery Dimashq, Syria.

WW1 Centenary

GOMMECOURT BRITISH CEMETERY No. 2

Edwin Horace Berry was the eldest son of the then licensee of the old ‘Elephant and Castle’ in the High Street next to Palletts farm. He was born in Croydon and enlisted in Bishops Stortford becoming a driver in the 520th Company, 60th Division, Train.

Royal Army Service Corps number T4/240601. He died in Egypt on 11th December 1917 and is buried in the Jerusalem War Cemetery grave reference R.78.

1918

1918 began with an onslaught by the Germans as they shattered British lines around Arras. This, followed by a breakthrough at Ypres, where the British lost around 300,000 in three weeks, showed the Germans still had plenty of fight left in them.

It was during a March counter attack that Lance Corporal Albert ‘Bertie’ Francis, whose brother had been lost in 1916, was killed. His parents, James and Alice had three sons serving in the war, two were killed and the third invalided home suffering from trench fever and bronchitis. At 19 years of age Bertie joined the Essex Yeomanry and was later with 5th Battalion Essex Regiment, no. 3045 and later still with the Gloucester Regiment’s 2/5th Battalion (Territorial) with the serial number 242107. This former butcher was reported missing on 24th March but it was later confirmed that he had been killed in action on that date by enemy counter attack. He is commemorated on the memorial at Pozieres on panels 40 and 41. Pozieres is a large cemetery standing in open countryside.

Lost on March 25th, was Ernest Sidney Searle who died of wounds

suffered with the Royal Garrison Regiment in which he served as Gunner 87936 with the 405th Siege Battery.

He lived on Elephant Green and later at Sparrows End. At the time of his death he is recorded as living in Bishops Stortford but he was born in Newport, the son of Lydia Brooks. He married Louisa Mary Searle. He was aged 33 at the time of his death and is buried in the Duisans British Cemetery on the road to Arras west of the town plot 5 row F grave 6.

Also lost at the beginning of March were the Russian allies who had capitulated to the Central Powers.

Walter Arthur Searle, known as ‘China Searle’, enlisted at Warley as Private 21542 in the 1st Battalion of the Essex Regiment. Aged 36, he must

MEMORIAL AT ODSEY, CAMBRIDGESHIRE

have thought himself lucky when he was sent home on convalescent leave, in March 1918, having been wounded three times. His speedy recovery however, meant he was back at the front the following month and almost immediately was reported missing.

It was later discovered that he had been killed in action on 4th April and is buried in the Gommecourt British Cemetery no. 2 in open country just east of Hebuterne, France plot 5, row G, grave 4. He was the son of Walter and Louise Searle of the High Street.

Frank Turner Johns. Frank Johns was the son of George Turner Johns and his wife Annie Elizabeth. The family’s first home is thought to have been ‘Bramleys’ on the London Road before they moved to Newport High Street in 1919. Frank previously lived with his parents and four brothers before he joined up, initially in the Essex Regiment and later transferring to the 2nd Battalion of the Lancashire Fusilliers as Private 56650. He was killed on 14th May 1918 and is buried in Etaples Military Cemetery in plot 65 row B grave 25. The cemetery lies alongside the railway line running parallel with the D940 due north of Le Touquet airfield. His name appears on a memorial in Odsey, Cambridgeshire as well as the one in Newport churchyard.

His father, George Johns, was described as a confectioner.

During May it was reported that Amiens was virtually completely destroyed with thousands dead through gas. Later that month the Germans took Soissons and threatened Rheims as the allied counter attack was forced back. Another allied counter attack in June was more successful and by July the Germans were eventually driven across the Marne. At the end of the month fighting resumed following a lull due to an outbreak of influenza which crippled both sides. German General Ludendorff’s numbers had been reduced since March from 208 Divisions to now only 66! On August 8th the Germans collapsed against allied troops in Amiens, and by September the allies were sweeping all before them.

It was during August that Richard Samuel Dellow was reported killed in the Amiens campaign. Samuel was born and brought up in Newport, his parents James and Martha, living in Wicken Road, next to the old primary school. He

Newport’s Fallen Heroes Newport News 11

WW1 Centenary

emigrated to Canada in 1909 and joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force with ‘D’ Company of the 8th Battalion the Royal Winnipeg Rifles. He was wounded once and gassed twice before finally losing his life aged 35, according to official records, on 6th September but the memorial erected in Newport churchyard states that he was killed in action at Amiens on 9th August. This is, however, only a marker as he is actually buried in the British Hill Top Cemetery near the battlefield at Hillside Cemetery Le Quesnel, which is in the countryside on the road to Caix, in plot 1 row A grave 4.

Also during August, in an attempt to assist the ‘White’ Russians against their ‘Red’ countrymen, the British landed 1500 troops at Archangel, the North Russian port.

On 7th October the British took Beirut and Sidon.

Sidney Charles Saville’s parents were John and Agnes Jane who by this time lived in Wenden. Sidney’s half brother, Fred Lavender, had previously been killed in 1917. Sidney’s father, John had been a shepherd at Shortgrove Hall. Sidney lived initially in Elephant Green and later at Sparrows End. He joined the Hertfordshire Regiment’s First Battalion as Private 41880. He was killed on 9th October 1918 and is buried at Naves Communal Cemetery extension in France, between Cambrai and Naves, in plot 3, row D, grave 13.

Ernest Reynolds (24195) of the 10th Essex was, perhaps the last Newport resident to have died due to enemy action during World War One. He died

12 Newport News Newport’s Fallen Heroes

of wounds on 23rd October in Flanders.

He is buried in the Roisel Communal Cemetery extension plot 1 row D grave 4. The cemetery is situated on the northern edge of Roisel.

Unfortunately it was not the end of the casualties.

Sergeant William Poulter, was the son of Joseph and Lucy Poulter of ‘Goodricks’, Wicken Road. He enlisted with the Royal Field Artillery (Royal Horse) as Gunner no. 35567 and spent the entire war in France. At home on leave he contracted influenza and subsequently died on 31st October. He was buried in Newport churchyard with full military honours on 4th November 1918 with a firing party consisting of mainly convalescent men and a Sergeant Major named Hills who came from Saffron Walden.

Two days later, on 6th November the Germans withdrew across the Meuse and three days later the Kaiser abdicated. The 11th November saw the surrender of Germany and the end of the Great War. In theory the war to end all wars was over, at least for the next 21 years, but still casualties died of wounds received. On 19th November the British Government admitted that the Great Britain alone had suffered over three million casualties during the war with nearly one million dead.

1919

Herbert Henry Mansfield lived in Cambridge House with his father Charles, mother Eliza and sister.

Harry made his living selling sand from a sandpit in Cambridge Road.

Herbert joined as a private in the Duke of Cambridge’s Own 17th Lancers, one of the ‘Death or Glory‘ boys number L/3268. While he was home on leave tragedy struck in the form of Spanish flu, which he contracted and from which he died on 26th February 1919. His mother Elizabeth and sister Gertrude also died died and they were all buried on the same day in Newport churchyard.

He is also commemorated on the Runnymead Memorial panel 48.

Gunner George Norfield 250011 of 9th Battalion Canadian Field Artillery died 1st January 1919 aged 28 and is also commemorated in Newport churchyard. It must not be forgotten that while WW1 officially ended in 1918, the British were still involved in assisting the ‘White Russians’ in their fight against the Bolsheviks. This is the

WW1 Centenary reason that many village memorials state ‘World War 1 1914–1919’. Although there is nothing to suggest that Gunner Norfield was involved in this battle (in fact very unlikely that he was) I have included his name anyway. It is more probable that he died from wounds sustained earlier.

Certainly the last Newport man to die as a result of the war was Charles Swinscoe. Charles was the son of George and Sarah Swinscoe formerly of Bishops Stortford, and he died presumably as a result of wounds on 13th March 1919. He served as S4/218717 Lance Corporal Swinscoe of the Royal Army Service Corps and is buried at Beaulencourt British Cemetery Ligny-Thilloy in the countryside of the Pas de Calais area of France, in a small graveyard west of Ligny-Thilloy and south of Bapaume.

He is commemorated on the grave of his parents in Newport churchyard.

The memorial dedicated to the fallen in Newport churchyard represents all those who died for their country and not just those named upon it. I am certain that all those I have listed would have been named on the monument had it been possible for whatever reason to have included them. The Newport memorial is made of Aberdeen granite and was paid for by public subscription.

It was dedicated by the Bishop of Chelmsford in May 1920. The memory of all who served in the First World War is also kept by the Church. A Roll of Honour, giving the names of those who answered the call to arms, currently hangs in Church House as does a roll listing the names of 19 who had, to that point, given their lives.

A much more comprehensive record is in a book, which from one end is a

NEWPORT MEMORIAL

Muster Roll naming those who enlisted and from the other end gives then names of those who fell in a Roll of Honour. The book was donated by Mr and Mrs TC Kewley in memory of Mrs Kewley’s brother Sidney Barthropp, the first of the many.

Newport’s Fallen Heroes Newport News 13

WW2

1939–45

In 1955 a bronze plaque was added to the War Memorial in Newport listing the names of those who lost their lives in the Second World War. While looking at the memorial the thought struck me that 2014 was not only the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War but also the 75th anniversary of the start of the second conflict in 1939. It seems only right that the remainder of the names recorded on the memorial should be mentioned here. There are nine names on the memorial and another two that are commemorated elsewhere.

Many Germans felt that they had been treated badly following the armistice of 1918 when French demands for compensation exceeded all expectations. The conditions in Germany after the end of the war were poor to say the least and this was further complicated by rampant inflation. As people pushed wheelbarrows full of bank notes in order to pay for a single loaf of bread it was, perhaps, inevitable that the population turned to a political party that promised a better future. This turned out to be the National Socialist (Nazi) Party, led by a charismatic character named Adolf Hitler, himself a veteran of the First World War. Hitler, like Napoleon, had served as a corporal before his boosted ego took him into politics. Through guile, criminal activity and violent pure brute force he came to power and quickly put the population to work preparing for war. This war would be very different from the last and a comparison of the numbers of those who lost their lives during the two wars illustrates that.

Hitler remembered the horrors of the trenches and gas warfare and was determined not to repeat them. Perhaps the only humane thing he ever did.

This second war would involve more civilians than any war before. Bombing was responsible for a large number of purely civilian deaths and the murders that were carried out by the Nazis, Soviets and Japanese for the bulk of the remainder.

Still people were called upon to serve and our war memorial lists some of those who lived in Newport. Details of those who served during the Second World War are rarely released and most remain officially classified for some years to come. For this reason I have

14 Newport News Newport’s Fallen Heroes

reproduced some details previously published in Newport News, which were written by our Chief Editor John Gordon, and added others.

Joseph Alexander Clover BA (CANTAB) Bachelor of Music and Associate of the Royal College of Organists and a scholar of Emmanuel College served as Private 144845 with the Royal Natal Carbineers. During his war service he was mentioned in dispatches. He was shot trying to escape form a prison camp in North Africa on 1/11/1942 aged 26. He was the son of Alan and Margaret Clover who came from Shropshire. He is buried in Tripoli but is commemorated in Newport on the gravestone of his grandfather, Dr. William Alexander Smith – a Newport GP. On 15th August 1943 Sergeant 1389302 Michael Stanley Barnard was serving as a newly promoted Flying Officer with 192 Squadron of the RAFVR. He was reported missing on a return journey following a raid thought to have been in the Mediterranean theatre of operations. He was the eldest son of the late Stanley and Isabel Barnard of ‘Willmary’ in the High Street.

His memory is maintained on Panel 141 of the Runnymede Memorial.

George Stanley William Whyman of the ‘Buffs’, the Royal East Kent Regiment, saw service in North Africa and Italy. He was born in Newport, the eldest of a family of five, his parents being Harry and Edith Whyman, and husband to Linda Whyman of Newport.

Michael Stanley Barnard

They lived in a thatched cottage next to the old primary school in Wicken Road, now demolished to make way for Meadowford. He had previously worked for Basil Byford as a butcher’s boy and later for Barnard Brothers.

He saw service in Italy, North Africa and Tunisia. Having previously been wounded twice, he was killed in action aged 34 on 20th March 1944 just four weeks after returning to the firing line and is buried in the British War Graces Cemetery near Cassino, Italy number 7c 1, midway between Rome and Naples.

Wing Commander 37159 Rowland Branston Cox was a 31 year old pilot with the RAF (RAFO) when he died on 29th September 1944. He was the son of Norman Simpson and Margaret Heather Cox and husband to Rose Anne Cox of Newport. He is buried in Newport churchyard.

Private 5777286 Harold Frank Wilson came to Newport from Langley in 1937 and worked as gardener for Herbert Barnard of what is now The Georgians in

WW2

Harold Frank Wilson

OLIVE DORIS SCOTT, NEWPORT

the High Street. He arrived in February 1942 at Singapore with the Royal Norfolk Regiment on the day the city fell and was immediately captured by the Japanese. He was compelled to work on the Burma railway for nearly two years.

Appalling treatment caused him to die of starvation and beri-beri in Tokyo (where he spent the last four months of his life at Matsushima Prison Camp) on 27th December 1944, aged 28. His ashes are buried in the British Cemetery, Yokohama section QB7. He was the son of Ernest Walter and Daisy Charlotte Wilson and husband to Dorothy.

Ronald L. Dix was a Corporal with 2nd/5th Essex Regiment no. 6022221 and served in Sierra Leone and Iraq until he was posted to North Africa in June 1942. He was captured a Deir-el-Shein during the first battle of El Alamein and imprisoned in Italy.

He managed to escape from his captors spending 14 months in hiding with a farming family named Bauducco at Grassino near Turin. When the Germans began searching the area he moved on and joined a guerrilla group.

He was killed at a road block at Viali on 29th December 1944, aged 27. He had previously lived in Newport in a bungalow by the railway crossing. He is buried in the War Cemetery at Trenno near Milan, plot 4 row A grave 11.

Private 14631090 Donald Sidney Camp, the only son of Sidney Camp and Mabel Alice Camp of Frambury Lane, was only 19 when he was accidentally drowned swimming with friends on 7th August 1945 whilst serving with the 2/4th Battalion Royal Hampshire Regiment in Greece during 1945. He is buried in the Phaleron (Faliron) War Cemetery plot 20 row E grave 1.

Both W/176467 Olive Doris Scott and her brother Sergeant CH/X1327 William J. Scott died near the end of the war. William served with the Royal Marines whilst his sister Olive was with the Auxiliary Transport Service. Olive served on ack-ack (anti aircraft guns) on the east coast and suffered shell shock.

She died from illness while on active service on 26th August 1945, aged 23, the very month that Japan surrendered and the Second World War came to an end.

Olive is buried in Newport churchyard.

William left a widow, Gladys in Chatham when he died on 11th April 1945 in South America and is buried in The Argentina Gap War Cemetery plot 4 row C grave 13. The family only lived in Newport for a few years in a Bungalow at the London end of the village. Their parents were

William Henry and Esther Clara Amelia Scott. They may have originally been refugees.

Able Seaman Frederick Leslie Palmer served for over five years with the Royal Navy and was still serving as Able Seaman C/JX543206 when he died on 30th May 1946, aged 21. He had apparently been subjected to fumes from an explosion which bought about leukaemia. He was the son of Fred and Lucy Jane Palmer of Frambury Lane and is buried in Newport churchyard.

The final name on the memorial belongs to Lawrence Arthur Pipe who, at the age of 18, was killed by terrorists in Palestine whilst on National Service with the Head Quarters Base Ordinance Depot of the Royal Ordnance Corps in 1947 aged 18. He formerly lived with his parents, William and Ellen May Pipe at Martins Farm. He is commemorated in the Tel El Kebir War Memorial Cemetery in plot 6 row G grave 5. He died on 28th June 1947. NN

Lawrence Arthur Pipe

Frederick Leslie Palmer

Lawrence Arthur Pipe Newport’s Fallen Heroes Newport News 15

FRANCE & BELGIUM

Finding the fallen JEFF BINES

O

n 19th July my wife, brother, sister-in-law, and I set off to northern France and Belgium to find the graves of some of Newport’s First World War dead. Finding those killed during the First World War is not difficult, but it is time consuming. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is obviously the place to start and indeed the only real source of reference. Their website is comprehensive and informative.

Unfortunately some cemeteries have been slightly re-named over the years or are listed incorrectly in articles, which can cause problems.

The work of the Commission itself is most commendable. There are almost 1000 graveyards and memorials in France and Belgium to look after and every grave site or memorial is kept immaculately, grass trimmed and stonework gleaming, illegible names due to weathering are recut, (see the photo of Harry Clark’s grave above, which is due for recutting and compare with that of Charles Barker).

Reference books in place at every site together with visitors books to record those who call. I cannot help but feel that if these were in Britain they would have been vandalised long ago.

After an early start we crossed the channel via the tunnel and, following a continental breakfast, started looking for our first casualty Sidney Barthropp. In the small town of Cuinchy we searched for the ‘Brickfields’ cemetery. After a prolonged search we ended up on the open road leading away from the town and on the outskirts of Vermelles we stopped at a large cemetery. The booklet listing the names of the fallen buried there revealed no-one of the name Barthropp. Fortunately a man who worked for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission was working on the

16 Newport News Newport’s Fallen Heroes

HARRY CLARK

stonework in the cemetery so we asked where we might find ‘Brickfields’. His face looked blank and admitted he hadn’t heard of the place, so he telephoned his office. A Scottish girl answered the phone and checked her computer. Our first instance of a name change, What had once been known as Brickfields was now simply the Communal Cemetery Cuinchy. We returned to a previously visited cemetery and eventually found our man. We discovered that at one time bricks were stacked in large numbers in Cuinchy, which is probably how the cemetery obtained its name at the time.

We were unable to find our next fatality in the area so we set off for our hotel in Arras. The first day had been something of a disaster but thanks to the chap from the CWGC and the

ARRAS CEMETERY

Scottish Lassie we had at least found one person. Arras is a fair sized town within which is a very large War Cemetery.

On the next morning and in the space of a few minutes we found Frederick Wedd, William Camp,Thomas Wilson and Frederick Lavender. Charles Cracknell and Edward Searle are also commemorated on this memorial.

The following morning we set about our task of finding another graveyard.

En-route we stopped at a small bar in one of the villages. Inside we were greeted with silence as the locals studied the new arrivals. One man started a conversation with us and my wife explained that we were looking for the war dead. He immediately departed and returned soon after with two fuses from the tops of WW1 artillery shells, each of

FRANCE & BELGIUM

ARRAS MEMORIAL

GOMMECOURT BRITISH CEMETERY No. 2

which he gave to my wife and sister-inlaw. He explained that he was a potato farmer and was ploughing ordinance up all the time. We bought him a drink and departed for a visit to Gommecourt British Cemetery no.2 Hebuterne, which was just around the corner.

Situated in a quiet country lane, Gommecourt no. 2 is a pleasant and peaceful place. Walter Searle’s grave was found easily so we set off for our next stop which was to be Thiepval, one of the larger cemeteries. Sidney Pallett’s name appears on pier and face 10D. Others with Newport connections are listed here, George Law 11c, Thomas Whyman 10d and Charles Judd 14a/14b.

Whilst in the area of the Somme we took the opportunity to look for others. Victor Searle had emigrated to Australia before the war and his name is commemorated with his (adopted) countrymen (almost 11,000 of them) on the Australian Memorial and grave site at Villiers-Bretonneau. This was another site to which we had to return on the day. On our first visit here a check in the booklet listed no Victor Searle. A drive around the area proved a blank as we visited other cemeteries.

Eventually we ended up at the Museum in the village and, thanks to a helpful young lady and her computer, she was able to inform us that the Australian memorial, standing in the area to the rear of the cemetery, had its own booklet. Once there, I quickly found Victor’s name and, following a quick photograph, my wife disappeared up to the top of the memorial itself. I followed on and, despite gasping for breath, was glad I did. The views from the top were magnificent in every direction.

Our next port of call was Bray-SurSomme and Bronfay Farm British Military Cemetery, a small cemetery opposite the entrance to the farmyard, and the resting place of William Francis.

At this point time was marching on so we returned to the hotel. The hotel computer gave us a lead on the man buried at Vermelles for whom we had previously looked on the first day. A ‘Google‘ map showed exactly where the cemetery was situated and the following morning we found the grave of Alfred Webb easily.

We then set off for Tyne Cot in Belgium, the largest war cemetery in the world. Here we found Ernest Cole and

Sidney Charles Searle.

After spending a little time here we proceeded to Potijze Burial Ground and the grave of Charles Barker. This too proved elusive in finding at the start.

Three burial grounds stood together at Potijze but none had the grave of Charles Barker. He was eventually found at a fourth cemetery. We then set off north for Belgium. In passing we visited a Canadian Memorial in BeaumontHamel. We then went to Ypres (Ieper) and the Menin Gate on which appear the names, amongst others, of Albert (Bertie) Francis and Ernest Jeffery.

While in Ypres we attended the sounding of the Last Post, which is blown nightly at eight o’clock. The police close the road about ten minutes before the hour and four trumpeters marched into position under the arch

Thiepval MONUMENT

Thiepval MONUMENT

BRONFAY FARM Newport’s Fallen Heroes Newport News 17

FRANCE & BELGIUM

YPRES

TRUMPETERS AT YPRES

and lined up across the closed road.

On this occasion they were joined by a piper, regaled in highland dress, who played a lament following the sounding of the Last Post. Wreaths were laid by school children at the end of the ceremony. We came away at about eight-thirty leaving many others milling around. I have no idea what time the police actually re-opened the road. As I say, every night this is performed, such is the respect shown in Belgium for the fallen.

Cement House is the name of a cemetery that has not changed but it is listed as being at Langemarck.

Langemarck is a large and famous German cemetery but I knew that the Cement House must be a small burial ground close by. An article stated that the Cement House itself was covered

TYNE COT CEMETERY

18 Newport News Newport’s Fallen Heroes

with foliage and difficult to see, but this was an old article so the Cement House might no longer exist. The Cement House Cemetery at Langemarck was easier to find that we thought and here we found the grave of Harry Clarke.

Time was left to find only one other before we needed to return to England.

Just outside the small town of Proven there had once been a dressing station called Mendingham, a British soldiers pun. (There was also Dozingham and Bandagenham). Today though, the Cemetery situated there is still known as Mendingham Military Cemetery and it stands about a hundred yards off the main road. Here rests Robert Barnard.

On the last day, returning to the tunnel terminal, we visited the grave of my sister-in-law’s great uncle in the First World War cemetery at Poperinge. At

the foot of his memorial stone in the cool shadow sat motionless a leveret, a young hare. Following this we briefly visited the high grounds of Castelles for the magnificent views across Northern France.

In four days we had travelled to the continent, found sixteen war graves and travelled back. I wish we had had more time to find others as we were on site as it were and sometimes quite close. Others were too far away to visit in the limited time we had. I was not disappointed, we had found sixteen out of the twenty I had listed before departure, which was not bad.

Perhaps another time we will find the remainder. NN

I am indebted to previous articles for ‘Newport News’ by the late Annie Moule and Malcolm White.

The title of this work comes from a poem by the Rev. W. Bellamy, the Vicar of Newport, written on 15 October 1917 and quoted

by Malcolm White in his article.

I must also thank David Evans for providing a plan of Newport cemetery, my brother Ray who helped greatly in Belgium and France, Denis Saville for information about his relatives, and for all the relatives of the fallen who sent in their photographs.

I have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible in the details of this account. If anyone knows of corrections that need to be made or facts that can be added please contact the editors.

Map courtesy of www.greatwar.co.uk

Western Front Battlef ields 1914–1918

WW1 HELMETS, ENGLISH (LEFT) AND GERMAN (RIGHT)

TYNE COT CEMETERY – LARGEST COMMENWEALTH WAR CEMETERY (12,000 GRAVES)

Published by ‘Newport News‘ May 2014 2013 photographs by: Jeff Bines

Family photographs: Various

www.design-mill.co.uk

“IN FLANDERS FIELDS – THE POPPIES BLOW” – JOHN McCraE