Name
Reginald John Newberry
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
09/08/1918
18
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman
R/45356
King's Royal Rifle Corps
Attached 6th Bn. London Regimen
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HEATH CEMETERY, HARBONNIERES
VI.J.1.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Stevenage Old Town Memorial, St Nicholas' Church Memorial, Stevenage Old Town, Holy Trinity Church Memorial Roll of Honour, Stevenage Old Town
Pre War
Reginald was the son of George & Annie Newberry of Meadowsleade, Stevenage. Although he was originally posted to the Kings Royal Rifle Corps he was, at the time of his death, serving with the 6th (City of London) Battalion, London Regiment. It is believed that he was one of seven brothers who were serving, of which two others Maurice and Bertram(*1) also lost their lives.
In 1901 the family were living at the Salvation Army Barracks, Stevenage. Present were both parents, with George working as a mechanical engineer. As well as the children listed above, new siblings were Robert Bertram (9)(*1), Bernard Leslie (6), Alec James (4) and Reginald John (1)
By 1911 the family were living at Meadow Leade, Stevenage. Present were both parents, George now working as an engineer in a joinery works (school furniture). The census recorded they had been married for 30 years with 12 children, all living. Of those children now present were
Morris (Maurice) 21, Harold 21 and Robert (*1) 19 and all shop assistants in a grocer’s, Bernard 16 also a shop assistant, Alec 14 and a draper’s shop assistant. Then Reginald (11), Walter (9), Eva (8) all at school and finally Doris M (4).
Wartime Service
On the 9th August 1918 the Battalion were at La Houssoye in the Somme sector. They were ordered to take a position named Chipilly Ridge, which involved the capture of a small track running along near the crest of the ridge. Three Tanks were to be employed in support of the assault and at 4.15pm the Battalion moved off to commence the attack. As they rounded the edge of Celestines Wood they came under very heavy machine gun fire from both the South-western corner of the wood and the crest of Chipilly Ridge. Very heavy casualties were sustained and it was only the use of both the Tanks and heavy machine guns that helped to prevent the attack from becoming a complete disaster. However, the Battalion suffered heavily with 12 Officers and 308 Other Ranks either killed, wounded or missing. Reginald Newberry was amongst those who lost their lives on this day and he is buried in the Heath Cemetery, Harbonnieres, France.
Additional Information
He was the brother of Bertram Robert Newberry(*1) who died on 16th July 1916 and of Maurice Arthur Newberry, also of the Hertfordshire Regiment, who was killed on the 26th September 1917 – they are both in the Stevenage memorials and the Hertfordshire Territorials Memorial in Hitchin. In all seven brothers served in the Great War.
*1 in some records, e.g. census he appears as Robert Bertram but most records he appears as Bertram (Robert).
Acknowledgments
Paul Johnson
