Name
John Robert Newman
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
04/10/1917
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
S/7038
Seaforth Highlanders
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TYNE COT MEMORIAL
Panel 132 to 135 and 162A
Belgium
UK & Other Memorials
Croxley Green Village Memorial, Croxley Green
All Saints' Church Shrine, Croxley Green
Rickmansworth Urban District Memorial
Oddfellows Memorial, Rickmansworth
Pre War
John’s parents were Alfred and Hannah Newman and the family lived in Tudor Cottage on the Green, Croxley Green.
In 1911 Alfred was a coachman and John worked for a building firm as an apprentice carpenter and joiner. John was born in Croxley Green and his birth was registered in the Watford district in the fourth quarter of 1895. In 1901 the family was living in Bristol where Alfred worked as a groom.
Recorded as enlisting in Watford.
Wartime Service
Lance Corporal John Newman enlisted at Watford in the Bedfordshire Regiment with 10605 as his regimental number, transferring to S/7038, 2nd Seaforth Highlanders.
He was killed near Langemarck at the battle of Poelcappelle during the Third Battle of Ypres on 4th October 1917. The fire from Metre Hill was so severe the 2nd Seaforths were driven back, losing heavily from devastating machine-gun fire.
The Watford Observer of 10 November reported that a few weeks before his death he had been offered a commission, and was expected home. The chaplain wrote to John’s sister, ‘Your brother was in charge of a Lewis gun team on 4 October when he was hit in the head by a sniper and killed instantaneously. The Colonel, officers and men, join in sending deepest sympathy at the loss of your gallant brother. He was greatly liked by his comrades and was regarded as an efficient soldier. He is much missed in his platoon'.
Acknowledgments
Malcolm Lennox, Tanya Britton, Brian Thomson, Croxley Green in the First World War, Rickmansworth Historical Society 2014
