Frank Newton

Frank was the son of Samuel and Mary Newton (née Gill). His father Samuel was born in Mansfield Woodhouse in 1857 (J/A/S Mansfield) the son of Samuel and Eliza Newton. He was baptised at St Edmund King & Martyr on 30 August 1857. His mother Mary Gill was also born in Mansfield Woodhouse in about 1864. 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 the same address 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. Frank's brother Arthur married Clara Stafford (b. Heanor) in 1908 (reg. Mansfield). They had four children one of whom died in infancy. Arthur served in the Essex Yeomanry and was killed on 24 October 1917. (See record on this ROH) Frank's eldest sister, Ada Florence, married Louis Bernard Neale in 1912 (reg. Mansfield). Louis served in the Royal Scots and died of wounds on 27 December 1916. (See record on this ROH)

13 Charles Street, Mansfield Woodhouse. Enlisted Mansfield.

Formerly 23397 Private, North Staffordshire Regiment. Frank Newton joined the army on 28 April 1916 and trained at Forest Hall, Newcastle and Whitley Bay. He served in France from September 1916 but was sent back to England the following year suffering from frostbite. On his recovery he returned to France and was killed in action on 6 September 1917 during the battle of Arras. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

Frank's brother Arthur served in the Essex Yeomanry and was killed on 24 October 1917. Their brother-in-law, Louis Bernard Neale, the husband of their sister Florence, served in the Royal Scots and died of wounds on 27 December 1916. (See records on this Roll of Honour). Arthur's widow Clara remarried and a son of the second marriage, Norman Walter Illingworth, was killed in the Second World War. WW1 Pension Ledgers: named his mother, Mary Newton. Mansfield Reporter, 28 September 1917, report with photograph: ‘Roll of Honour. Gallant Woodhouse Private Killed. Private F Newton. ‘The chaplain to the Lancashire Fusiliers, the Rev. Charles Smith, writing to Mrs Newton, 13 Charles-street, Mansfield Woodhouse, on the 10th inst., says: ‘I am very sorry indeed to tell you that your gallant son has been killed on the 6th, inst. He died a brave soldier’s death, facing the enemy and he has given his life for his country. He is now in God’s greater Kingdom. May He comfort you and give you courage and faith. ‘Signaller A Glynn has also communication with the family. He says Newton met his death in action. It was a bit of an attack we made and your son came into my ‘signal’ office wounded afterwards. I got a slight wound in my left hand, and was in hospital for a few days. ‘Private Newton joined the army on April 28th, 1916, and was trained at Forest Hall, Newcastle, and Whitley Bay. He went to France in September, 1916, and was there till April, 1917, when he returned to England suffering from frost bite, and passed some time at Manchester before coming home on sick leave. He next went to Withernsea, and then volunteered for France, where, after five weeks, he met his death in the battle of Arras. First he was in the North Staffords, and was then transferred in France to the Lancashire Fusiliers, to which he was attached when he met his death. His brother Arthur has been in the army two years, and is now in France with the cavalry. The deceased soldier was in his 22nd year.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Mansfield Reporter, 26 October 1917: 'Local Casualties: F Newton 37134 Mansfield' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) A report in the local paper of the death of his brother Arthur Newton also mentions the deaths of Frank and their brother-in-law, Louis Bernard Neale: Mansfield Reporter, 16 November 1917 (extract): ‘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 ... What makes the occurrence more pathetic is the fact that only a few weeks ago his brother [Frank] was killed in action, while just prior to that his brother-in-law was killed in action [Louis Bernard Neale, 27 December 1916].' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)