Walter Fairley Newall, known as Walter, one of 5 siblings all of whom survived, was the 2nd born of 3 brothers and had 2 younger sisters. His father Thomas Newall born at Louth, Ireland, in 1859, was living in 1881 as a lodger in the home of William and Agnes Young of Elswick Street, Gateshead, County Durham, employed as a printers stereotyper. He met and married, January 29th 1882 at Gateshead, Isabella Fairley of 12, Ann Street, Gateshead, born 1859 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland. Their eldest child John Newall was born October 20th 1883 and baptised at Holy Trinity, November 26th, Walter Fairley in 1885 and Mary Ellen in 1889, by which time they had moved to 4, Mulgrave Street. Isabella had given birth to a further 2 children by 1901, Agnes Isabella in 1895 and lastly Charles in 1897. Thomas continued to ply his trade as a printer, John (17) was employed as a commercial clerk and Walter (15) was a tailor’s errand boy. They had transferred to 52, Camperdown Street by 1911, their sons had changed occupations, John was an oil warehouseman, Walter a window cleaner, Charles still only 14 years of age was a colliery labourer, Agnes Isabella assisted her mother in the home, Mary Ellen was newly married to foundry worker, Robert Wilkie Anderson, living at 55, Nile Street.

Walter enlisted at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, November 27th 1915 assigned to the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion Durham Light Infantry as Private 37036 he left Newcastle for South Shields and Jarrow as part of the Tyne Garrison, the battalion also engaged in preparing the troops for service overseas and later retraining the men recovering from ill-health and wounds. He was mobilised March 3rd 1916 and transferred as Private 1423717, April 14th, to the 2/7th (Blythwood) Battalion Highland Light Infantry until he was sent to the H.Q of the 196th Brigade, July 10th 1917. When the battalion was disbanded July 30th 1917 he transferred to the 2/5th Battalion Highland Light Infantry. Posted to Cosham, near Portsmouth, May 30th 1918 and transferred as Private 142217 Royal Army Medical Corps, he departed Southampton July 23rd 1918 disembarking at Le Havre the following day. Private Newall was sent to the Cyclists “B” Depot at Rouen and served with the 33rd Field Ambulance attached to the 11th (Northern) Division and 91st Field Ambulance attached to the 32nd Division. He was part of the occupying force in Germany, presumably caring for and assisting during the repatriation of Prisoners of War, until he returned to England, August 28th 1919, and finally discharged September 25th 1919. Recipient of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Although all 3 Newall brothers would have been eligible for war service only the record of Charles Newall has been found, he was killed in action aged 19 years in 1915 whilst serving with the Northumberland Fusiliers in Belgium.

Thomas Newall died at Gateshead before his son’s repatriation, during the 2nd quarter (Apr/May/Jun) 1919, aged 60 years. Walter Fairley Newall died aged 48 years during the 3rd quarter (Jul/Aug/Sep) 1933, his mother Isabella Newall nee Fairley within 3 months of her son, aged 75 years during the 4th quarter (Oct/Nov/Dec) 1933, both registered in the district of Gateshead, County Durham.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.