Newrick Curry
Michael Bell has submitted the following:
Newrick was born in October 1892 at 6, Chapel Row, Great Lumley. Chapel Row stood where the new Methodist Chapel now stands.
He had an older brother John, who died in 1904 aged 14 and four younger sisters. His father John William was a Hewer at the pit and originally came from Houghton-le-Spring. His mother Ruth (nee Dawson) was born in Blue Row, Lumley. Blue Row lay on Front Street in front of The Old England.
In 1901 the family were living at Breckon Hill and in 1911 they were again back in Lumley at 49, Front Street. Newrick was working as a "Horseman on Farm".
Newrick was working as a Cartman when he enlisted with the DLI 18th (Service) Battalion (B Company) at Cocken Hall on 19th September 1914. According to his enlistment papers Newrick was 5 foot 8 inches tall, weighed 11 stone, had brown eyes, brown hair and a fresh complexion.
Newrick was living with his parents at 17, Oak Street, Fence Houses when he enlisted. His family moved around the corner to 19, Maplewood Street, Fence Houses while he was serving abroad.
The DLI 18th was formed at Cocken Hall on 10th September 1914 by Colonel R. Burdon and a committee. They moved to Fence Houses in December, then back to Cocken Hall in February 1915 and to Fence Houses again in March.They and other D.L.I. battalions (19th (Bantams), 20th & 22nd) were often known by the name of the Durham Pals. It was one of the many battalions in the country which were formed after friends were encouraged to sign up together.
The 18th Durham Light Infantry Battalion were the first troops of Kitchener's new army to come under fire, when the Germans bombarded Hartlepool pn the 16th December 1914.
Newrick sailed with the Expeditionary Force for Egypt with the D.L.I. 18th Battalion on 7th December 1915 from Liverpool with an escort of two destroyers and arrived at Alexandria, Egypt on the evening of 17th December. After Egypt the 18th Battalion were sent to France, arriving on 11th March 1916 at Marseilles. They travelled to positions in the Somme and took part in The Battle of Albert, which was part of the Somme offensive, from 1st July to 13th July.
On the bloodiest day in British military history, 1st July 1916, the D.L.I. 18th Battalion were heavily involved in fighting at the Battle of the Somme. They were in action when they supported the Leeds and Bradford Pals.
The 18th Battalion spent the next three months fighting at Festubert, Neuve Chapelle and Givenchy before returning to the Somme on 17th October 1916, to the Hebuterne sector. It was in the Hebuterne Trench sector that Newrick was killed in action 1st March 1917.
Here is an account of the attack in which Newrick most likely was killed, he was part of B Company.From the book War History of the 18th (Service) Battalion Durham Light Infantry by Lieut.-Col. W. D. Lowe, D.S.O., M.C.
"On the night 28th February - 1st March a Platoon of 'B' Company made every effort to force its way into First Garde Stellung by working up Rom Graben on our left, but was strenuously resisted by a strong bombing party and two machine-guns and failed to get in. On the right two Platoons between Lehmann and Becker Graben lost their way in the intense darkness, these two communicators being practically obliterated by our shell-fire and giving no guiding marks. In the afternoon, a 'D' Company patrol reported First Garde Stellung strongly held. They saw many Germans and several machine-guns, which were in action ; the wire also was thick and strong."
Newrick was buried at Sailly-au-Bois Military Cemetery. The cemetery was begun in May 1916, "in a field opposite the Town Major's dug-out". It was used by field ambulances and fighting units until March 1917, when the Allied line had moved forward, and again from April to August 1918, when the front came very close to it. Sailly-au-Bois Military Cemetery contains 239 Commonwealth burials of the First World War.
Some military papers say he was killed 3rd March 1917, however his field service records clearly state he was killed in action 1st March 1917.
Newrick received the 1914-15 Star, The British War Medal and The Victory Medal.
Newrick Curry is remembered at Great Lumley on G50.01 G50.02, and Lumley 6th Pit Memorial W134.01
