In Duhallow Advanced Dressing Station, Ypres, Belgium, is the Commonwealth War Grave of 141789 Sapper William Nicholson Newby serving with the 121st Field Company Royal Engineers who died 15/10/1918.
He was the son of Joseph Warden Newby, of 22 1/2, Livingstone Street, South Shields and the husband of Mary Ellen Newby, of 20, Fort Street, South Shields.
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
William Nicholson Newby, one of 13 children of whom only 5 had survived by 1911, was the eldest of his surviving siblings. His father Joseph Warden Newby born at South Shield, County Durham, February 22nd 1852, married 23rd June 1873 at St Peter’s Church, Tynemouth, Northumberland, Elizabeth Ann Ramsey of North Shields, Northumberland, born 1851. William Nicholson was born 12th October 1876, Thomas Henderson 9th October 1878 who died in 1897 aged 19 years and Mary Jane in 1881 whilst they were living at Soulsby Yard, Westoe, South Shields, where Joseph was employed as a shipwright. Over the next ten years their address and his occupation remain unchanged and they had a further 4 children, Elizabeth Ann 1883-1883, Joseph Warden 13th January 1884, Robert Nicholson 1886 and Septimus Andrew 23rd March 1890. By 1911 only Septimus was still living at home, his surviving siblings were all married.
William Nicholson Newby married a local girl born January 4th 1878 by the name of Mary Ellen Young. They were married at South Shields on March 5th 1898 where in 1901 they were living at 14, Livingstone with the first of their 9 children, Joseph Warden born 9th August 1898 and William 1900. William supported his family employed as a bricklayer, his wife had a further 6 children, Mary March 22nd 1902, Elizabeth Ann Ramsey 3rd October 1904, Frances Isabel 31st December 1906, Georgina Young 22nd June 1909, Thomas Henderson 21st December 1911 and Henry Young Newby, 6th March 1914 just prior to the declaration of war.
Not only did William enlist but also his eldest son Joseph Warden Newby. Unfortunately, neither of their service records have survived. William Nicholson attested at South Shield, exact date unknown, assigned as Sapper 141789 Royal Engineers, posted to the 121st Field Coy Royal Engineers, attached to the 36th Ulster Division. His medal card indicates he departed as of January 1916, the division participated in France during the Battles of the Somme 1916, Battle of Messines and the Third Battle of Ypres in Belgium,, returning to France at Cambrai, Saint Quentin and Rossiers, again in Belgium at the Battle of the Lys and Kemmel all during 1917. Having moved north once again to the Ypres salient in 1918 the division took part in The Battle of Messines, Hazebrouck, Bailleul, Kemmel, Bethune, Kemmelburg and the Second Battle of Ypres. September 1918 saw the beginning of the Advance in Flanders, the Allies attacked and broke through the German front to the north, east and south of the town of Ypres in Belgium.
Sapper 141789 William Nicholson Newby was wounded in the line of duty and taken by Field Ambulance to the 36th Casualty Clearing Station at Brielen, on the outskirts of Ypres where he succumbed to wounds sustained, October 15th 1918 and was interred at Duhallow Advanced Dressing Station, Ypres, Belgium, grave IV. G. 26. He was 41 years of age.
Prior to his demise William must have been given leave to England as his widow who was now residing at 18 Livingstone Street, South Shields, gave birth to a son, June 25th 1919, whom she named Joseph Warden Newby in remembrance of their eldest son, Private Joseph Warden Newby, who tragically was killed in action July 1st 1916, he was only 18 years of age.
William Nicholson Newby’s widow Mary Ellen nominated as his sole beneficiary received all monies due to him, a pension of 37 shillings 11 pence a week from the 14th April 1919 for herself and her 5 children and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at her new address of 20, Fort Street, South Shields, County Durham. She commissioned at a cost of 1 shilling 9 pence an additional inscription to be added to his military headstone, it reads, ‘AT Rest’.
Mary remarried at South Shields in 1921 to James Sharp (1880-1954), Mary Ellen Sharp-Newby nee Young died at South Shields, September 30th 1958, aged 81 years.
William Nicholson Newby’s brother Septimus Andrew Newby enlisted in 1915 and served as TS?4516 with the Royal Naval Reserve. He survived the conflict.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
William Nicholson Newby is remembered at South Shields on S86.053 S86.124 and S86.126 (where his name is given as T.N. Newby).
