No.9607, Private, Frederick NEWMAN
Aged 28
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previous to July 2017 the wrong civilian had been identified !!
Frederick Newman was born in Soham in 1894 (Newmarket Q4-1894 3B:510), son of Sydney James and Sarah Elizabeth NEWMAN (née POPE). 1901 census...Aged 6, he was at Kent's Lane, Soham with his father Sidney NEWMAN [27] bricklayer's labourer; his mother Sarah E [24]; brothers Frank [5] and Bert [3]. All were born in Soham. Aged 16. yard boy at coach builders, he was at East Fen Common,Soham with his parents (father now groom/gardener) brothers Frank (grocer's errand boy), Bert (builder's yard boy), Kitchener [7] and Reggie [4]; sister Ivy [6]. The new siblings all born in Soham. His mother had borne 9 children but lost 3. The pension card has his mother at Mereside, Soham. His Army number points to him enlisting very late in 1912. In any event he must have been either a regular solider or a reservist to have been in the BEF as early as 13th August 1914. |
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He enlisted in Northampton. His "Soldier's Personal Effects" gives his mother, sole legatee as Sarah E.
Aubers Ridge was a disaster for the Northamptonshire Regiment, the 2nd battalion had 426 other rank casualties (killed/wounded/missing), the 1st battalion had 541. Both battalions lost most of their officers. The attack had been postponed from the previous day and the barrage began at 5 am. The 1st Northants were part of the southern pincer movement from the direction of Neuve Chapelle, and the 2nd were in the northern attack from Petillon. This resulted in the eventual disposition of the commemorations, the 1st being mainly at Le Touret and the 2nd at Ploegsteert. Seemingly unknown to the Allies, since the British line had been established after Neuve-Chapelle, 7 weeks earlier, the Germans had heavily strengthened their defences and wire. The 2nd Northamptonshire Regiment advanced against point 372 from their assembly point in the orchard near the foot of the Rue Petillon. They advanced on a two company front. The right company found the wire cut, but was caught by enfilade machine gun fire and reduced to one officer and forty men, who set up a post in the German front line. On the front of the left company the wire was uncut, and that company was wiped out. The supporting company was held up in no man's land, unable to move. The reserve company could not get beyond the orchard. The other regiments involved fared no better, the 2nd Rifle Brigade suffering the most from the devastating German machine gun fire. CWGC records show the 2nd Northants had 195 killed on the 9th May 1915, the 1st Battalion 264. Very few have identified graves.
photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
