SYDNEY ELDRIDGE NEWBURY 1893–1917

Sidney Newbury ed

Sydney Newbury
All Photographs Courtesy of the Newbury-Ecob family

Brother of Alvin, killed 30th April 1916

Born April 16th 1893 in Doncaster

Died of wounds 30th June 1917 at Bully Grenay, France, age 24. Buried Noeux Les Mines Cemetery, France.

Commemorated on Radcliffe on Trent War Memorial and Mundella School Memorial plaque (now in St Mary’s Church, Nottingham).

1901 Census

Age seven living in Doncaster with father William Henry, 39, mother Elizabeth, 37, brother Alvin, 11, and sisters Grace 10 and Ada age six.

1911 Census

Age 17, clerk in a lace warehouse, living on Cropwell Road, Radcliffe on Trent, with father William, railway inspector, mother Elizabeth Eldridge,  brother Alvin, a railway clerk and sisters Grace Daisy, 20, and Ada, 16. Daisy was studying to be a teacher at University College Nottingham and Ada was a pupil teacher at Mundella school, Nottingham. The Newbury siblings were all educated at Mundella school.

1912 London

Sydney moved to London to take a job at insurance brokers Lloyds. He lived with his aunt, Mrs. J. Summers.

Military Service

Rank: 2nd Lieut.at time of death

Service Number: 2771

Military Unit: 1st/7th Sherwood Foresters, 139th Brigade, 46th Division. Previously London Rifles

Theatre of War: France and Flanders, date of entry 17.3.15. Total war service two years three months

Enlisted into City of London Rifles on 7.9.14.

Address: 104 Sussex Road, Holloway, London

From the Sherwood Foresters Roll:

28.2.15: Transferred to 1st/6th Battalion, London Rifles

27.5.15: Promoted to Corporal

17.3.15: France

4.10.15: Promoted to Lance Sergeant

Sydney Newbury was in action at the battles of Festubert, Loos and Hohenzollern Redoubt where he was wounded.

November 1915: Invalided back to England where he underwent a major operation and a prolonged course of medical treatment.

sidney

Sydney Newbury seated centre, wearing cap, while in hospital undergoing treatment

3.7.16: Attached to 6th Reserve (Officer Cadet Battalion) London Rifles.

24.10.16: Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant Sherwood Foresters, 1st/7th Robin Hood Battalion (Territorial), 139th Brigade, 46th (North Midland) Division.

13.1.17: Returned to France. Joined 1st/7th at Fonquevillers from Base Depot.

30.6.17: Dangerously wounded in the left lung with a piece of shrapnel, 2.44 a.m. when taking part in a raid on the German trenches at Bullay Grenay, France.

30.6.17: Died of his wound at 7.15. p.m. in No 7 Casualty Clearing Station.

One of his fellow officers wrote to his parents as follows:

“On June 30th at 2.44 a.m. our battalion attacked and took the German trenches at point. Within a few minutes of the attack being launched your son was leading his men through the last belt of German wire, just into the first line of German trenches, when he was dangerously wounded through the left lung with a piece of shrapnel. His servant carried him into a shell hole, when his wound was dressed immediately by our stretcher bearers. Shortly after, he was carried on a stretcher to a field dressing station, and thence by motor ambulance to the Casualty Clearing Station. About 5.30 p.m. he fell into a peaceful sleep from which he never awoke, for he gently passed away about 7.15 p.m. He was cheerful and conscious to the last and was talking of getting home again. Syd was one of the very best and was loved by his men, and was one of those who did not know what fear was.”

Pension Record Card

His parents were awarded 5 shillings (25p) per week.

Medals Awarded: 1914-1915 Star, British War and Victory

For more information including family photographs go to A Tribute to Sydney Newbury 

Go to WWI Timeline to see how this man’s death is part of the wider story of the war.

Other information

Educated at Mundella secondary school, Nottingham. His death was recorded in Mundella school magazine in July 1917.

Reasons for inclusion on Radcliffe Roll of Honour

Lived in Radcliffe on Trent with parents and siblings.

sidney-newbury-wooden-cross

First grave at Nouix les Mines community cemetary