Pte 21576 Ernest Joseph Newsam

• Age: 21
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Ernest Joseph Newsam was born in Liverpool on 22nd October 1895, the son of John Bower Newsam and his wife Jane (nee Beere). His parents married in the June Qtr of 1880 at West Derby Register Office; Ernie was the youngest of their seven children. He had sisters Elizabeth, Ada Rosley, and Marion (Mal), and brothers William Herbert, John Bower (Jack), and George Henry (Harry).   

Ernest was educated at Arnot Street School, Liverpool, enrolling in 1899.

The 1901 Census finds the family (recorded as Newsham) living at 44 Carisbrooke Road, Walton, Liverpool. Ernest is five years of age and is living with his parents and six siblings. His father, John is a shipping clerk born in Manchester in 1856 whilst his mother, Jane was born in Liverpool in 1855. His siblings, all born in Liverpool, are shown as: Elizabeth b.1882 shown as mother's help, William b.1885 engineer steward, John b.1887 brokers office boy, Ada b. 1889, George b.1892 and Marion b. 1894. There is also a servant shown as living in the household.   

His brother William went to sea, and is found on 1904 crew lists, age 19, as a waiter on the Saxonia (Cunard).  

His newly married sister Elizabeth died in 1907 at the age of 26.

By 1911 the family have moved to 16 Cecil Road, Seaforth, Liverpool.  

His father John is now aged 55, and employed as a shipping clerk, his mother is 57, and they have been married for 31 years, have had 7 children, of which one had died. and Earnest (sic) is 15, working as an office boy. John is 24, a dock labourer, Henry, 19, is a shipping clerk, and Marion, 17, and has no occupation.  Also in the household are his married sister Ada, 22, her husband William Williams 27, a telegraphist born in Lampeter, Cardiganshire, and their daughter Ida, 6 months old. 

He enlisted on 14th September 1914 in Liverpool joining the 19th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 21576. He gave his age as nineteen years and his occupation as a clerk. He was described as being five feet seven inches tall, weighed 137lbs, 36” chest, with a fresh complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. He gave his religion as Church of England and his next of kin was his father John, 34 Walton Village. 

Formed on 7^th September 1914 the 19^th Battalion trained locally at Sefton Park and remained living at home or in rented accommodation until November 1914. They then moved to the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 19th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. 

Ernest's service papers show:

13.9.15: At Larkhill Camp. Dirty kit on inspection. Admonished.

07.11.15: Embarked for France with his battalion from Folkestone.

15.11.15: Deprived of three days pay by C.O. for absence from 8.30pm till 10.45pm 14.11.15.

28.01.16: Sick to Field Ambulance.

30.01.16: Admitted with "Bronchial Catarrh" to to 3rd Ambulance Flotilla (barges located along the Somme at Chipilly).. 
 
09.02.16: Discharged to duty. 
 
15.02.16: To 98th F.A. with T.B. 
 
16.02.16: Admitted to 21 C.C.S. (Tubercle of Lung). 
 
18.02.16: Sick admitted to 1 Stationary Hospital, Rouen. 
 
25.02.16: Discharged to Convalescent Depot, Rouen. 
 
16.3.16: Discharged to 30 I.B.D at Etaples.  

29.3.16: Reclassified as Class “A” (for purpose of pay). 
 
11.5.16: To hospital. Admitted to 24 General Hospital with tonsillitis. 
 
24.5.16: Discharged to 6 Convalescent Camp. 
 
15.7.16: Posted to 20th Battalion from 24 I.B.D.  

19.7.16: Re-posted to 19th Battalion. 

Ernest was killed in action on the 30^th July 1916, aged 21, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive. 

19^th Battalion Diary 30^th July 1916

MALTZ HORN FARM

BATTLE begun. ZERO hour 4:45 am. The Battalion reached its objective, but suffered heavy losses, and had to evacuate its position owing to no reinforcements.

Everard Wyrall gives details of the attack in his book The History of The King’s Regiment; 

"The 2nd Attack on Guillemont- 29th July 1916 the 89th Brigade the 20th King's were to attack on the right and the 19th on the left. During the evening of the 29th the night was dark and foggy when the Battalions moved off and the 19th with Lt Col G Rollo commanding, when passing the South east of the Briqueterie they were heavily shelled first with H E and then with a new kind of asphyxiating Gas shell which had curious results, at first it had no nasty effect but about 8 hrs later men began to fall sick with violent headaches and pains in the stomach. All ranks had to wear gas masks which in the darkness and mist made the going terribly difficult. It was indeed wonderful that they were able to reach their Assembly point at all. But they did and by 2.45 a.m. on the 30th July 1916 the Btn was assembled having suffered about 30 Casualties on the way up ready for the Zero hour at 4.45 a.m.

It is known that the two left Companies of the 19th under Capt. Dodd and Capt. Nicholson advanced in touch with the 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers on their left although they suffered many casualties from Machine gun Fire did not encounter many Germans and reached their final objective about the time allocated, beginning at once to dig in south of the orchard on the South east corner of Guillemont.  

On the left of the 19th the Scots Fusiliers most gallantly forced their way through Guillemont to the eastern side of the village but were soon overwhelmed by the enemy and few returned. 

At 8 a.m. finding that the village was not held the two left Companies of the 19th received no word from the rear or either flank believed themselves to be totally isolated so were forced to fall back and dig in, their position being untenable.

At midday the effective fighting strength of the 19th Btn was just 7 Officers and 43 other ranks" 

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30^th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55^th Division during the early hours of the 31^st July.

Casualties in the 19^th Battalion were 11 Officers and 435 Other Ranks 

The events of 30^th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89^th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone.       

Ernest's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916. 

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on Monday 28 August 1916 : 

"Private Ernie Newsam, of the "Pals," youngest son of Mr.and Mrs.Newsam, 20 Helsby-road, Aintree, Liverpool, has been killed in action. He joined the Army in Sptember, 1914. Two other brothers are serving in the "Pals." He was educated at Arnot-street Coucil School." 

The newspaper notice refers to his two other brothers, they were John Newsam 17082 who served overseas with the 17th Battalion K.L.R., and George Henry Newsam of Warbreck Moor, Aintree, served in the 21st (Res.) Bn K.L.R., later the Labour Corps and A.P.C., and a K.L.R. City battalion, no overseas medals found.  

His Army pay and a War Gratuity of £8-10s went to his father.  His mother was awarded a pension of 2/6d a week from May 1917, increased to 5/-.  His parents later lived at 34 Skipton Road, Anfield.

In the Liverpool Echo, on 30th July 1917 under the heading ‘Lost At The Battle of Guillemont’ his family paid a wholesome tribute to Ernie:

“In cherished memory of Ernie (our Ern), 19th K.L.R. (Pals), killed in action on the Somme July 30, 1916, the dearly-loved youngest son of John and Jane Newsam, 20, Helsby Road, Aintree.
God took him hence, amid the noise of battle,
To that land of peace, of joy, and endless day;
And though our hearts are crushed with aching sadness,
For love’s own sake God took our love away.”

“In affectionate remembrance of my dear brother Ern, killed in action July 30, 1916. – M.A.L.”

“In kind remembrance of Ernie Newsam, who was killed in action in France, July 31, 1916. All at 18, Walton Village.”

“In sad remembrance of our dear brother Ern., killed in action, July 30, 1916. (“His duty nobly done, his crown well won.”) – Ada and Will.” 

“In affectionate remembrance of Pte. Ernie Newsam, killed in action July 30, 1916. – Fondly remembered by Minnie, G.P.O.”

“In honoured memory of Private Ernest Newsam, Pals, who was killed in action, July 30, 1916, the dearly-loved chum of Shirley Hawnaur (France). – Ever remembered by all at 49, Hahnemann Road, Walton.”

[21515 Charles S. Hawnaur, 19th K.L.R., 2nd Lt. 3rd Manchester Regiment]

On his birthday in October 1917 his loved ones placed notices in the local paper -

“In affectionate birthday remembrance (22nd) of Private Ernie Newsam (our Ern), the dearly-loved youngest son of John and Jane Newsam, 20, Helsby Road, Aintree, killed in action July 30, 1916. (Fondly remembered by Father, Mother, Will, Jack, Harry, Ada, and Mal.)”

“In loving birthday remembrance of my dear brother, Ernie (K.L.R.), killed in action at Guillemont, July 30, 1916.  Ever remembered by his brother Bill.”

“In ever-loving birthday remembrance of our dear youngest brother, Private Ernie Newsam, killed in action July 30, 1916. - Ada and Will, 37, Hannah Road.”

He was also remembered on the second anniversary of his death in 1918:

"In ever-loving memory of Private Ernie Newsam, killed in action July 30, 1916, the dearly-loved chum of Shirley Hawnam [sic].  (Never forgotten by all at 49, Hahnemann Road.)"  (Pte. 21515 C.S. Hawnaur, 19th Bn., later commissioned.) 

Ernie is commemorated in Liverpool’s Hall of Remembrance, Panel 63 and on the family headstone in Anfield Cemetery -

       ALSO ERNEST JOSEPH, 3RD BATT. PALS

                THEIR DEAR YOUNGEST SON,

 KILLED IN ACTION IN FRANCE, JULY 30TH 1916

                            AGED 21 YEARS

         Only goodnight, beloved, not farewell

His mother died in 1921, aged 66. 

His father remarried in 1933 to Stella Hayhurst at Central Hall, Renshaw Street. On the 1939 Register he is 82 (dob 17th Oct 1856), now retired, living at 8 Bonds Lane, Banks, near Southport with his wife Stella, 45. 

His father died in 1941 at the age of 85, and brother John Bower jnr aged 58 in 1945 at Colwyn Bay. 

We currently have no further information on Ernest Joseph Newsam, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.