No.9284, Acting Corporal, Sidney Ward Beecher NEWLING
Aged 28
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Sidney Ward Beecher Newling was born in Paddington, London on 24th February 1887 ( from school register) (Paddington Q2-1887 1A:1)
son of Samuel Boyce and Mary Elizabeth NEWLING (née WOODWARD).
1891 census...Aged 4, he was at 233 Harrow Road, Paddington with his father S.B. NEWLING [44] a grocer, born Spalding, Lincs; his mother M.E. NEWLING [40] born Wisbech, brother H.B.NEWLING [20] merchant seaman; sister A.G. NEWLING [17]; brothers H.R. [15] (apprentice butler) and F.M.[15]; sister F.F. NEWLING [13] brother W.M. [8] and sister Elsie [1]. All the children were born in Paddington. 1901 census...Aged 14, he was at Church Street, Isleham with his parents, (father was now a baptist minister) and sister Elsie E. 1911 census...Aged 24, he was a carpenter, living at The Manse, Isleham with his parents, sister Florence Fordham VOYSEY and Elizabeth Johnson [74] a widow born Chelsea. His mother had borne 12 children but 6 had already died. The family later moved to Hall Farm, Outwell. He became engaged to Bertha Diver over Easter 1911. He then, like so many young men at the time, went abroad to find work and establish himself in the British Empire. He went to South Africa first and then on to New Zealand. Bertha remained in correspondence with his family in Outwell. The Diver family have a postcard that gives Sydney's address in New Zealand. He was in touch with Bertha's brother Joe Diver, who was already in New Zealand. There is also a postcard from Joe saying that Sydney was on his way back to England to enlist. Bertha continued to receive letters from Sydney when he went to France and there is an old photograph of his war grave, that Bertha must have taken on one of her visits to France after the war ended. CWGC record his parents as living at Outwell, Wisbech. His brother Frank Mortlock NEWLING was accidentally shot and died in 1901 in South Africa during the Boer War see here |
Bertha Diver and Sidney, 1911 Easter......Corporal Sidney Newling ...... an early photo of his grave
(Thanks to the Diver family)
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Enlisted in Bury St Edmunds. Without his service records there is no way of telling exactly where or when he was wounded. The family say it was in the Battle of Loos, his battalion had certainly been involved there. Le Treport is near Dieppe and a base for several general hospitals, accommodating nearly 10,000 beds. The Newmarket Journal of 16th October 1915 stated:- NEWLING - Died at the 3rd General Hospital, France, on October 8th, from wounds, Corpl.Sydney Newling, youngest son of the Rev. Samuel Boyce Newling. former pastor of the High Street Baptist Chapel, Isleham. CORPL. SYDNEY NEWLING KILLED:- We regret to learn that Corporal Sydney Newling died at the 3rd General Hospital in France on Friday, Oct.8th, from wounds in the back and arm, received in action. Corpl.Newling was the youngest son of the Rev. Samuel Boyce Newling, who was formerly for many years pastor of the High Street Baptist Chapel, Isleham, and now resides at Wisbech. Mr.James Scott (postmaster) received the news some days before that he was dangerously wounded, and on Monday the sad tidings came that he had passed away. Corpl.Newling was born at Isleham, and after the outbreak of the war enlisted in the 7tgh battalion Suffolk Regt., in which he served with the late Sergt Guy Robins of Moulton. see here . A young man of a very kindly and lovable nature, he was held in great affection by all who knew him. The Rev. S.B. and Mrs Newling have the sympathy of everyone in the Isleham and district in their great loss. This is not the first bereavement which they have sustained for their country's sake, for they also suffered the loss of sons in the Boer War. |
photo; Commonwealth War Graves Commission
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details