George's Story.
River Weaver Navigation minutes Volume 23 page 41 – The Engineer, J. S. Saner reported that George Newton aged 24, joiners improver, who left on August 29th 1914 to join H.M. Forces is reported as killed on March 24th 1918. page 98 - Named in the Engineers Annual Report 28th Nov. 1918. 44541, Lance-Corporal George Newton, Royal Engineers, was killed March 24th 1918.
C.W.G.C. remember a George Newton 2nd Corporal, Service No 44541, with the 81st Field Coy., Royal Engineers, died 24th March 1918, at the Arras Memorial, Bay 1, France. No family details added.
Cheshirebmd records the birth of George Newton in 1893 in Northwich, which would be about right for this George, killed aged 24 in 1918. Cheshirebmd goes onto record the marriage of George Newton to Ethel M. Deakin in 1916 at St. Helen’s Witton, Northwich.
Northwich Guardian, 12th April 1918. ROLL OF HONOUR, KILLED, CORPORAL NEWTON
Mrs Newton of 50 Chester Road, Castle, Northwich, has received news of the death of her husband, Corporal George Newton of the Royal Engineers, in whom she was married since the outbreak of war. He was 21 years of age and was the youngest son of the late Mr. and Mrs Newton of West View, Church Road, and when he enlisted on 1st September 1914 was a joiner in the employ of the River Weaver Navigation Trustees. He went on active service in July 1915 and has twice been home on leave, the first occasion being in April last year, when he married and the second time in September. Major H. L. Smith, the officer commanding the deceased’s company writes; “Corporal Newton was killed by a shell which fell just outside the shed where the company were billeted on March 24th about 10:30 a.m. Several of the company were standing in a group at the time and the shell suddenly fell right amongst them causing several casualties. Your husband was killed instantaneously. Corporal Newton was in No1 Section and I was his officer for a year and a half, so I knew him very well and I never wish to meet a better man than your husband. He was honest and upright and always willing to tackle hard work and we had two points in common, first that we both came from Cheshire and secondly that we both married during the war. We shall all miss him badly and I can realise what a terrible blow it must be to you.” Sapper J. Sproston writes; “I can say that his loss was a great blow to me and also to the whole company, as he was well liked by all.” Another comrade writes; “George was well-liked in the section, in fact by the whole company – officers, N.C.O.’s and men – for he was a good straight forward and reliable fellow.” Mrs Newton is a daughter of the late Mr. Frederick Arthur Deakin and Mrs Deakin of Chester Road.
Memorials; It is not obvious that George Newton is listed on any local memorials.
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