Private Ernest Newsom

Ernest was born in Mitcham between October and December 1894 and lived with his father John, a foreman in a chemical factory, and his mother Eliza, along with his siblings John, Edith, Edward, Ellen, and Louisa. They lived at Tamworth House, Manor Lane, Mitcham which was a substantial eight roomed property. They were still at the same address in 1911 but John and Ellen had moved out and the family now included Lilian and Henry. Ernest was working as a van boy at the same chemical works as his father. This was Crown Chemical Works (Typke & King Limited) just a little way along Tamworth Lane.

Ernest enlisted into the 32nd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers and was sent out to France. The battalion attacked on 7th October 1916 as part of the overall attack starting that day on the Transloy Ridges. It suffered a lot of casualties on that day, as did all of 41st Division and subsequently over the days, 8 to 11 October they were relieved by 30th Division. Ernest was killed in action on the first day of the attack, 7 October 1916.

Ernest is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial which is dedicated to those that have no known grave. Thiepval is in the Somme Department, Northern France, approximately 20 miles NE of Amiens. He is also remembered on the Mitcham War Memorial.

Ernest would have been entitled to The British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

The family had moved to Sunnyside, Graham Avenue, Mitcham by 1918.