Private James Henry Newell
| Date of Birth | January 1893 |
|---|---|
| Age at Death | 24 |
| Date of Death | 21 July 1917 |
| Service Number | 21212 |
| Military Service | Royal Engineers |
| Merton Address | |
| Local Memorial | St. Lawrence Church, Morden |
Additional Information
James Henry Newell was born in January 1893 and baptised on 14 May 1893 at St Paul’s Onslow Square in Kensington. He lived with his parents, George and Elizabeth Newell, at 12 Cornwall Gardens Stables where his father worked as a coachman. He had two sisters, Mabel and Gerty and a brother William, who also died in WW1. By 1901, when he was 8 years old, the family had moved to Ringwould in Kent.
At the age of 18 James had already joined the army and was training as a driver for the Royal Engineers at their training depot in Aldershot. He lived in Gibralter Barracks, Army Lines, Aldershot. His service record shows that he was recruited in South Kensington on 21 February 1911. At the time his parents were living in Sutton in Surrey and James had been working as a fitter prior to his recruitment.
On the outbreak of war James was mobilised at Chatham for service on the Royal Engineers No 2 Bridging Train, Second Pontoon Park. This was one of two RE units maintaining and transporting pontoon bridges. His regimental number was 21212. He was killed in action on 21 July 1917 and is buried at Kandahar Farm Cemetery ll.C.18 in Belgium. The inscription on his gravestone reads “We meet at Jesu’s feet Mum and Dad”
There is no evidence to show that Private Newell ever lived in Merton. Probate records show that at the time of his death his address in England was 8, Rochester Street, Brighton. However, his parents were now living at “Tors”, 27 Beverly Road, New Malden. James's name appears on one of the panels in the Lychgate at St. Lawrence Church, Morden, which serves as the parish war memorial.