Edward George Newman was born at 5 Thong Lane, Borough Green on 16 December 1890 and christened in the local parish church on 22 February. He was the only son of Edward Newman, a paper glazer from Plaxtol, and his wife Harriett (née Wells.) Edward attended Borough Green School, and then, in 1897, he moved to Ightham. At the time the family lived in the cottages at the top of Basted Lane.

Based on his service number, it seems likely that Edward enlisted with the Royal Field Artillery at Maidstone around May 1910 and joined 102 Battery in the XXI Brigade at Woolwich. In the 1911 census, Edward can be found enumerated as ‘George Newman’ with his unit at camp on Salisbury Plain, and later that year, in October, he sailed from Southampton for South Africa on board the transport “Soudan”, where the 21st took over from the 19th Brigade at Bloemfontein. Fifteen months later, the brigade returned to Woolwich, and the majority of men embarked in Durban for London on 11 January. Edward, however, sailed with a detachment of 200 horses from Durban on the 25th and sailed via Mauritius on board the SS Berwick Castle, arriving on 27 February 1913.

Shortly after arrival, Edward entered the Army Reserve and returned to Platt, where he lived at 1 Whatcote Cottages until war with Germany broke out in August 1914. Gunner Newman mobilised for service on 5 August and collected a travel pass to join the 8th Howitzer Brigade, RFA in Ireland. The 8th had been composed of the 37th, 61st and 65th Batteries and formed part of the 5th Divisional Artillery. Edward was assigned to the 65th Battery and left Dublin for France on 18 August on board the SS Oxonian – arriving in Le Havre the following day. Two days later he reached Landrecies and marched to Bavay which is southeast of Mons. The brigade took part in the Battle of Le Cateau on 26 August before retreating to the Marne and subsequently coming into action at the Aisne, where the Allies and Germans reached stalemate and trench warfare began in earnest.

During October 1914 Edward’s battery took part in the ‘Race to the Sea’ which was not a concerted effort to reach the sea, but an attempt to outflank the enemy that subsequently extended the line of battle all the way to the Belgian coast. Neither side was able to break through, and many of the men had no idea where they were going during this period. The road and rail infrastructure buckled under the sheer number of troops moving in one direction, and refugees the other. The Battery War Diary for this month is unusually detailed for an artillery unit and gives a good idea as to what life would have been like for Edward during this period:

October: 2^nd. A thick fog all day. Did not fire F.G.C.M. (Field General Court Martial) in the afternoon. Moved to Nampteuil in the evening. A bad billet. Horses again in the wood, men in a dirt barn, selves (the officers) in a dirty cottage. Out of enemy’s range first time since September 12^th.

3^rd. Remained hidden all day, moved at 7 p.m. to Longpont, arrived at midnight. Horses and vehicles in a wood, selves under a chestnut tree in the park. Quite comfortable and warm. Fine but misty.

4^th. Hidden all day. Went to church in the morning. Service in a fine ruined church beside the chateau. The church was destroyed during the Revolution and must have been very fine building, about 180 yards long. Inspected the chateau. M. le Conte is still there. The Germans did practically no harm, only looted the cellar, regardless of the owner’s protests. It is said that the Kaiser’s brother once stayed there and he ordered that on no account were such sacred places to be injured. A fine house with ornate furniture. Marched at 7:30 p.m.

5^th. A horrible night. Did not reach our billet at Pontdron until 5 a.m. Delayed for hours by infantry of a French Corps who were being moved on hundreds of motor lorries and buses. They streamed past us for ours. One long delay as a bus caught fire and we could not pass until the fire had burnt out.

7^th. Marched at 6:30 a.m. Bitterly cold. To Compeigne, about 13 miles, independently. A comfortable march through the Forest of Compeigne, a beautiful forest, splendid trees, all turning……Handed over 13 sick and lame horses to French authorities.

8^th. Bitterly cold journey. Arrived at Noyelle (35 miles from England) at 3:30 a.m.

9^th ….a long cold march to Trois Viaux (25 miles), near St. Pol. The infantry were taken by motor vans. Guns and transport marched…..thousands of refugees from Lille moving south all day.

11^th. Moved at 6 a.m. to a village about 2 miles from Béthune. Heard some firing on our right, and French Cavalry were engaged on our front at Locon Reconnoitred a position to cover the canal in case we were attacked on that line.

12^th. Marched at 7:15 a.m. Thick fog, did not clear until 10:30 a.m. Our advanced guard is at present engaged east of Locon. The French Cavalry are withdrawing and we are taking their place. This is a nasty, flat country. Germans are shooting on our left and some of our guns are in action on our right. We can see nothing. The French Cavalry are withdrawing, they look very quaint in their many-coloured kit……got into action about 2 p.m. near Rue l’Epinette firing towards Richbourg l’Avoue…..

13^th. Up at 3:30 a.m., in action in same place at 5 a.m. Fired a few shots, but there is no opposition here. Was moved at midday to our right flank against Hecker, near Annequin. Considerable fighting going on. Am to support the French in an attack on Vermilles. An awful din, 7 batteries are firing over my head, 3 18 pdrs, 1 heavy, 2 French and my own. Am observing from a horrible slag heap, so am filthy.

15^th. We have been lent to the French for the day….saw a lot of Germans on the west of Vermilles, the Commandant said they were French, but at last he allowed me to shoot, got well amongst a lot of Germans whom we bolted from some stacks. A gun from their trenches opened fire, but we silenced it after it had fired one round, their teams then bolted, and we got at them. Six French batteries then chipped in, and that neighbourhood became most unhealthy, one could see nothing for smoke, dust and flames…..

17^th. Battery in position south of Pont Fixe….enfiladed a trench in front of some railway trucks, making it impossible for them to fire, get a good many lydite into the trench. Many dead of both sides all around the village.

18^th. …..French delivered a very gallant attack in the afternoon, lost a good many men, but got on well. Another counter-attack in the evening, very heavy rifle fire most unpleasant, and bits of shell through our roof.

23^rd…hunted about and broke open the door of a school, got into loft under the tiles, cutr some loopholes. Saw little of the Germans in the morning, but they shelled us heavily. Knocked the houses about all round our station, and put bits into our house, so I went to see if the brewery was tenable. Found it very much knocked about and every one cleared out. Very unhealthy. Had a lot of shooting about La Quinque Rue, was hit in the head about 5 p.m..

Two days after the diary author penned the final entry for October, Edward was sent to No.15 Field Ambulance in Béthune suffering from boils. He was eventually transferred back to England and admitted to St. Mary’s Hospital in Wandsworth on 26 November. The cause of Edward’s affliction is not known; however, with the high protein Army diet, boils were a common occurrence, with men complaining of being ‘bunged up.’ Boils could also appear after being bitten by lice, which thrived on the bodies of men serving in the trenches.

After he had recovered, Edward was transferred into the 94th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, joining them at Aston Clinton in Buckinghamshire between May and September 1915. The brigade formed part of the 21st Division and primarily manned by regular soldiers and recalled reservists. It eventually left Southampton for Le Havre on 8 September, and within three weeks, Edward, who was in ‘B’ Battery, went into action at Loos. At the battle, the four batteries were positioned in the open behind the advancing infantry and expended 438 rounds, but eight guns were hit and temporarily taken out of action. In addition to 11 dead horses, the human cost numbered three killed, 13 wounded and two gassed.

Towards the end of October, Edward’s unit marched to the Armentières sector and were based in trenches in and around the area until the end of March 1916. On 21 December 1915, during a relatively quiet period at the Front, Edward wrote to the editor of the Kent Messenger with a letter headlined ‘Humour in a Dug-out’:

Sir, – Being a resident of Borough Green for many years, I wish through your well-known paper to thank Nobby Barnes for the good work he has done for the lads of Borough Green and Platt. I have received the “Kent Messenger” from my parents weekly, and one or two of my chums, being also natives of Kent, are likewise very pleased to be able to read the news of our dear old district.

Well, I do not know how to express my thanks for the good work of the people of that district for the comfort of the boys out here, for I can tell you from my experience of this war that all of them well appreciate the comforts sent to them, especially those in the trenches. Those like myself in the Artillery, can make more comfort than those in the trenches. For instance, some weeks ago I had to take over a “dug-out” for my gun and detachment, and a very decent place it was, but there was nothing for comfort inside, so we set to work, and now we are fitted up fine, for we have a bunk each for sleeping, one table, six chairs, a mirror, fire stove and utensils, all kinds of crockery ware and two clocks (one a musical one, giving a tune every hour.) We were very comfortable, but now, through so much rain, we get flooded out a few times a day, and have to get the pump to work. For all that we are quite contented. A few days ago the following was found in a vacant dugout:-

Snipe and Duck

Tenant wanted for desirable dug-out

In one of the choicest localities of Northern France.

To be Let.

(Three minutes from German trenches.)

Attractive and well-built dug-out, containing one reception, kitchen, bedroom and up-to-date funk-hole, 4ft. by 3ft. All modern inconveniences, including gas and water.

This desirable residence stands one foot above the water line, commanding an excellent view of the enemy’s trenches. Excellent shooting (‘snipe and duck.’)

Particulars of late tenant, Base Hospital.

I have several more experiences which would make an interesting story, but have not much time just now. Wishaing all the readers of your famous paper a very happy and bright New Year, – I remain, yours truly,

61154 Corpl. Newman, R.F.A.

21^st Division, B.E.F.

P.S. I am pleased to see how the young men at home are enlisting to help their comrades in this terrible struggle for victory, which we must have and avenge poor Belgium.

He wrote again on Christmas Eve and copied down the words of a song written by men in his Sub-Section entitled ‘Parody of “Never Mind”’:

(Sung and composed by the boys of “B” Sub- Section, Gun Detachment, D/94th Battery, R.F.A., 21st Division, B.E.F.).

We sent some old scrap iron to old Fritz, the other day.

Told him that we were sorry, but it had to go his way.

Of course, be did not like it, so he sent us back some Krupp,

And with them he did endeavour our little dug-outs to blow up;
And as they screamed, above our heads,

We just smiled and simply said:

Chorus:

Tho’ the whizz-bangs still come over, Never mind;

Tho’ the Krupps are rather late, Never mind;

For we’ve shelled them in the rain,

And ’twill give Bill Kaiser pain,

And we’ll mix the dose again, any time.

If his love for us don’t alter some trouble he will find,

And when we get him, on the run, our first stop is the Rhine.

If then lie does not pack up, he will find it is too late.

For we’ll strafe his bally country, and there he’ll meet, his fate.

Of course, our boys will laugh and grin,

When they are marching to Berlin.

Chorus:

Tho’.his heart will ache awhile, we don’t mind,

And his face will lose its smile, Never mind;

Now we’ve got him on the run, since Kitchener’s men begun,

For the dirty work he’s done.

“BILL,” You’re Mine!

Corpl. NEWMAN, E. G.,
1/C., “ B” Sub-Section,

D/94th Batt.. R.F.A.,

December 24th, 1915.

21st Division,’B.E.F.

On 23 March 1916, the 94th Brigade left Armentières for Caëstre, where they entrained for the Somme – arriving at Daours on 1 April. From there Edward’s battery took up a position south of Albert at Méaulte. At 3:30 am on 24 June the brigade took part in the preliminary bombardment for the Battle of the Somme, which began a week later on 1 July. On the day of the infantry attack, Edward’s battery fired from a position southeast of Albert at Bécordel in support of the 50th, 63rd and 64th Infantry Brigades, who were advancing on Fricourt. Over the next three weeks, all batteries provided artillery cover for several further assaults, including attacks on Bazentin le Petit Wood and Delville Wood. Brigade casualties during this period consist almost entirely of men who were wounded; however, the War Diary also mentions gunners suffering from ‘shell shock’, which is unsurprising given the considerable amount of ordnance being sent back and forth between the two opposing armies.

As July drew to a close, the brigade was temporarily taken out of the Somme region and sent up to Arras, before being brought back again in September to participate in the Battles of Flers-Courcelette, Morval and Le Transloy. At the end of the year, Edward found himself based in the Quarries Sector and would have spent the winter of 1916/17 in a battle of survival against the elements in one of the harshest winters of the war. Conditions worsened when the ground, which had been frozen hard, began to thaw. The Official History of the Great War gives details of the climate the troops had to endure:

Here in a wilderness of mud, holding water logged trenches or a shell hole post, accessible only by night, the infantry abode in conditions which might be likened to those of earthworms rather than of human kind. Our vocabulary is not adapted to describe such an existence because it is outside the experience for which words are normally required. Mud, for the men in the line, was no mere inorganic nuisance and obstacle. It took on an aggressive, wolf‐like guise, and like a wolf could pull down and swallow the lonely wanderer in the darkness.

Unknown to the Allies, the Germans had begun constructing a robust new defensive system several miles behind their front lines during the previous summer. In February 1917, they started pulling back towards it in a withdrawal known as Operation Alberich. Having been taken by surprise, the British cautiously moved towards this new front line, with the 21st Division taking part in the advance. The 94th were to play their role during March, when they attacked southeast of Arras at the Croisilles-Hénin Road, before moving forward towards the Hindenberg Line itself at the end of the month. The stronghold held for another 18 months before the Allied forces were able to break through in September 1918.

Following the ‘advance’, Edward’s battery was brought into action several more times during 1917, firstly at Arras and then Passchendaele, and by the start of September, found themselves based east of Ypres at Reninghelst. On the 17th, during a particularly ferocious enemy artillery barrage, Edward was wounded above the knee while trying to extinguish a fire that had broken out in his gun pit. He was evacuated from the battlefield and taken to the 140th Field Ambulance before being sent to a hospital in Etaples, where he died on 5 October during an operation to amputate his leg.

His was in the Etaples Military Cemetery, and in addition to the 1914 Star, British War and Victory medals, he was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal in April 1918 for ‘conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty.’ The full citation reads:

61654 Sjt. E. G. Newman, R.F.A. (Borough Green, Kent) (LG 17 Apr. 1918).

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He has been in command of his sub-section for over two-years, and has done consistently good work. His good example under the most trying circumstances has been invaluable to the other ranks of the battery. During the recent operations he was wounded while trying to extinguish a fire in his gun-pit under heavy fire.

Edward’s obituary was published in the Kent Messenger on 10 November:

Sergt. E. G. Newman (Platt), R.F.A.

WHO HAS DIED FROM WOUNDS

Mr. and Mrs. E. Newman, of Whatcote, Platt, near Wrotham, have to mourn the loss of their only son, Sergy. E. G. Newman, who died on October 5^th in France, being too seriously wounded to be brought to England. He was wounded on the 17^th September 1917, and died in hospital after unfergoing an operation for amputation of the leg. He never regained consciousness, but passed peacefully away at the age of 26, and was buried in Etaples Cemetery. Always a dutiful son and affectionate brother, Sergt. Newman was also an upright soldier, as is proved by the rank he attained and by letters from his friends in his regiment, in which he was very popular. His death is, therefore, greatly mourned.

His Major writes: – “October 30^th 1917. – Dear Mrs Newman, Just a line to express to you from all ranks of the battery our sincere and deep sympathy with you in the death of your son, Sergt. E. G. Newman. I cannot say how distressed I was when I heard of his death from wounds, as he was quite one of the old stagers of the battery. He had served under me ever since I took over command of the battery at Aston Clinton, so I consider I knew him fairly well. I can honestly say he was one of the calmest and bravest men under fire that I have ever seen. He was wounded on September 17^th above the knee, and I imagine that he must have died from the effects of the operation. The old battery is having a very rough time, and I am afraid he is not the only Sergeant we have lost. But I must confess that I feel deepest the loss of any of the old crowd that came out with the battery in 1915.”