Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Newby a lime quarry worker, born 1859 in Melton Mowbray, Leics., and his wife Jane Newby (nee Holmes), born 1859 in Barrow on Soar, Leics. John was born in 1891 in Barrow on Soar, Leics., his half blood sibling was Mary Elizabeth Holmes a hosiery machinist, born 1879 in Barrow on Soar, Leics., and his full blood siblings were, Henry, born 1891, Emma E., born 1895 and Wilfred, born 1897, all his siblings were born in Barrow on Soar, Leics., in March 1901 the family home was in The Nook, Barrow on Soar, Leics. On Friday February 12th 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “LOCAL AND DISTRICT NEWS.” – BARROW UPON SOAR. – BARROW SOLDIER IN THE TRENCHES. – Writing to Mr. F. C. Austin, his former schoolmaster, a Barrow soldier, Pte. J. Newby, of the 1st Sherwood Foresters, says:- “We kept the Kaiser’s birthday up. They kept a rapid fire on us all day long, and the ‘Little Willies’ and the ‘Jack Johnsons’ kept firing over our heads. We were all waiting anxiously for them to attack, but they don’t show themselves very much. When they do we can always add one or two to their roll of honour. We are only about 50 yards away from their trenches, and we very often hear them shouting and singing. I wish I could understand their language; it would be useful.” On Friday April 6th 1917 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “BARROW ON SOAR” – LOCAL SOLDIER KILLED.- Mrs J. Newby of North Street, Barrow on Soar has received official intimation that her second son Private Jack Newby, of the Sherwood Foresters has been killed in action, somewhere in France. The deceased aged 25 years, was one of three brothers serving. His younger brother Private Wilfred Newby, has been wounded three times, and is now in Mesopotamia. Prior to the war deceased was serving in India, coming over to France in October 1914, and had completed 6½ years service. He had seen a lot of hard fighting. Last January he was home on leave. The Leicester Mercury of Monday 2nd April 1917 carried the following entry under the title, LOCAL CASUALTIES: Pte. Leonard Ward, Northumberland Fusiliers, who was killed in action on February 22nd, enlisted in the Leicester’s, and was subsequently transferred, and went to the front last June. He was 19 years of age. His mother who had already lost another son in the war, lives at 58, Rodney Street, Leicester. Mr. and Mrs. Billington, of Birstall, Leicester, have received information from the War Office that their son Pte. C. W. (Dick) Billington, of the Leicester’s, was "wounded on 16th March, and remained at duty." No other news of him has been received, and any information as to his whereabouts would be welcomed by his parents. Mrs. Newby, of North Street, Barrow-on-Soar, has been officially informed that her second son, Pte. Jack Newby, has been killed in action. Pte. Newby, who was a regular soldier, was stationed in India at the outbreak of war. John was baptised on the 5th January 1892 at Barrow upon Soar, Leics., and was a former member of the Church Lads Brigade. He was known as Jack.