Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Owen Davison Newton, a joiner, born 1864 in Loughborough, Leicestershire and his wife Ellen Bishop Newton (nee Diggle, married on the 22nd April 1886 in Emmanuel Church, Loughborough, Leicestershire), a hosiery warehouse worker, born 1868 in Loughborough. Ernest Davison Newton was born in the 4th quarter of 1889 in Loughborough, he had one sibling, a brother Owen Davison Newton, born 1888 in Loughborough, in April 1891 the family home was in Orchard Street, Loughborough. In March 1901 Ernest was residing in the family home at 37, Paget Street, Loughborough, together with his father, a joiner, his mother and siblings, Owen and Nellie Davison Newton, born 1897 in Loughborough. In April 1911 Ernest was absent from the family home at 5, Paget Street, Loughborough, residing there was his father, a joiner, his mother and siblings Nellie and Albert Davison Newton, born 26th September 1902 in Loughborough. NOTE: The true family surname is Newton. This is the officially recorded surname given at birth of Ernest’s father and all of his siblings, and was also given to the Registrar when he married, however Ernest’s father and all of his siblings have Davison as a second Christian name.
Ernest enlisted into the Regular Army on the 18th August 1908 in Nottingham, and was allotted the service number 10938. He gave his place of birth as Loughborough, Leicestershire and age as 18 years 9 months. Marital status as single and his trade or calling as general labourer.
His medical examination recorded that he was 5 feet 4¾ inches in height, weighed 113 lbs, had a chest measurement of between 31½ and 34 inches, his complexion was described as fresh, he had brown eyes and his hair colour was brown, his physical development was described as good. The following distinctive marks were noted, scar on the palm of his left hand and a scar on his left cheek, he gave his religion as Church of England.
He gave his next of kin as his father, Owen, mother, Ellen and brother’s Owen and Albert, all of 5, Paget Road, Loughborough, Leicestershire
During his period of military service the following events of note occurred:-
Joined. Depot. Nottinghamshire & Derby Regt. (Sherwood Foresters) Nottingham. Pte. 18/8/08.
Posted. 24/8/08.
Awarded. 3rd Class Army Certificate of Education. 10/11/08.
Posted. 2nd Bn. Nottinghamshire & Derby Regt. 16/11/08.
Awarded. 2nd Class Army Certificate of Education. 26/2/09.
Appointed. Unpaid Lance Corporal. 10/10/10.
Appointed. Paid Lance Corporal. 6/2/11.
Reverts. To Private at own request. 9/7/12.
Appointed. Paid Lance Corporal. In the Field. 22/2/15.
Promoted. Corporal (Machine Gun Corporal). In the Field. 23/3/15.
Confirmed. Corporal. In the Field. 20/3/15.
Awarded the Cross of the Order of St. George IV Class (Russia) (London Gazette). 25/8/15.
Promoted. Sergeant (Machine Gun Sergeant). In the Field. 9/8/15.
Killed in action. Buried at Potijze. 5/10/15.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 18/8/08 – 7/9/14. 6 years 21 days.
British Expeditionary Force, France. 8/9/14 – 5/10/15. 1 year 28 days.
Total service. 7 years 49 days.
He was awarded the Cross of the Order of St. George by his Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Russia for Gallantry and Distinguished Conduct in the field (4th Class), also the 1914 Star, British and Victory medals
Ernest’s surviving service record amounts to a total of eleven pages, of which only six pages relate directly to his military service, and these are in very poor condition with much of the hand written information in some cases barely legible, damaged or missing entirely, however the content does offer at least a little descriptive insight into some of the events that took place during his period of military service.
The War diary records: 5 Oct-15 – POTIJZE. Our advanced front in ODER HOUSES was rushed by the enemy at about 6.30am this morning. About 5.30am the enemy opened a heavy artillery fire on ODER HOUSES and the main fire trenches occupied by “A” and “B” Companies in rear of the post. Trench mortars were also employed by the Germans. The front trench of the post and two cottages in rear of the trench were flattened by the enemy’s artillery and what remained of the garrison withdrew down the communication trenches towards the main line. Captain ROBERTS “B” Company (this Company supplied the garrison of the post) at once arranged for a counter attack with bombs up the communication trenches leading to the post. Our TOBY mortar was also laid on the front of the post. Before the time for the counter attack patrols were sent up to find out the exact position of the 25 Germans who had rushed the post. On seeing the patrols advancing, however, the Germans retired back to their own trenches and we reoccupied the post, except the flattened front trench. The casualties were all caused by shell fire and our main trenches were rather battered about. 11 killed, 19 wounded, 1 missing believed killed, 1 wounded and missing believed captured. 5 sick. Attached 13th MIDDLESEX REGIMENT rejoined their Headquarters. 3 officers, 130 men 9th ROYAL SUSSEX REGIMENT attached for instruction.
On Monday, August, 30th, 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – LOUGHBOROUGH SOLDIER DECORATED BY THE CZAR. – Sergeant Ernest Davison, Sherwood Foresters’ Machine Gun Section, has been decorated by the Czar with the Cross of St. George, Fourth Class. Sergt. Davison’s parents live at 38, Paget-street, Loughborough. He is 26 years of age, and has been in the Army seven years.
On Friday September 3rd 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” – LOUGHBOROUGH SOLDIER DECORATED BY THE CZAR. – Sergt. Ernest Davison, Sherwood Foresters’ Machine Gun Section, has been decorated by the Czar with the Cross of St. George, Fourth Class. Sergt. Davison’s parents live at 38, Paget Street, Loughborough. He is 26 years of age, and has been in the army seven years.
On Tuesday, October 12th, 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – ROLL OF HONOUR. – LOCAL CASUALTIES – Notice has been received of the death in action of Sergeant ERNEST DAVISON, of the Sherwood Foresters (Machine-Gun Section). Sergeant Davison, who was 26 years of age, was recently decorated by the Czar with the Cross of St. George. His parents live at 38, Paget-street, Loughborough, and he was an old Sunday School boy at Swan-street.