Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Aaron Newton, a bricklayer’s labourer, born 1836 in Little Brington, Northamptonshire and his wife Fanny(Francis) Newton (nee Priestley, formerly Hallams, married on the 8th May 1869 in Emmanuel Parish Church, Loughborough, Leicestershire), born 1844 in Loughborough, Leicestershire. Ernest, a schoolboy, was born in the 2nd quarter of 1883 in Loughborough and was baptised on the 10th September 1883 in Emmanuel Parish Church, Loughborough, his siblings were, Robert, a domestic gardener, born 8th March 1874 and baptised on the 21st April 1881 in Emmanuel Parish Church, Loughborough, Hannah Cherry, a hosiery trade worker, born 25th June 1876 and baptised on the 21st April 1881 in Emmanuel Parish Church, Loughborough, Fanny, a schoolgirl, born 22nd November 1879 and baptised on the 21st April 1881 in Emmanuel Parish Church, Loughborough, Walter Spencer, a schoolboy, born 13th March 1881 and baptised on the 21st April 1881 in Emmanuel Parish Church, Loughborough and Clara, a schoolgirl, born 1887, all his siblings were born in Loughborough, in April 1891 the family home was at C Court, Wards End, Loughborough. In March 1901 Ernest was employed as a brickyard labourer and was residing in the family home at 24, Wood Gate, Loughborough, together with his father, a general labourer, his mother and siblings, Fanny, a hosiery trade worker, Walter, a brickyard labourer and Teresa, born 1887 in Loughborough. Ernest also had two further older siblings, William, born 4th December 1869 and baptised on the 19th February 1882 in Emmanuel Parish Church, Loughborough and Helen Elizabeth, born 1873 and baptised on the 30th January 1873 in Emmanuel Parish Church, Loughborough, both siblings were born in Loughborough. In April 1911 Ernest was employed as a brick maker and was residing in the family home at 13, Factory Street, Loughborough, together with his wife Annie Newton (nee Thornton, married on the 15th July 1905 in Loughborough Emmanuel Parish Church), born 24th June 1883 in Loughborough and their children, John Aaron Thornton, a schoolboy, born 1903 and Mary Evelyn, born 1909, both children were born in Loughborough. Ernest’s widow married James Oldham in the 4th quarter of 1916 in the Leicester district. She then married William W. Hart in the 4th quarter of 1925 in the Loughborough, Leicestershire district, William was born on the 11th April 1886, they resided at 41, Cambridge Street, Loughborough. In 1939 they resided in the family home at 29, Canal Bank, Loughborough.
Ernest’s service records did not survive, it is known that he first entered the theatre of war on the 18th August 1915 in France. He was awarded the 1915 Star, British War and Victory medals.
Ernest met his death at the Battle of the Hohenzollern Redoubt. On the 12th October 1915 the Battalion marched the ten miles from the village of Hesdigneul to the Redoubt in “fighting order”, with great coats rolled and strapped to their backs. They arrived at 10.00pm at Vermelles, and the following eight hours were spent packed solid in communication trenches. Each soldier carried six sandbags and every third a shovel. As you could imagine, none of them slept and the lucky ones had a drink before our artillery opened up at noon on the 13th October. The enemy artillery responded fifteen minutes later, and at 1.00pm we released chlorine gas, and disastrously for us an enemy shell shattered some containers in our frontline. At 2.00pm our troops, many wearing gas helmets went “over the top” and bayonet charged the enemy positions. Terrific machine gun fire tore into them and a shrapnel barrage added to the heavy casualties. Hours passed and furious hand to hand fighting took place and repeated bayonet charges drove the enemy back, who in turn counter attacked. After darkness fell Lance Corporal Clayson of the 1/5th Battalion saved many lives by dragging wounded back to our trenches, and Captain Barton spent hours in No Man’s land giving morphine and water to the dying. When food and drink was brought up during the night the men had their first meal for twenty four hours, but still no sleep. The morning of the fourteenth was very misty and this became smog as the Germans continued to use shrapnel and gas shells throughout the day. It was at 8.00am on the fifteenth that the relief was completed and buses took most of our troops back to Hesdigneul. The 1/5th Battalion lost four officers, six wounded, two gassed and thirty five men killed, one hundred and thirty two wounded and twenty two gassed.
The War Diary records: 13 Oct-15 - At 6.00am Battalion in place in RESERVE trench. At 12.00 noon bombardment of enemy trench FOSSE 8 commenced. At 1.00pm smoke and gas turned on until 1.50pm. At 2.00pm assault. 5th Battalion LINCOLNSHIRE REGIMENT and 4th Battalion LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT advanced in lines of platoon at 50 paces distance against HOHENZOLLERN REDOUBT. 4th Battalion LINCOLNSHIRE REGIMENT attacked from 2nd line followed by the MONMOUTHSHIRE REGIMENT. REDOUBT captured but lines checked and stopped by machine gun fire from MAD POINT, MADAGASCAR, and SOUTH FACE, also heavy rifle fire FOSSE and DUMP TRENCH. First two lines as almost all Company officers became casualties. REDOUBT and half of NORTH FACE was held – LITTLE WILLIE and BIG WILLIE still in enemy hands. At 3.00pm “B” Company sent up to reinforce centre and left of REDOUBT followed by “A” and part of “D” Companies. Machine guns in position along original front line now held by “C” Company and parts of other regiments. Considerable progress made along LITTLE WILLIE by grenade party under Lieutenant C. H. F. WOLLASTON. Ground lost again owing to lack of grenades. At 5.30pm ground now held consisted of front face of REDOUBT and up to LITTLE WILLIE and point 60. Remainder of REDOUBT untenable by either side. 138th Brigade relieved gradually by 139th Brigade. 138th Brigade hold original front line trench. Many of “A” and “B” Companies still remained in the REDOUBT during the whole of next day.
On Friday January 12th 1917 The Leicester Journal published the following article under the heading. - “LOUGHBOROUGH MAN’S FATE” – Private Ernest Newton of the Leicestershire Regiment, who had been reported wounded and missing since December 13, 1915 is now officially reported dead on or since that date. He was 34 years of age, and worked at Messrs. Tucker’s brickyard before his enlistment in January 1915. His parents live at 21, Wood-gate, Loughborough.