Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Newton, a groom, born 1856 in Burton Overy, Leicestershire and his wife Elizabeth Raffell Newton (nee Green, married in the 1st quarter of 1887 in the Billesdon, Leicestershire district), born 1863 in Burton Overy. Harry Alfred was born in the 1st quarter of 1896 in Burton Overy, his siblings were, Sarah Elizabeth, a stocking trade spinner, born 1887, James William, born 1890 and George Leonard, born 1894, all his siblings were born in Burton Overy, in March 1901 the family home was at Bunkers Hill, Burton Overy. In the 2nd quarter of 1901 in the Billesdon Leicestershire district, Harry’s father died aged 43. In the 4th quarter of 1906 in the Billesdon, Leicestershire district, Harry’s widowed mother married Thomas Smith. In April 1911 Harry was employed as a shoe trade clicker and was residing in the family home at Cemetery Road, Sileby, Leicestershire together with his step father, Thomas Smith, a hosiery framework knitter, born 1846 in Sileby, his mother and step sibling, Beatrice Smith, a Griswold worker, born 1881 in Sileby, also residing with the family was a grandson of his step father, Fredrick Smith, a shoe trade press worker, born 1895 in Sileby. Harry’s mother was known variously as Elizabeth Ruffell and Elizabeth Russell, but was officially recorded at birth as Elizabeth Raffell Green.
Harry attested into the Territorial Force to serve 4 years Service in the United Kingdom on the 14th May 1915 in Loughborough. He gave his home address as 35, The Banks, Sileby, Leicestershire. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 6862 on the 14/5/15. Wounded, in the field on the 5/2/17. Admitted to 1/3rd North Midland Field Ambulance suffering from a gunshot wound to the hips and buttocks on the 5/2/17. Returned to duty on the 6/2/17. Allocated Regimental number 242370 on the 24/2/17. Gassed, in the field on the 21/6/17. Admitted to 1/2nd North Midland Field Ambulance on the 22/6/17. Transferred to the 58th Casualty Clearing Station on the 22/6/17. Admitted to the 56th General Hospital, Etaples on the 24/6/17. Transferred to 12th Infantry Base Depot at Calais on the 12/7/17. Proceeded to join unit at the front on the 4/8/17. Granted leave from the 19/8/17 to the 29/8/17. Killed in action, in the field on the 14/12/17. The following information was provided by Harry’s mother Elizabeth R. Smith on the 27th August 1919, and was witnessed and signed by -?- on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father os soldier, deceased. Mother of soldier, Elizabeth R. Smith of 35, The Banks, Sileby, Loughborough. Full blood sister of soldier, Mrs W. Wheat, age 31 of Burton Overy. Harry’s surviving service documents are in a very poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 14 Dec-17 - TRENCHES CAMBRIN RIGHT. At 8.30am Battn paraded and marched to trenches, relieving the 4th Battn LEICESTERSHIRE REGT at 11.15am. Trenches in very poor condition owing to bombardments. SAVILE TUNNEL blown in, in three places and by the main entrances. Right Coy HQ and right platoon isolated. Centre Coy HQ in NORTHAMPTON TRENCH which had been also fairly damaged. Left Coy less battered though front line in poor condition. Dispositions as follows:- Right C Coy (MOORE), centre A Coy (BARROWCLIFFE), left D Coy (BROOKE), Reserve B Coy (MEASURES). C Coy Commander is not in touch with his left platoon and the original trench between L2 and L5 absolutely obliterated. Enemy very quiet all day. At 4.00pm party of MONMOUTHSHIRE REGT came to work on SAVILE ROW and to start digging a new trench from large sandbag spoil dump in BARTS ALLEY direct to SAVILE TUNNEL entrance. Enemy did not hinder work and was in fact remarkably quiet. At midday five shells fell on QUARRY ALLEY and LEFT BOYAU near Battn HQ killing a Stretcher Bearer and one Signaller and wounding one Stretcher Bearer and Signal Sergeant. 2nd Lt G. K. DUNLOP went to Army Camouflage Course. Lt J. C. BARRETT went and LT R. W. EDGE returned from leave to England.