Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Alan (Allen) William Newton, a railway platelayer, born in the 2nd quarter of 1852 in Shepshed, Leicestershire and was baptised on the 16th July 1854 in St. James the Greater Church, Oaks in Charnwood, Leicestershire and his wife Ruth Newton (nee Waring, married on the 6th July 1874 in St. Botolph’s Church, Shepshed), born in the 2nd quarter of 1854 in Hathern, Leicestershire. Elijah was born on the 5th December 1889 in Shepshed and was baptised on the 18th February 1890 in St. Botolph’s Church, Shepshed, his siblings were, Elizabeth Ann Waring, a hosiery trade worker, born in the 1st quarter of 1873 and baptised on the 1st March 1873 in St. Botolph’s Church, Shepshed, John Allen, a schoolboy, born in the 1st quarter of 1881, Mary Ann, a schoolgirl, born in the 4th quarter of 1878, Ernest, a schoolboy, born in the 2nd quarter of 1882, Edith, a schoolgirl, born in the 4th quarter of 1884, Eliza, a schoolgirl, born on the 11th December 1886 and baptised on the 30th September 1903 in St. Botolph’s Church, Shepshed and Lilian, born in the 1st quarter of 1891, all his siblings were born in Shepshed, in April 1891 the family home was at Hathern Road, Shepshed. In March 1901 Elijah was residing in the family home at Brook Street, Hathern Road, Shepshed, together with his father, a railway platelayer, his mother and siblings, Alfred a railway labourer, Ernest, a shoe trade riveter, Edith, a hosiery trade runner on, Eliza, a Griswold hosiery trade worker, Lilian, and Doris May Waring, born in the 1st quarter of 1895 in Shepshed. In April 1911 Elijah was employed as an insurance collector and was residing in the family home at The Lant. Shepshed, together with his father a general labourer, his mother and siblings, widower Alfred, a bricklayer’s labourer, Lilian a hosiery trade mender and Doris, a lace trade worker, also residing with the family was Alfred’s daughter, Edith Annie Newton, a schoolgirl, born in the 1st quarter of 1903 in Shepshed and baptised on the 19th April 1903 in St. Botolph’s Church, Shepshed.
Elijah enlisted/attested into the Territorial Force on the 28th March 1912 in Shepshed, and was allotted the service number 5/1345. He gave his place of birth as Shepshed, Loughborough, Leicestershire and age as 22 years 4 months. His marital status was given as unmarried and his trade or calling as hosiery hand his employer being Mr. Price. He gave his present address as Lant Street, Shepshed.
His medical examination took place in Shepshed on the 4th April 1912 and recorded his apparent age as 22 years 120 days, that he was 5 feet 3 inches in height, had a chest measurement of between 31 and 35 inches and his physical development was described as satisfactory. He gave his religion as Baptist.
He gave his next of kin as his father, Allen Newton, mother Ruth Newton, Lant Street, Shepshed, Loughborough, older brother, Alfred, address not known, younger sister, Lilian, Lant Street, Shepshed.
During his period of military service the following events of note occurred:-
Posted. 5th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 28/3/12
Aberystwyth Camp. 4/8/12 – 18/8/12.
Embodied Service. Pte. 5/8/14.
Embarked. With 1/5th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. 26/2/15.
Landed. Le Havre. 27/2/15.
Killed in action. In the Field. 13/9/15.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 28/3/12 – 27/2/15. 2 years 336 days.
France. 28/2/15 – 13/9/15. 198 days.
Total Service. 3 years 169 days.
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Elijah’s surviving service record amounts to a total of eleven pages, of which only eight pages relate directly to his military service, and these are in 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: 13 Sep-15 - TRENCHES. At 6.00am our 6 inch Siege Battery bombarded salient opposite A1. Enemy replied with universal shell and 6 inch on 50.S from 6.45 to 8.15am. Between 1.00 and 2.10pm 27 large high explosive shells fired into 50 and 50.S. Between 3.20 and 4.00pm enemy fired 17 high explosive shells on and about 50.S in reply to our bombardment of HILL 60.
On Tuesday September 21st, 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – LOCAL CASUALTIES. – PRIVATE ELIJAH NEWTON, “G” (Shepshed) Company 5th Leicester’s, was killed on Monday evening, September 13th, in France, whilst carrying rations up to the trenches. He was 25 years of age, and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Allen Newton, live at Lant-street, Shepshed. Lieut. Shields, in conveying the intelligence, expresses his deepest sympathy with the parents who have lost “a good son and the country a fine soldier.”