Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
George H Newton was born 16th July 1884 in Mitcham, Surrey.
His father was Caleb Newton, who resided Long Crendon, Bucks, when George died.
George lived with his brothers at Bardon Hill: Fred Newton a collier, of Melbourne Street, and William Newton a collier, of Shaw Lane. George lived at Bardon Hill ten or eleven years, before to join the Navy, in which he served for six years. He had been in the Metropolitan Police Force for about four years, before his enrolment.
His lady friend was Daisy Clothier, he listed her as next of kin, living Floral Cottage, Western Road, Mitcham.
George Newton enlisted with the Navy from Mitcham where he was born.
Here is what the Coalville Times of Friday, November, 13th 1914 reported:’ One of the gallant men who went down in the ill-fated ‘Hawke’ was P.C George H Newton, a member of the Metropolitan Police, who formerly worked at Bardon Hill Quarry, and two of whose brothers are residing in this district. Newton was an Able seaman and left the Navy with excellent record, while during his short career in the Police Force, he established the fact that he was a reliable man and a thoroughly good officer. He left Mitcham on general mobilisation day, August 3rd, and sailed on board the ‘Hawke’ two days later.
During his naval career he served first on the Pembroke I, then on the ‘Cressy’. Several letters were received by his young lady who resides at Mitcham and a rather sad feature is that his last epistle reached her two days after his ship had gone down.
The brightest letter of all, it was written on the Saturday before and assured his friends that he would soon be coming home, as the war could not last long. “We are doing our best to be cheerful” were his last words.

He was killed in action when the boat he served on: H.M.S ‘HAWKE’ went down. The Captain on the Hawke was Captain Hugh P.E Williams, RN. “Hawke” sank in a few minutes, and unfortunately Captain Williams, 26 officers and 500 men were lost with the ship. Four officers and about 60 men were saved.
Hawke was an old cruiser named after Admiral Sir Edward Hawke, she was torpedoed and sunk by U.9 in North Sea on Thursday, 15th October 1914.
The sinking of HMS HAWKE was one of the greatest single losses of Royal Navy sailors from Ulster with 49 Ulstermen lost to just one U-boat
At the time of his death, George Newton was 31 years old. His body was not recovered for burial.

He is commemorated at Chatham Naval Memorial, United Kingdom, Kent, on panel 2.
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Submitted by F. Tilley in 2016