Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Eli Newitt, a bricklayer’s labourer, born 1859 in Leicester and his wife, Mary Jane Newitt (nee Henshaw, married in the 4th quarter of 1883 in the Leicester district), born 1861 in Leicester. Thomas Eli was born in the 4th quarter of 1891 in Leicester, his siblings were, William Henry, born 1889, Ann Jane, a hosiery trade worker, born 1884, Florence Beatrice, born 1887, Gertrude Elizabeth, born 1899 and Alice Maud, born 1901, all his siblings were born in Leicester, in March 1901 the family home was at 11, Yeoman Street, Leicester. In the 3rd quarter of 1859 in the Leicester district Thomas’ father died aged 45. In April 191 Thomas was employed as a boot trade warehouseman and was residing in the family home at 30, Lothair Road, Leicester, together with his widowed mother, a charwoman, and his siblings, Ann, a yarn trade card winder, Florence, a dye trade turner, William, a shoe trade clicker, Gertrude, a schoolgirl and Alice, a schoolgirl. On the War Memorial for St. James the Lesser, Aylestone Park, Thomas Eli’s Christian name initials appear as F. E.
Thomas attested into the Territorial Force to serve 4 years Service in the United Kingdom on the 28th April 1909 in Leicester. He gave his place of birth as St. James, Leicester, his age as 17 years and 5 months and his trade or calling as clicker. His employer being Messrs. W. S. Fowler, 11½, Lower Brown Street, Leicester. He gave his home address as 30, Lothair Road, Leicester. He confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his mother Annie Newitt of 30, Lothair Road, Leicester as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 3½ inches in height and he had a chest measurement of between 31½ and 33½ inches. His physical development and vision were both described as good. He was pronounced fit for the Territorial Force on the 28th April 1909 in Leicester. His record of service began when he was posted to the Army Service Corps, North Midland Brigade, Supply and Transport Column as a Driver, service number 53 on the 28/4/09. Attended annual training at -?- Park on the 25/7/09 – 8/8/09. Enlisted into the Special Reserve, Leicestershire Regiment on the 20/8/09. Total service 114 days. Thomas attested into the Army Reserve (Special Reservist’s) to serve an engagement of 6 years on the 20th August 1909 in Leicester. He gave his place of birth as St, Andrews, Leicester, his age as 17 years and 9 months and his trade or calling as shoe hand. He confirmed that he was unmarried. He stated that he had previously served in The North Midland Mounted Brigade, Army Service Corps, Transport and Supply Column, T.F. He gave his mother Mary Jane Newitt, older brother, William Henry and sisters, Ann Jane, Florence, Gertrude and Alice, all of 30, Lothair Road, Leicester as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 3½ inches in height, weighed 112 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 31 and 33½ inches. His hair colour was brown and he had brown eyes. It was noted that he had a mole on his left breast and a small scar at the back of his right knee. His physical development was described as good. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for the Army Reserve on the 20th August 1909 in Leicester. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 10421 on the 20/8/09. Posted to the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment and commenced training on the 20/8/09. Admitted to the Brigade Field Ambulance suffering from tonsillitis on the 4/4/15. Discharged from hospital to duty on the -?-. Rejoined the Battalion in the field on the -?-. Admitted to 20 Brigade Field Ambulance suffering from a shell wound to the head, neck and back on the 30/4/15. Transferred to 13th Stationary Hospital, Boulogne on the 2/5/15. Died in the 13th Stationary Hospital, Boulogne at 5.00pm on the 4/5/15. Total service 5 years 258 days. Thomas was awarded to 1914 Star, British and Victory medals. The following information was provided by Thomas’s mother Mary Jane Newitt on the 13th April 1919, and was witnessed and signed by B. Cursley, a Clerk in Holy Orders of 343, Aylestone Road, Leicester on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, deceased. Mother of soldier, Mary Jane Newitt of 14, Hughendon Drive, Aylestone, Leicester. Full blood brothers of soldier, William Henry Newitt, age 30 of 106, Knighton Lane, Aylestone, Leicester. Full blood sisters of soldier, Ann Jane Newitt, age 35, Florence B. Newitt, age 33, Gertrude E. Newitt, age 20 and Alice Maud Newitt, age 18, all of 14, Hughendon Drive, Aylestone, Leicester. Thomas’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: 30 Apr-15 - Orders are that Support Coy during the day moves out of PORT ARTHUR, having 1 platoon in Crescent, 1 platoon behind left Coy and 2 platoons behind right Coy. This order is in force because PORT ARTHUR is shelled daily -?- -?- shrapnel fire from 4 to 6.00pm on trench occupied by left supporting platoon and also over PORT ARTHUR. Left supporting platoon had 18 casualties from shell fire.
On Saturday May 15th 1915 The Leicester Chronicle and Leicestershire Mercury published the following article under the heading. “THE WAR.” – News has been received of the death of Private Thomas E. Newitt, 2nd Leicester’s (formerly 3rd), from wounds received in action. He was 23 years of age, and formerly worked at Messrs. Roberts and Son, boot manufacturers, The Newarke. He was associated with the temperance movement and was a member of St. George’s Church. His mother, a widow, resides at 14, Hughendon Drive, Leicester.