L/Cpl 22189 Arthur Sidney Newall

• Age: 25
• From: Cuddington, Cheshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at Coopers Hollow, Cuddington, Northwich, Cheshire. His father, Frederick, is aged 43, born in Cuddington, Northwich in 1858 occupation shown as a blacksmith, his mother, Laura, is aged 37, born in Liverpool in 1864 with no occupation listed. They had four children listed as living in the household; Beatrice Ruby aged 13, born 1888 in Manchester, Nancy May aged 11, born 1890, Arthur Sydney aged 10, and Dorothy aged 8, born 1893 were all born in Cuddington.   

The 1911 census shows that Arthur, now 19, has moved to Liverpool and is boarding at 44 Royston Street, Edge Hill, employed as a grocer’s assistant. His parents and sisters live in Chester Road, Sandiway, Northwich. His father, 53, is now retired, his mother, 47, works as a dressmaker. They advised that they had been married for  24 years, and had 4 children. Three of their children are in the household; 23-year old Beatrice has no occupation, and Nancy, 21, and Dorothy, 18, are assistant dressmakers. 

He enlisted in Liverpool on 15th November 1914 as Private 22189, joining the 20th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment. His age is recorded as 25 years and 4 days (in fact he had just turned 24), and he gives his occupation as grocer. He was described as being 5’ 3 and three quarter inches tall, weighing 130 lbs, 35” chest, with a sallow complexion, brown hair and blue eyes. He stated his religion as C of E and and next of kin his father Frederick, Lomond, Sandiway. He also stated that he had lived out of his father’s house for at least three years.

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 20th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. 

His service record exists and shows -

07/11/1915 arrived in France

09/05/1916 wounded in the left hand 

02/07/1916 appointed paid Lance Corporal

He was killed in action on the 30^th July 1916, aged 25, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive.

The 20^th King’s Battalion Diary records:

“At 4.45am prompt the attack was launched. Unfortunately, a thick mist prevailed and it was impossible to see more than 10 yards ahead. This continued until about 6 o’clock when it lifted slightly, but it was still too hazy and impossible to see what was happening 100 yards ahead. This being so, it was not surprising to find that the attacking waves were experiencing great difficulty in maintaining connection.”

At 6am, Lt. RE Melly, No.1 Company, reported that his men had taken the German Maltz Horn trench.

At 6.30am, 2/Lt. CP Moore reported that he had 150 men, 4 Stokes Mortars and 2 Lewis Guns, but he was the only officer. He also said that due to the fog, both his “flanks were in the air” i.e. he was not in contact with neighbouring troops.

At 9.10am, Moore was still not in contact at his flanks, and now he had only 75 men, he had sent out 2 patrols and neither not returned. Later Moore established communication with the French on his right.

Around 10.00am, 2/Lt Musker reported that he had just over a company with him, but his left flank was suffering from German machine gun fire. Later he reported that he had over 30 casualties from the machine gun fire. His flanks were also “in the air”. No contact was made with this party until the remnants returned around 9.30pm, all runners sent were killed or missing. The War Diary states that this group had: ”held the ground won all day, and this permitted the consolidation of the ground won on the Maltz Horn ridge with little interference from the enemy”.

Relief for 20/Kings had been planned for 11.00pm, but it was 5.00am on the 31st July before it took place, ending a tragic day for the Liverpool Pals.

Casualties for 20^th Battalion were 16 Officers and 357 Other Ranks

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30^th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55^th Division during the early hours of the 31^st July. 

The events of 30^th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89^th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone.

Arthur was initially declared Missing.  Part of a letter his mother wrote to Infantry Records in November 1916, enclosing a letter from an officer, survives -

“[…] If you could send me any particulars I should be grateful, if my son’s body was found and where buried if found. […] of Lieut. J. H. Worsley […] write me but as you see he gave no particulars, I trust you will be able to do so.  He was my only son and gave up a good [position?] to join at the beginning of the war.”

(James Harrison Worsley from Birkdale enlisted on 01st September 1914 in the 17th Battalion K.L.R.. He was discharged to commission on 30th July 1915 and arrived in France as a 2nd Lieutenant with the 20th Bn. on the fateful day of 01/07/1916.)

Her appeal was forwarded to the War Office, who replied in December 1916:

“It is regretted that further enquiries cannot be made as the [circumstance?] of death contained in the letter forwarded […] is based only on hearsay, […] therefore not sufficiently definite. Lance Corporal Newall must for the present remain on the official list of Missing.”

One year later, in July 1917, his death was officially accepted as having occurred on or since 30th July 1916. 

Arthur's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916. 

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

Arthur is also commemorated on the Weaverham War Memorial. 

He earned his three medals.

His Army effects of £3 9s 2d and a War Gratuity of £7-10s went to his father. No pension card has been found, as Arthur was living independently, and/or his parents did not apply for a pension.

Probate, showing Arthur’s address as “Lomond”, Chester Road, Sandiway, was granted to his father in the amount of £96-3s-7d.

In 1919 his parents with Nancy and Dorothy are still at “Lomond”, and Beatrice, who is married, lives in Station Road, Weaverham.

On the 1939 register his father, now 82, lives at “Lomond” with daughter Nancy, 50.

His father died in 1950, at the age of 92. 

We currently have no further information on Arthur Sydney Newall, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.