Pte 35948 Albert Newton

• Age: 26
• From: Chadderton, Lancs
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Friday 20th October 1916
• Commemorated at: A.i.f Burial Ground, Flers
  Panel Ref: V.K.19

Albert was born in Chadderton in 1890 the son of William Henry Newton and his wife Ellen (nee Ashcroft) who were married 1st May 1881 at St James, Oldham.

The 1891 Census shows the family living at Ellen’s, father’s house at 694 Middleton Road, Chadderton, Oldham. The head of the household is Abel James a widower aged 74, born 1817 who is living on his own means and was born in Burniston, Yorkshire. Also living in the property are his son-in-law William Newton aged 27, born 1864 in Oldham and employed as a cotton spinner, his wife Ellen aged 27, born 1864 in Preston and has no occupation listed. They have three children at the time of the Census, Emily aged 7, born 1884 and Lily aged 5, born 1886 are both scholars who were born in Oldham. Albert is aged 1, born 1890 in Chadderton. 

The 1901 Census shows the family still living at 694 Middleton Road, Chadderton, Oldham. Albert's father William aged 41,(now showing as born in 1860) and employed as a minder (cotton spinning), his wife Ellen aged 40, (now showing born 1861) and has no occupation listed. They now have five children at the taking of the Census, Emily aged 17,is a cotton beamer, Lily aged 15, is a cotton ring spinner, Albert is aged 11, Bertha aged 8, born 1893 and Harold aged 3, born 1898 and both were born in Chadderton.  

The 1911 Census shows the family still living at 694 Middleton Road, Chadderton, Oldham. His father William aged 50, (now showing as born in 1861) and employed as a cotton spinner, his wife Ellen aged 49, (now showing born 1862) and has no occupation listed. They have been married for twenty five years and have had five children. They have their three youngest children living with them at the taking of the Census, Albert now aged 21 and Harold aged 13 are both cotton mule piecers, and Bertha aged 18, is a speed tenter in a cotton card room.

Albert enlisted in Oldham and was serving with the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 35948 when he was killed in action on 20th October 1916 aged 26. 

He now rests at A.I.F.Burial Ground, Flers at V.K.19 where his headstone bears the epitaph:

"WE MISS YOU MOST THAT LOVE YOU BEST. GOD CALLED YOU HOME AND GAVE YOU REST"

Flers was captured on 15 September 1916, in the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, when it was entered by the New Zealand and 41st Divisions behind tanks, the innovative new weapons that were used here for the first time. The village was lost during the German advance of March 1918 and retaken at the end of the following August by the 10th West Yorks and the 6th Dorsets of the 17th Division.

The cemetery was begun by Australian medical units, posted in the neighbouring caves, in November 1916-February 1917. These original graves are in Plot I, Rows A and B. It was very greatly enlarged after the Armistice when almost 4,000 Commonwealth and French graves were brought in from the battlefields of the Somme, and later from a wider area.

Albert's death was reported in the Lancashire Evening Post on 17th November 1916

NEWTON - Private ALBERT NEWTON, King's Liverpool Regiment, 694 Middleton Road, killed on October 20. He worked as a minder at the Textile Mill, Oldham.

Soldiers Effects to father William Henry and pension to mother Ellen.

Albert is commemorated on the Memorial at St Luke's Church, Chadderton.

His father William died aged 57 in 1918.

On the 1939 register mother Ellen b.1862 is living with married daughter Bertha Milnes in Littleborough.

His mother Ellen died in 1943 aged 81 in Littleborough.

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