Our People - Myles Newton |
9 October 1916 |
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#24535 Private Myles Newton
9th (Service) Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment 74th Brigade, 25th Division Killed in action 9 October 1916 aged 19 Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Ref: Pier and Face 11 A. Myles Newton was born in early 1897 to John Newton, 26 and Lizzie Ann Newton (nee Richardson), 26. He was baptised at St.Leonard the Less, Samlesbury 7 February 1897. In 1911 the family were living at Sowerbutts Green in Samlesbury. John was a labourer on the local Sewage works for the borough council and Myles was working at Brindle & Son Roach Bridge paper mill. Myles had 4 younger sisters and 3 younger brothers.
The 9th Battalion of the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment formed at Preston in September 1914 as part of Kitchener's Third Army and came under command of 74th Brigade in 25th Division. They moved to billets in Christchurch in December 1914 and Southbourne in January 1915. They went on in May 1915 to Romsey and then Aldershot the next month. On 26 September 1915 they landed at Boulogne and went on to Nieppe. Their first battle action was at 21 May 1916 during the German attack on Vimy Ridge. The 25th Division were then plunged into the Battle of the Somme. During the Somme campaign, Myles would have seen action at the Battle of Albert at Authuille 3 July 1916,, the Battle Of Bazentin Ridge, Ovillers-La-Boisselle 14 July 1916, the Battle Of Pozieres Ridge, Authuille 18 August 1916, and the fighting for Mouquet Farm, Authuille 3 September 1916. It is likely that Myles was killed during the Battle of the Ancre Heights which begn near Grandcourt 1 October 1916, possibly during the capture of Stuff Redoubt which happened on the day of his death. Alternatively, he could have been killed by shell fire while in the trenches. The war diary of the 9th Battalion says little of the events. Myles's body was not recovered for burial and he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. John Newton received £2 7s 6d on 8 February 1917 and a war gratuity of £3 on 1 December 1919. Myles appears on the Roach Bridge - Brindle & Son Paper Mill WW1 Memorial, the Samlesbury - St.Leonard the Less C. E. Lych Gate and the Samlesbury - War Memorial Hall. He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal. |
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