Ernest Newby 36996 - wounded 3/10/17; died 17/10/17 buried Mendinghem Cemetery

[ali_dug]

HI All,

I'm new to this site so please excuse me if I've not posed in the right place.

I'm researching a great uncle (above).  I've got a copy of his obituary from the Oldham newspaper (chronicle I think) which states he joined the 11th Manchester Rgt in July 1916; he was a l/cpl  and a machine gunner.  From this is suspect he was in 34th coy. MGC which was in support of the 34th Brigade.

The war diary for the date around his wounding would suggest (as he (he is listed in S Coy.) is listed along with around 15 others in Q,R &S Companies, wounded/killed) as being wounded on 3rd october.  Unfortunatley all i can find from the diary is that two platoons each of R & S Coy were in line of shell holes opposite pheasant trench (the remaining two of R&S were in Pheasant trench).  The war diary states 3rd went without incident!  I then looked at ward diary for 34MGC which stated there was heavy shelling on 3rd but doesn't list casualties.  Can someone help me solve the riddle?

Would Ernest be listed in manchester wounded if he was in MCG or would have he been in the MAnchesters?

How can I find out the events surrounding his wounds?

we are visting the grave next week and would love to be able to understand his story better.

thanks

alison

[mack]

hiya Allison
the battalion had its own machine gun teams,he was most likely in charge of one of those,regarding his wound,mendinghem was the location of some of the casualty clearing stations,i don't think they would have kept ernest here for two weeks,he would have been moved to a stationary hospital as soon as he was able to be moved

mack

[ali_dug]

Thanks Mac,

I didnt realise that the regiment would have had it's own machine gun crews - i thought i was all the MGC....told you i was new to all of this!

Would they have been still using the Vickers / Lewis gun?  My little boy is very interested and we are going to try and find out as much information as we can before we visiting Ernest next week....i'm sure we will keep uncovering information.

alison

[mack]

hiya Allison.
the battalion would have both machine gun and lewis gun teams,you did ok with your research,you were right about the 34th machine gun company,they were as you pointed out,the support for the brigade,they provided extra fire power when needed,ernests team would have been set up in the main trench system,not in the line of shell holes,they would be too isolated,one of the gang may be able to help with photos of the machine+lewis guns for your young fella

mack

[mack]

hiya Allison
google pheasant trench the western front great war forum.

ralph and the gang have posted pictures of maps of pheasant trench and one of the site of this former trench,it all builds a picture of ernests story

mack

[themonsstar]

Here is the page from the medal roll

best of luck with your research

Roy

[ali_dug]

Thanks Roy,  Can you tell me what the From / To sections are?  I am trying to map his movements.  Thanks.

[ali_dug]

Thanks again Mack,
Do you think then, that Ernest would have been in the remaining S platoon that was in Pheasant trench rather than in the line of shell holes (like the other platoons of S &R coy's)?  As a L/Cpl would he have been giving the orders or shooting the gun?  I'm not too good on military heirarchy at the NCO level.

We have tried online to find his will / letter that he would have had to write to his family - do you know if they exist in archives or would have been sent home?  I suspect his medals and anything else has been lost over the years.  I will google pheasant trench for Alex....mind you he knows more about a machine gun (vickers and how many bullets it would have fired) than i do - I think he gets it all from school!

ali

[tonyrod]

hi alison, welcome to the forum, I called into Mendingham OCTOBER 2010, on our mods trip,   his grave photo is in our grave photos section on the main site , https://www.flickr.com/photos/manchester-regiment/7862194286/in/set-72157631248740844/
NINE ELMS AND MENDINGHAM,  it was very early in the morning and still very dull, when photos where taken,
if you are calling next week could you call and see,one of my family please, enjoy Tonyrod

pdf file is a map of the cemetery L/CPL ERNEST NEWBY, Grave Reference VI. D. 11.


Private 26333  Christopher Rodaway
Age: 22
Regiment/Service:
South Lancashire Regiment 2nd Bn.
Grave Reference IV. A. 42.
Cemetery
MENDINGHEM MILITARY CEMETERY

Son of Margaret Rodaway, of 29, Warburton St., Hall Lane, Liverpool,
and the late George Rodaway.

[ali_dug]

No problem.  I've ordered some little crosses (assuming they arrive in time)  I'll put one by his grave for you.

I'm from Liverpool myself!

[tonyrod]

 Alison ,Your a diamond,  thank you very much,  if I can help you in any way shout out,
my family site, http://tonyrod.webs.com/ have a look in,  Tonyrod 

[ali_dug]

Hi Tony

Can I just ask.....we know Ernest only as Ernest, but there seems to be another initial before the E - do you know what it is ?

ta

[tonyrod]

hi  Alison , it seems to be a letter A,  but to be honest my eyes close up are not so good   I copied the names from the headstone photos, and I listed it as A E NEWBY   and its not the best of photo's , his death is recorded as ERNEST, let me know when you get back,
you can email me a new grave photo, and if needed  I will alter the record, enjoy your trip, tony

up date,
its possible his headstone as been cleaned up and the lettering tided up by the stonemasons.