Park Walk War Memorial 4

William George Newton

Surname: Newton
Other names: William George
Other people in this story:
George Newton
Mary Jane Newton nee Jewell
Daniel Henry Newton
Locations in this story:
Bossingham, Hampshire
Mesopotamia
Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
William George Newton was born in 1895 in Broughton, Hampshire. He was the son of George Newton, a feeding cake agent, and Mary Jane Newton (nee Jewell). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a butcher's apprentice and living at Clonmell, 5 Belle Vue Terrace, Victoria Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset.  He had enlisted with the Territorial Unit of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 1670) until his unit was absorbed into the 1/4th Battalion and his Service No. changed to 200033.  He served in Mespotamia attached to the Labour Corps and achieved the rank of Acting Warrant Officer Class 2.  (Family records show he was also later attached to the Arab and Kurdish Levies). 

He was discharged on 27 Aug 1919.  He is then shown, on Military Records, to have died on 18 Aug 1920 in Mesopotamia (though the Probate Records show 1921).  His mother had applied for a pension but there is no evidence that one was granted.  He had been awarded the Territorial War Force Medal as well as the Victory and British War Medals.  He is remembered on the Park Walk War Memorial and on the Holy Trinity Memorial, now in St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury.  No record of any War Grave can be found for him at this time or if he is remembered elsewhere.   His brother, Daniel Henry Newton, also served in the conflict and survived.

Images:
  • Names on Park Walk War Memorial 2
  • Park Walk War Memorial 1
  • Holy Trinity Memorial in St. Peter's Church 3
  • Holy Trinity Memorial in St. Peter's Church 2
  • Holy Trinity Memorial in St. Peter's Church 1

Links to related web content / sources:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Compton Abbas War Memorial

Victor Alfred Ryall

Surname: Ryall
Other names: Victor Alfred
Other people in this story:
William Ryall
Eleanor Ferdman Ryall née Goodman
Sydney John Ryall
Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury
Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Longueval, Somme, France
Compton Abbas
France & Flanders
Cann, Shaftesbury

Story:
Victor Alfred Ryall was born on 14th February, 1896 in Cann, Shaftesbury and was baptised there on 26th April, 1896. He was the son of William Ryall, a bricklayer journeyman, and Eleanor Ferdman Ryall (née Goodman). His brother Sydney John (b.1898) also served in the First World War, with the Dorsetshire Regiment. At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a farm labourer and living at 15 Compton Abbas. He enlisted in Shaftesbury and joined the 3rd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 11202). He later transferred to the 17th (County of London Battalion) (Poplar and Stepney Rifles) of the London Regiment (new Service No. 6085) and at the time of his death held the rank of Lance Corporal. He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory, British War and 1915 Star medals. He died on 15th September 1916 and was buried at Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Longueval, Somme, France (grave id. XII.B.24). He is remembered on the Compton Abbas War Memorial, Shaftesbury.  

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Sydney John Ryall