Thank you to Lenka Cathersides for the following research.
John Francis Newnham was born either in the 3rd quarter of 1896 in Dorking or on 10th June 1896 in Broadmoor, Wotton, Surrey, according to the England and Wales births 1837-2006 transcription or the WW1 Naval Casualties Transcription respectively. He was born to coachman and school attendance officer Jesse and his wife Elizabeth.
John’s father Jesse was born on 27th April 1869 in Wivelsfield in Sussex to railway labourer Alfred, born about 1829 in Wivelsfield, and Ann/Anne, born about 1834 in Seaford, Sussex. Jesse was baptised on 27th June 1869 in Wivelsfield. At the time of the 1881 Census, he was working as an under gardener. Jesse married Elizabeth either on 30th or 31st August 1889 in Galashiels, Scotland. Elizabeth was born about 1873 in Bengeo, Hertfordshire.
John Francis Newnham had eight siblings: Alfred Edward Victor born in the 4th quarter of 1894 in Aldershot, Hampshire; Jesse born in the 1st quarter of 1899; Noel Herbert born in the 1st quarter of 1901, both in Wotton, Surrey; Harold Percy born on 10th February 1903; William Eward born on 25th February 1905; Mary born in the 3rd quarter of 1907; May born on 9th May 1910 and Harry born on 15th May 1912 in Lindfield, Sussex. Prior to the 1891 Census, Jesse was part of the Royal Sussex Regiment. At the time of the 1891 Census, Jesse was a soldier of the Army Service Corps stationed at Aldershot, Surrey. His regimental number was 1937. He was discharged in 1899.
At the time of the 1901 Census, the family lived at Broadmoor, Wotton. Jesse was working as a coachman and Elizabeth was looking after their children: Albert, John, Jesse and Noel.
At the time of the 1911 Census, the family lived at 1 Laburnum Villas, Compton Road, Lindfield. Jesse was working as a school attendance officer and Elizabeth was looking after their children: gardeners Albert and John and scholars Jesse, Noel, Harold, William, Mary and May. Elizabeth stated that she had given birth to eight children. The accommodation had five rooms.
John’s brother Albert died of wounds on 16th October 1914 in France. He was a private of the 2nd Battalion, the Royal Sussex Regiment. His regimental number was: L/10100. He is buried at the City of Paris Cemetery Pantin.
46 year old Jesse re-enlisted on 7th August 1915 in Chichester, Sussex. He became part of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, the West Riding Divisional Hospital. His regimental number was SE/11666 and he was a [horse] keeper. Later, the family moved to Earlsmere, Compton Road, Lindfield, Haywards Heath. Jesse was over five feet tall and had blue eyes. He also had a slight varicocele defect. On 9th March 1916 he became a Paid Lance Sergeant. Jesse was discharged on 15th April 1918.
John Newnham became part of the Royal Marine Artillery. He was a gunman with a regimental number RMA/13608. He served on the HMS Tiger.
John died in an action on 31st May 1916 during the Battle of Jutland on HMS Tiger. The ship was badly damaged after being hit 10 times. He was killed when a shell hit the trunk of ‘B’ turret of the ship.
He was buried at sea and is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial in England on the panel reference 21.
John Newnham was awarded the British War and Victory medals and the 1915 Star.
DEATH OF GUNNER J. F. NEWNHAM
On Sunday Mrs. Newnham received news from the Admirality of the death of Gunner John Francis Newnham – her eldest son, aged 20 years. He was killed in action on the “Tiger” on May 31st. Sad to relate, he had written home the day before saying he should be home on June 7th. Mrs Newnham’s husband is a Sergeant in the R. F. A.
John Newnham Death Notice © Sussex Agricultural Express
John’s brother Noel died on 9th July 1917 on HMS Vanguard. He was part of the Royal Marine Artillery and had a rank of bugler. His regimental number was RMA/14935. He was killed by an internal explosion of the vessel at Scapa Flow. He was 16 years old.
HMS Vanguard was anchored in Scapa Flow. At 11.20PM the entire ship was destroyed in an instant by an internal explosion. Ships in the neighbourhood were showered with wreckage and human remains. Only 3 out of 845 men on board survived. The inquiry attributed the tragedy to the internal explosion of faulty cordite in an ammunition storage area.
Jesse Newnham of Earlsmere, Compton Road, Linfield, Sussex died on 13th May 1934. He left to his wife Elizabeth £603 in probate.
| Born | Broadmoor, Dorking | |
| Son of | Jesse and Elizabeth Newnham of Erlsmere, Compton Road, Lindfield, Haywards Heath, Sussex | |
| Regiment | Royal Marine Artillery. H.M.S. Tiger | |
| Number | RMA/13608 | |
| Date of Death | 31st May 1916 | |
| Place of Death | At Sea | |
| Cause of Death | Killed in Action | |
| Age | 19 | |
| Memorial | Portsmouth Naval Memorial |
