 Son of Mr Frank & Mrs Ellen Newell
Aged 21 years
Died 19th June 1918
Commemorated in Cambrin* Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais
Grave P.11
And in Rushden Cemetery
Grave F.308/9
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| Born at Irchester, enlisted at Rushden. *although news reports state he was buried at Cambrai, the CWGC site states "Cambrin Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais." |
Rushden Echo, June 22nd, 1918, transcribed by Greville Watson
Rushden’s Casualty List
Mr and Mrs F. Newell, of 15, Sartoris-road, Rushden, have heard unofficially that their eldest son, 20340, Pte. Cyril Newell, of the Northants Regiment, was accidentally killed on June 19th. The news was first received on Monday in a letter from Pte. W. Mole, of Rushden, who wrote under date June 20th: “It is with very much regret indeed I have to tell you of the sad death of your son Cyril yesterday evening at 8.30, owing to a trench mortar prematurely bursting. I send you all my deepest condolences. I was out at the time, and when I returned I was informed of the accident, and at once made all inquiries. His death was instantaneous, and I hope it will console you to know that he suffered no pain whatever. Cyril was buried to-day in Cambrai cemetery, and I was allowed to attend. It was a simple ceremony, and we planted rose trees on his grave. . . . Hoping that God will console you all in the great trouble that has befallen you.” The sad news is further confirmed by Captain Barnes, the deceased soldier’s officer, who writes as follows: “I am deeply sorry to have to write to tell you that your son (No. 20340, Pte. C. Newell, – Northants Regiment, attached – Trench Mortar battery) was killed at about 8.30 p.m. yesterday by the bursting of a trench mortar shell. He was in charge of a gun team at the time, and was in action. He was in the line just south of the La Bassee canal and west of the village of Cambrai. To-day he was buried in the military cemetery at Cambrai with all the honour that we who live can pay the dead. You have the sincerest sympathy of all the officers and men of the battery and myself in your great loss. Your son had gained the friendship and good esteem of everyone by the cheerful way in which he did his work and by the way in which he was always ready to lend a helping hand to anyone who needed help. He was one of the men that I trusted most in the whole battery, and he was to have taken a lance stripe when we came out of the line, and become an N.C.O. As it was, he was in charge of his gun team at the time of his death. It will be some consolation to you to know that he died – no longer a boy – but a brave man fighting at the moment of his death the enemies of his country and his God, and for his loved ones at home. You will like to know that he was killed absolutely instantaneously, with a smile on his lips. The service by the graveside was taken by Capt. the Rev. A. S. Renton, our Wesleyan Chaplain, who is writing to you, and two rose trees were planted on his grave by his comrades. A cross will be erected as soon as it can be made.” Mr and Mrs Newell have also heard from their son’s section commander, who writes: “He was deeply loved by all and was one of my best and bravest soldiers in the section.” The late Pte. Newell, who was 21 years of age, had been in France two years and three months, and up to the date on which he met his death had come through unscathed. He joined the Colours on August 9th, 1915, at the age of 18 years, up to which time he was employed by Mr James Jaques, at the Premier Boot Works, Rushden. As a lad he passed through the Rushden Wellingborough-road Mission Sunday school, and his name is on the Roll of Honour of that place of worship.
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Rushden Echo, August 2nd, 1918, transcribed by Greville Watson
Rushden’s Casualty List
In our issue of June 28th, we reported that Mr and Mrs F. Newell, of 15, Sartoris-road, Rushden, had heard unofficially that their eldest son, 20340, Pte. Cyril Newell, Northants Regiment, was accidentally killed on June 19th. The sad news is now officially confirmed.
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Rushden Echo, 2nd August, 1918, transcribed by Greville Watson
Rushden’s Casualty List
A letter has been received by Mrs Newell, of 15, Sartoris-road, Rushden, from the Rev. A. S. Renton (Wesleyan chaplain) concerning the death of 20340, Pte. C. Newell, Northants Regiment, att. T.M.B., who, as previously reported in the “Rushden Echo,” was accidentally killed on June 19th. The chaplain writes that the late Pte. Newell was killed instantaneously by a shell explosion, and was buried in the military cemetery at Cambrai in the presence of Capt. H. Baines, Lieut. Fuller, and several comrades. “He was a good lad,” adds the chaplain, “capable and hardworking, and a general favourite with both officers and men.” A letter has also been received from the deceased soldier’s commanding officer, Capt. H. Baines, who states that a permanent cross has been erected over his grave, with the inscription: “To the memory of 20340, Pte. C. Newell, 1st Northants Regiment, att. T.M.B.” A message of condolence has been received from the Wellingborough-road Mission Hall, to which place of worship the deceased belonged. Mr and Mrs Newell desire to express their sincere thanks for the many expressions of sympathy they have received in their sore bereavement.
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 Kettering Leader, 12th July 1918, transcribed by Kay Collins
The late Private Cyril Newell
Pte. Cyril Newell, of the Northants Regt., was accidentally killed on June 19th. The news was sent home to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. F. Newell, 15, Sartoris-road, Rushden, that the deceased was killed by the explosion of a trench mortar, and was buried in Cambrai Cemetery. The deceased was only 21 years of age, and had been in France over two years.
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