NEWTON, George

George Newton was the son of Bozrah and Emily Newton and was born at Frome. He attended Wollaston C of E. School from 1897 to 1903 when he left to become an office boy. By the time of the Great War his family were living at 5 Bright Street, Wollaston. He volunteered for the Worcester Territorials in 1914 and joined the 1/7th Battalion. He went overseas in March 1915, had front line service in quiet sectors of the Western Front and in June 1916 the Worcesters were in readiness for the big attack on the Somme. They were in reserve for the first day on the 1st July but came into the front line at Ovillers for the second phase of the battle on the 14th. The village was eventually captured after some fierce fighting with heavy casualties and Private George Newton was among those killed in action. He was 26 years of age and is commemorated on the Thiepval, Stourbridge and Wollaston church Memorials.