Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Charles Newbon, an engineering driller, born 1856 in Easton on the Hill, Northamptonshire and his wife Sarah Jane Newbon (nee Britton, married on the 31st October 1877 in Christ Church, Downend, Gloucestershire), born 1857 in Gloucestershire, and who was the daughter of William Britton. Arthur, who was a schoolboy, was born in the 3rd quarter of 1883 in Loughborough, Leicestershire, his siblings were, James W., a schoolboy, born 1881 in Easton, and Ellen, a schoolgirl, born 1886 in Loughborough, in April 1891 the family home was at Meadow Lane, Loughborough. Arthur’s mother died in the 2nd quarter of 1897, aged 40 in the Loughborough, Leicestershire district. In March 1901 Arthur was absent from the family home at 19, Ratcliffe Road, Loughborough, residing there was his father, an iron driller, his step mother, Elizabeth Ann Newbon (nee Parr, married in the 1st quarter of 1900 in the Loughborough, Leicestershire district), born 1869 in Beeston, Nottinghamshire and his siblings, James, a boiler riveter and Mary, a hosiery trade worker, also residing in the family home were his step siblings, Alfred Parr, born 1894, Archibald Parr, born 1898 and John Parr, born 1898, the latter three step siblings were all born in Loughborough, an adopted child, Mabel Barber, born 1896 in Leicestershire and a half blood sibling, Charles Newbon, born 1901 in Loughborough. In April 1911 Arthur remained absent from the family home at 72, Pinfold Gate, Loughborough, residing there was his father, an iron driller, his step mother and step siblings, Alfred Parr, a foundry labourer, Archie Parr, a schoolboy, John Parr, a schoolboy, and his half blood siblings, Charles, a schoolboy, Bertha, a schoolgirl, born 1903, Hetty, a schoolgirl, born 1906, Robert, born 1908 and Ruth, born 1911, the latter four half blood siblings were all born in Loughborough and Mabel Barber, a dyers turner. Arthur married Kate Ryan, in the 3rd quarter of 1914 in the Coventry, Warwickshire district, using the surname Newman. Arthur attested into the Miltia on the 3rd December 1900. He gave his place of birth as All Saints, Loughborough, Leicestershire, his age as 18 years and 6 months, his trade or calling as labourer, and his present employer as Mr. Tucker of Loughborough, Leicestershire. He gave his home address as 19, Ratcliffe Road, All Saints, Loughborough, Leicestershire, and confirmed that he was unmarried. His medical examination took place on the 4th December 1900, recorded him to be unfit for service with the militia by virtue of a defective physique, his weight being 97 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 30½ and 32 inches. He was therefore discharged as not likely to become an efficient militiaman. Arthur again attested into the Miltia, this time giving the surname Newman, on the 23rd July 1901 in Hounslow, Middlesex, where he gave his place of birth as Loughborough, Leicestershire and his age as 19 years and 1 month, his trade or calling as labourer and his present employer as Mr. Robinson of Toothill Road, Loughborough, Leicestershire. He gave his home address as 19, Ratcliffe Road, Loughborough, Leicestershire and confirmed that he was unmarried. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 5¼ inches in height, weighed 106 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 31 and 33 inches. His complexion was described as sallow, his hair colour was brown and he had blue eyes. It was noted that he had a scar on his right knee and the front of his head. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for Militia service. His record of Militia service began when he joined the depot of the Middlesex Regiment as a Private , service number 2128 on the 23/7/01. Posted to 6th Battalion Middlesex Regiment to undergo 45 days of drill on the 23/7/01 – 5/9/01. Joined the Middlesex Regiment on the 6/9/01. In Arthur’s second attempt at attestment into the Militia, in answer to the question: Have you ever been rejected as unfit for the Military or Naval Forces of the Crown? If so, on what grounds? Arthur responded no. Arthur clearly served for a time under the surname of Newman, and although this has later been crossed out in his second Militia attestation documents and altered to the true family name of Newbon, it is unclear at what point this alteration of identity took place, the newspaper report quotes his surname as Newbon, and yet the Commonwealth War Graves Commission records record his burial under the surname Newman. Arthur served with the Expeditionary Force, and died in No. 13 General Hospital, Boulogne, France from wounds, he also served in the South African Campaign.
On Friday December 25th 1914 The Leicester Journal published the following article under the heading. “THE ROLL OF HONOUR.” – Private Arthur Newton, of the 4th Middlesex, has died of wounds in the hospital of Boulogne. He was 31 years of age, married with one child, and his parents live at Pinfold-gate, Loughborough. Newton was a reservist and was living at Coventry when the war broke out. He went to the front, but was stricken down with pneumonia, and was sent home to Cambridge Hospital. He recovered and returned to France, and was wounded in the back on the front in Flanders. Newton had seen service in the Boer War.
On Saturday December 26th 1914 The Leicester Chronicle and Leicestershire Mercury published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” - LOUGHBOROUGH MAN DEAD FROM WOUNDS. The War office is sent intimation of the death from wounds of Private Arthur Newbon, of the 4th Middlesex, whose parents live at 72, Pinfold Gate, Loughborough. Newbon was on the reserve, having been through the Boer War, and was living in Coventry when he was called up. He went to the front with his regiment, but was soon invalided home with pneumonia, and was nursed in Cambridge Hospital. Recovering from this, he returned to France and was then wounded in the back and died in hospital at Boulogne. Newbon was 31 years of age, and leaves a widow and one child.
On Friday December 31st 1914 The Melton Mowbray Mercury and Oakham and Uppingham News published the following article, accompanied with a photograph. Pte. A. Newbon, of the 4th Middlesex Regiment, who died in hospital at Boulogne, after being badly wounded. His parents reside at 72, Pinfold Street, Loughborough.