Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Newby, a shoe trade riveter, born 1868 in Sileby, Leicestershire and his wife Annie Newby (nee Stirk, married in the 4th quarter of 1889 in the Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire district), born 1870 in Sileby. Ernest Edwin was born in the 2nd quarter of 1892 in Sileby, he had one sibling, Eliza, born 1891 in Sileby, in March 1901 the family home was at Barrow Road, Sileby. In April 1911 Ernest was employed as a shoe trade machinist and was residing in the family home at Barrow Road, Sileby, together with his father, a shoe trade riveter, his mother and sister Eliza, a Griswold machinist, also residing in the family home were Ernest’s, cousin’s, George Sharpe, a shoe trade riveter, born 1884 and Lucy Stirk, a hosiery trade machinist, born 1891, both cousin’s were born in Sileby.
Ernest attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement (For the Duration of the War, with the Colours and in the Army Reserve.) on the 7th December 1915 in Leicester. He gave his present home address as 174, Barrow Road, Sileby, his age as 23 years and 248 days and his trade or calling as shoe hand, his current employer being Messrs. Wilkes Bros, Bruin Street, Leicester. He confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his father, William Newby of 174, Barrow Road, Sileby as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 3½ inches in height, weighed 113 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 33 and 35 inches. After attestation on the 7/12/15 in Leicester he was transferred as Private, service number 24942 to the Army Reserve. Mobilized on the 8/2/16. Posted to the Leicestershire Regiment Depot on the 8/2/16. Posted to the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment at Patrington on the 10/2/16. Transferred to the Machine Gun Corps, and allocated the service number 53232 on the 13/8/16. Embarked Folkestone to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 13/9/16. Disembarked Boulogne on the 13/9/16. Joined the Infantry Brigade Depot at Camiers on the 14/9/16. Joined the 167th Machine Gun Company, in the field on the 28/9/16. Killed in action, in the field on the 2/10/16. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 7/12/15 – 11/9/16, 280 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 12/9/16 – 2/10/16, 21 days. Total service 301 days. He was awarded the British War and Victory medals. The following information was provided by Ernest’s mother Annie Newby on the 12th April 1919, and was witnessed and signed by Fred Leif Burrow, Vicar of Sileby, Sileby Vicarage, Loughborough on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, William Newby of 174, Barrow Road, Sileby. Mother of soldier, Annie Newby of 174, Barrow Road, Sileby. Full blood sister of soldier, Mrs. Eliza Piper, age 29 of 22, Mountsorrel Lane, Sileby. Ernest’s surviving service documents are in poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 1 Oct-16 – LESBOEUFS. Company Headquarters at GUILLEMONT STATION. Transport at CARNOY. 1½ sections (6 Guns) in reserve at TRONES WOOD. 8 Guns in the line LESBOEUFS – THISTLE TRENCH. 2 Guns in reserve in COW TRENCH. These positions were all under heavy shell fire and our casualties were somewhat heavy.
The War Diary records: 2 Oct-16 – LESBOEUFS. Guns etc in position as above and still under heavy shell fire.
On Friday November 17th 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” – SILEBY SOLDIER KILLED. Mr. and Mrs. W. Newby, of 174, Barrow Road, Sileby, have received official news that their only son, Private Ernest Newby (24), was killed in action on October 2nd. Prior to joining the Army he worked for Wilkes Bros. and Co., Bruin-street, Leicester, and was well respected by his employers and fellow workmen.