Page 59 - WW1 - 1917

Redditch Local History Society Remembering Redditch Residents & WW1

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The Bromsgrove, Droitwich and Redditch Messenger – Saturday 23 June
1917

Worcestershire Regiment Casualties
Wounded
Goodall D. (240286) from Redditch
James L. (19580) from Redditch
Mills E. M. (22922) from Redditch

Other Local Casualties
(1894) J. Farquhar – Royal Warwicks from Redditch

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Evening Despatch – Saturday 23 June 1917

Drowned in the Tigris – Redditch Officer walks overboard in his sleep – The Rev.
Canon Newton Holmwood, Redditch, has received from authoritative sources particulars
relating to the death of his son, Captain Horace Gerard Townsend Newton, of the Hussars,
who was accidentally drowned in April at Mesopotamia. On the day of his death he cabled
home to say that he was on leave and would spend the period of rest in India, the time being
too short to come home.
From information now to hand it appears that the captain had boarded the barge on which
the first part of the journey down the Tigris would be made. On 25 April, at 11 p.m., Captain
Newton walked overboard in his sleep. He was seen by a brother officer in the
somnambulcus state, but was too late to save him.
Lifebuoys were thrown out, and a boat launched, but the captain was not again seen. In
years past Captain Newton, was known to walk in his sleep, particularly when suffering from
nerve strain.
Remembered on St Stephen’s war memorial, St Stephen’s Church memorial, Redditch and St Luke’s war
memorials, Headless Cross.
(On find a grave it stated that Horace was buried Basra war cemetery, Basra, Iraq.)

© RLHS 2014 Page: 59