THE  DOVER WAR MEMORIAL  PROJECT

 

war memorial at dusk, photographed by Michelle Cooper


World War I

 

CASUALTIES ON THE MEMORIAL

Surnames N

AJ Nash, courtesy Dover ExpressNash, A. J.
Arthur James Nash, G/24262. He was 20 when he was killed in action on 1st August 1917, and he is commemorated on the Ypres Menin Gate memorial in Belgium. He was in the 8th battalion of The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment) (formerly 3020, East Kent Regiment), serving as a Lance Corporal.

Born and living in Dover, he went to St Mary's school, and was the youngest son of William and Mary Jane Nash, of 24 Ladywell Place, Dover  He enlisted in Canterbury.

Nash, J. R.
John Robert Nash, M/316133, a resident of Dover, who was born and enlisted there also, was a Private in the Royal Army Service Corps, 565th MT Company, attached to the VI Corps Heavy Artillery.

He was killed in action on 4th October 1918, and is buried in the Louverval Military Cemetery, Doignies in France.

Neill, C. S.
Charles S. Neill, S/10607, was born in Lydd to Mr James H H Neill, a Sergeant in the Royal Artillery,  and his wife Amelia, who later lived at 9 Westbury Road, Dover. He enlisted in Dover, and served as a Private in the 1st battalion of The Buffs, having been in the 3rd (reserve) battalion in France in the early part of 1915.. He had been reported as missing, and then as a prisoner of war, after having been severely wounded in February 1917.

When he recovered from his wounds he was employed on various works by his captors. He was able to send letters to his parents; the last they received from him was dated 30th October 1918, from Soltan, stating he was well. They were informed of his death in 7th February 1919 by the Central Prisoners of War Committee (British Read Cross Society), after a fellow prisoner of war who had recently returned had notified the Committee that Private Neill had died in hospital in Germany from the "Spanish sickness". His death occurred on 30th  (Soldiers Died says 1st) November 1918. He is buried in Hamburg cemetery in Germany, and it is believed he was the only listed Dovorian POW who had not returned home. .

There were three sons still serving in the Royal Artillery in early 1919, all of whom had been wounded, and one severely. Two of the sons were in the RGA. One received his commission 1917 for services in the field, and became a captain in command of a POW camp in France. The third had joined the BEF in France in October 1914, as a trumpeter, and, after having served throughout the Great War, was then part of the army of occupation in Germany. The extended family could boast fifteen sons who had served in the army or the navy during the Great War. 

F Newland, courtesy Dover ExpressNewland, F. T.
Frederick  Thomas Newland, G/237, was a Private in 6th battalion of The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). He was 21 when he was killed in action on 13th or 14th October 1915, and is commemorated on the Loos memorial in France.

Before enlisting in dover he was a baker at the premises of Mr Holmes Morris. He was born and lived in Dover; "the dearly beloved only son" of the late Thomas and Sarah Newland, formerly of 6 Alexandra Place, Buckland. 

 

in memoriam annoucement, courtesy Dover Express Oh teach me from my heart to say,
Thy will be done.

JW Newman, courtesy Dover ExpressNewman, J. W. 
John William Newman, G/9733, was a Private in the 6th battalion of the Buffs (East Kent regiment). He was killed in actin on 7th October 1916, when he was 35. He now lies in Bancourt British cemetery in France.

Enlisting in Dover, he was, before the war, for many years employed by Messrs R. Dickeson. He was born and lived in Dover and was the son of George Newman, of 42 Snargate Street, Dover.

PC Newman, courtesy Dover ExpressNewman, P. C.
Percy Chester Newman, G/13566, was a Lance Corporal in the "D" company of the 6th battalion of the Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Before the war he was a clerk with the Clyde Shipping company at Dover, and a member of the Territorial battalion of the Buffs. When war broke out he volunteered for foreign service. He enlisted in Dover and he went to India in October 1914, and thence to Aden. In October 1916 he returned to England, and in December 1916 he went to France. He was killed in action on 2nd May 1917, aged 27, and is commemorated on the Arras memorial in France.

PC Newman, Arras memorial, by Michelle and Andy CooperHe was the son of Fred and Annie Newman, born in St Mary's, Dover and living there. H was the husband of Daisy May Simmonds (formerly Newman),  of The Gothic Inn, Snargate Street, Dover. She referred to him as her "dearly loved husband". Percy's Captain wrote to Daisy, who then lived at 6 Barton View, Dover, and who was the daughter of Mr and Mrs W. Tart, saying "He will be greatly missed by us all, he was such a splendid fellow and good soldier. He laid down his life fighting hard in the fiercest fighting that has taken place during the war."

Newman, R. H.
Reginald Henry Newman, 374112, was a Rifleman n the 8th (City of London) battalion of the London Regiment (Post Office Rifles). He died of wounds on 25th April 1917 when he was 29. He is buried at the Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension, France.

He was born in Dover. He was the son of William Ingram Newman and Sophia Catherine Newman, of 1, Queen Street, Dover. He lived in Dover, but enlisted in Canterbury.

Newton, A. W.
Albert William Newton
Nicholas, H. C.
Henry Charles Nicholas

Nicholass, H.
Henry Charles Nicholass, 2163, was a Gunner in the 1st.2nd battery of the RFA (3rd Home counties). He was 23 when he died on 27th May 1916 at the War Hospital, Colaba, India.  He is commemorated on the Kirkee 1914-1918 Memorial, India. 

He was the only son of Henry Richard and Louisa Jane Nicholass, of 16, Peter Street., Dover, formerly 2 Spring Gardens.

Nimmo, A. C. 
Alfred Charles Nimmo, K/4760, was in the Royal Navy, serving as a Leading Stoker. He was killed when his ship, HMS "Princess Irene", exploded off Sheerness on 27th May 1915. He was 25, and the son of Alfred Charles and Mary Nimmo, of 166, Union Rd., Buckland, Dover.

He is commemorated on the Chatham Naval memorial in the United Kingdom.

Norman, E. J.
Edward James Norman, 30999, was an Acting Sergeant in the 1st battalion of the Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment (formerly G/27661 in the Middlesex Regiment). He was killed in action in France on 27th September 1918.

He was born in Folkestone and enlisted in Margate. Mrs Blackburn, from 144 Mayfield Avenue, requested that his name should be placed on the Town Memorial

FJ Norris, courtesy Dover ExpressNorris, F. J. 
Frank John Norris, G/17932, was a Private in the 7th battalion of the East Surrey Regiment. He had seen seven months active service before he was killed in action on 30th April 1917, when he was 34. He was buried at the Feuchy British Cemetery, France. His wife, Mercy Matilda Norris, and children lived at 130 Heathfield Avenue, Dover.

Born in Dover, he enlisted in Canterbury. He was one of four sons of Mrs E. Norris, of 11 Commercial Quay, Dover, who was serving. His brother, Herbert Norris, below, was killed three days later.
 

In ever loving memory of my loving and dearly loved husband, Frank John Norris, of the East Surrey Regiment, who gave his life for his King and country on April 30th, 1917, aged 34. Sleep on, beloved one, until the day break - from his sorrowing Wife, Mother, and Children (130 Heathfield Avenue, Dover)

 

insceripton on FJ Norris' grave, by Michelle and Andy Cooper FJ Norris, gravestone, by Michelle and Andy Cooper

 

entrance to Feuchy British cemetery, by Michelle and Andy Cooper Feuchy British Cemetery, by Michelle and Andy Cooper
Entrance to Feuchy British Cemetery - Private Norris's grave is to the right of the entrance (out of shot)  Private Norris's grave is in the foreground row, just
behind the camera position
 

At the bottom of the gravestone is inscribed:

Father in thy loving keeping
leave we now our loved one sleeping

Feuchy pictures with thanks to Michelle and Andy Cooper

HE Norris, courtesy Dover Express

Norris, H. E.
Herbert E. Norris, known as Bert, 60491, was a Private in the Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment), 9th battalion (formerly in the East Surrey Regiment). He lived in Marylebone and enlisted in London on 14th June 1916, and was killed less than a year later, on 3rd May 1917, three days after his brother, Frank. He is commemorated on the Arras memorial in France.

Other brothers serving were:

R. Norris, who enlisted on 1st December 1916, and was in the Army Ordinance Corps Sapper Fred  Norris, who was a Transport Driver in the Royal Engineers

L Nowers gravestone, by Joyce and Brian BanksNowers, L. F. F.
Leslie Frank Filer Nowers, M2/202810, was a Private in the RASC, in the 881st Mechanical Transport Company. He was born and lived in Dover, and enlisted in Canterbury. Before enlisting he was in the anti-aircraft corps, and worked for the Dover Motor Company in Castle Street.

He was 20 when he dwas reported missing, and later as presumed dead, on 27th June 1917 in the Atlantic Ocean. He is commemorated on the Hollybrook Memorial, Southampton in the United Kingdom.  

He had a sister, Mabel, and was the son of bootmaker Frederick George and Laura D. Nowers, of 30 Frith Rd., Dover and formerly (in 1901) of 3 De Burgh Hill. On their gravestone (left) at Charlton cemetery, his name was also inscribed. It reads:
 
In loving Memory of
Laura
beloved wife of
Frederick G. Nowers
Died 14th June 1938 Aged 69 Years
Also Leslie, Beloved Only Son of  Above
Killed in Action 27th June 1917
Aged 20 Years
Also of  Frederick George Nowers
Died ? April 1949 Aged 89 Years
Thou Good and Faithful Servant

with thanks to Joyce Banks
 

 

the inscription at Hollybrook Memorial

 

with thanks to Andy and Michelle Cooper

Hollybrook memorial, by Michelle and Andy Cooper


Copyright 2006/7/8 © Marilyn Stephenson-Knight. All Rights Reserved