Gloucestershire Regiment
Charles Joseph Newman was born in Badgeworth, Cheltenham in 1885, the son of Joseph and Hannah Maria Newman (née Hyett ) of Bentham, Gloucestershire.
His siblings were Fanny (born 1879), and Robert (1880). He married Florence Emily Haines at Badgeworth in November 1908, and their children were Albert Joseph (born May 1909), Ida Gertrude Anna (February 1911), Frederick Charles (October 1912), Lizzie Florence (1915) and Ethel (1919).
Charles was attested on 9 December 1915, and placed on the Army Reserve on 10 December.
Having been mobilised on 5 June 1916, he was then enlisted in Cheltenham on 6 June 1916 into the Worcestershire Regiment, and posted to the 1st Garrison Battalion.
He was reported to be 30 years and five months, his height was 5 feet 5 inches, and his trade was a Carter [Agricultural Labourer].
His wife Florence Emily, was given as Next of Kin, and his marital home was Mill Corner, Little Witcombe, Gloucestershire.
After eleven days in the Worcestershire Regiment, he was transferred to the 6th Devonshire Regiment then posted to the 15th Devonshire Regiment when it formed on 1 January 1917.
On 16 October 1917, he was transferred to the 699th Agricultural Company, Labour Corps , posted to the 648th Agricultural Company, Labour Corps on 26 January 1918 and to the 440th Agricultural Company, Labour Corps on 1 March 1919.
He was transferred back to the Gloucestershire Regiment Depot on 12 August 1919, and discharged on 15 November 1919. His address on discharge was Red House, Little Witcombe, Gloucestershire.
Charles died on 21 May 1921, aged 36 years, and is buried in Section A of the St Peters Churchyard at Bentham near Gloucester.
A recently released Pension Record Card states the cause of death to be diabetes and convulsions.
The churchyard is still under the dedication of St Peters in the Church of England, but the church is occupied by the Greek Orthodox and now known as St John Chrysostom Greek Orthodox Church of the Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain.
His home address was given as Holly Cottage, Bangrove, Beckford, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire.
Unfortunately, it would appear that Charles is not commemorated elsewhere. However, the following plaque is located within St John Chrysostom Greek Orthodox Church.
Researched by Baden Russell