Royal Air Force
Arthur William Newport was born in Gloucester on 9 October 1901 ad was the son of Charles William and Florence Ellen Newport. His father was a pastry cook and his mother died in 1909 (age 36).
They had two sons, Arthur the younger. The family lived at 65 Albany Street, Gloucester.
After schooling Arthur was a porter but joined the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) as a Boy Entrant on 1 February 1918, aged 16 years three months.
He retained this status when the RFC was absorbed into the newly formed Royal Air Force on 1 April 1918.
His Service Record in the National Archives (AIR 79/1435/159558) states that he was posted to ’20 Station’ and on 19 May 1918 to 12 Training Depot Station.
The latter was presumably located on Salisbury Plain as Arthur died on 1 November 1918, of influenza and pneumonia, at Fargo Military Hospital, which was part of the Larkhill Military garrison.
He was aged 17.
He was buried in Gloucester Old Cemetery, where a CWGC headstone marks his grave.
Researched by Graham Adams 28 March 2014