William Laws Newman. Died 25 February 1917
William was born in 1892 in Swallowfield, Berkshire to father, Henry and mother Fanny. He was the last born and had five siblings, two brothers, Henry and Herbert and two sisters, Fanny and Dorothy. By the age of 19, William, like his father had become a Farm Labourer and maybe it was this environment, which attracted him to the fertile plains of Alberta, Canada. As yet, we do not know when he emigrated to Canada, but when the Empire called upon him to do his duty, William returned as a member of the 50th Battalion, Alberta Regiment of the Canadian Infantry. The 50th Canadian Battalion was a battalion of volunteers from Calgary and its local area. They were added into the newly forming 4th Canadian Division because the brigade of Canadian Mounted Rifles had taken over the last few spots in the 3rd Canadian Division. They were recruited when the war started, trained in Calgary, sailed for England on October 27 1915, and sent off to the Western Front with the rest of the 4th Division, disembarking in France on August 11, 1916.
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1916 Ancre Heights/Somme. The battalion was ordered to Ancre Heights in October. Ancre Heights was the first Canadian participation in the Battle of the Somme, which had begun on July 1. Later, they were ordered into the Battle of the Somme, where the Canadians suffered 25,000 casualties. The battle saw the deaths of many non-commissioned officers (NCO’s) of the 50th. Since the NCOs were usually in the second wave, they were shot by hidden German machine-gun posts.
1917 Vimy Ridge. From the Somme, they went northward to Artois in November 1916, where they spent their winter and Christmas preparing for the offensive on Vimy Ridge. From January to March, the division’s artillery was part of the pre-battle barrage. It was during this period we believe William was lost. In March, the Canadian Corps changed the commander of the battalion. They took Colonel E.G. Mason and put him in charge of another battalion while giving the 50th to Lieutenant-Colonel Page. In April, the Canadians made their three-day offensive, starting the Battle of Vimy Ridge.
The 50th Battalion, with the 4th Division was attacking from the north of the ridge and were facing the 16th Bavarian Jäger Division and the 79th Reserve Division
The 50th Battalion and the rest of the 4th Canadian Division were assigned to attack Hill 145. After many attempts to capture the hill, they finally managed to take it from the Bavarian Reserve force. For the next two days, the 4th Canadian Division and 50th Battalion tried to attack the little knoll known as the Pimple. Finally, the Bavarians, low on food and having suffered many casualties, surrendered the Pimple and retreated from Vimy. The 50th, having suffered heavy casualties, were taken out of the line and were rested.
Name: NEWMAN, WILLIAM LAWS
Initials: W L
Nationality: Canadian
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Canadian Infantry (Alberta Regiment)
Unit Text: 50th Bn.
Age: 24 Date of Death: 25/02/1917
Service No: 811238
Additional information: Son of Henry Edward and Fanny Newman, of 8, Broad St. Wokingham, Berks, England.
Grave/Memorial Reference: VII. C. 13.Cemetery: VILLERS STATION CEMETERY, VILLERS-AU-BOIS
8, Broad St. Wokingham, Berks, England.