Ashtead War Memorials - WWI
Air Mech William Newbury, RAF
William Newbury, junior, was a son of William Newbury [born Newington, London, c1860], Butcher, and Elizabeth (Bessie) née Holloway [born Bradfield, Berkshire, c1859] who had married in the summer of 1880 [registered Wokingham]. The younger William did not arrive, to become a member of a large family, until the spring of 1891[registered St Saviour]. It can be seen that this would account for a reference to him in the CWGC record as 'Native of Walworth'.
The initials shown on the War Memorial, after Air Mech, T.A.C.A., are in error, probably representing someone’s attempt to convert his Royal Flying Corps rank of Air Mechanic 2nd Class which would have changed to AC2 when the Royal Air Force came into being on 1 April 1918. Access has yet to be obtained to his service record [although information would be available at the National Archives under AIR 79 which covers the first 329,000 members of the RAF in service number order] but a number 64066 and advancement from Air Mechanic 3rd Class suggests that he had spent some time with the RFC.
Kite Balloon Sections were intended to provide stable observation platforms, “Spotting for the guns” and membership was a highly hazardous occupation. The tethered blimps, inflated with inflammable hydrogen, needed to be tethered relatively close to enemy fortifications (perhaps within a mile) and provided a sitting target for enemy artillery & small arms fire, as well as hostile aircraft. [The average life of a balloon aloft was not much more than an a fortnight and that of observers even less.].
Observers were officers but they often worked in the basket with an air mechanic manning the field telephone. Parachutes were provided, attached outside of the basked in a container shaped like a candle-snuffer and linked to the observers with a static line: use was inevitable sooner or later and, to escape, men had only to hope that the 'chute would open, that they would not get caught up in the rigging, and that they would not be caught in the flames as the fabric collapsed! Below, the unit equipped with motorised transport, engine operated winch and hydrogen generator were very much at risk from flaming debris.
Queant Communal Cemetery, British Extension, lay close behind the Hindenberg Line at the southern end of the Drocourt-Queant line. William (Bib) Newbury died on 4 October 1918 in the middle of the battle of Beaurevoir line at the time of the Australians ill-fated attempt to capture that village. One can only imagine the circumstances of William’s passing – at 2am according to one reference.
His connection to Ashtead remains tenuous but Albert John Newbury who lived at 4 Progress Cottages, Gladstone Road, could have been a relative.
Links
http://mashable.com/2016/03/02/wwi-balloons/#Cu.fFkLnC8qs
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Observation_balloon
text: Brian Bouchard: if you can add to this page please contact
the editor
page added 16 Feb 2009: 28 Nov 17