Sergeant John Newbery 3rd Volunteer Battalion Hamphire Regiment
The Man John Newbery was born during the final quarter of 1864 in Portsea, Hampshire, son of John Edward, a Metropolitan Police Officer, working at HM Dockyard Portsmouth and Eliza nee Chessell. He was one of three children, Kate (1860-1934) and William (1862-1946).
The family were shown in the census of 1871,81 and 91 living at 8 Pitt Street, Portsmouth and following his education John became an Apprentice Plumber, reflected in the 1881 census aged 16 and again in 1891. Two years later in 1883 aged 18 he enlisted into the 3rd Volunteer Battalion, Hampshire Regiment with service number 6047.
During the first quarter of 1892 aged 27, John married Sarah Jane Turner in Portsea and they had one daughter Olive Hilda born in the same year. In the census of 1901 John, Sarah Jane and Olive, who was listed as a niece! were living at 34 Malin’s Road, Portsmouth and John’s occupation now given as a Plumber at HM Dockyard.
In Army Order of October 1903, John was awarded The Volunteer Long Service Medal by which time he had been promoted to Lance Sergeant and in 1911 aged 47, he and family were at the same address and his job now described as a Ship’s Plumber, HM Dockyard.
Following the outbreak of World War I on 4th August 1914, John continued serving in the, now Territorial Force (TF), in the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, a depot / training unit, it remained in UK throughout the war. Moved on mobilisation to Parkhurst (Isle of Wight) and in January 1915 to Gosport for duty with Portsmouth Garrison.
John’s occupation and age, 54 by 1918, may also have had a bearing. His service number was changed to 38329 and following the war he continued serving in the 17th Battalion Hampshire Regiment TF and promoted to Sergeant. In Army Order 148 of April 1920, he was awarded the Territorial Force Efficiency Medal.
In the London Gazette of 11th July 1924 John was shown as being awarded the Imperial Service Medal upon his retirement as a Plumber, Chargeman, HM Dockyard Portsmouth and aged 59.
Sadly, he appears to have not lived too much longer although no specific record of his death can be found. But in the 1939 Register, Sarah is shown as a widower, living at 117 Tewkesbury Street, Cardiff. Thus, John will have died between 1924 and 1939 aged between 59 and 74. Sarah died in the first quarter of 1951 some 20 years later.
The family were shown in the census of 1871,81 and 91 living at 8 Pitt Street, Portsmouth and following his education John became an Apprentice Plumber, reflected in the 1881 census aged 16 and again in 1891. Two years later in 1883 aged 18 he enlisted into the 3rd Volunteer Battalion, Hampshire Regiment with service number 6047.
During the first quarter of 1892 aged 27, John married Sarah Jane Turner in Portsea and they had one daughter Olive Hilda born in the same year. In the census of 1901 John, Sarah Jane and Olive, who was listed as a niece! were living at 34 Malin’s Road, Portsmouth and John’s occupation now given as a Plumber at HM Dockyard.
In Army Order of October 1903, John was awarded The Volunteer Long Service Medal by which time he had been promoted to Lance Sergeant and in 1911 aged 47, he and family were at the same address and his job now described as a Ship’s Plumber, HM Dockyard.
Following the outbreak of World War I on 4th August 1914, John continued serving in the, now Territorial Force (TF), in the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, a depot / training unit, it remained in UK throughout the war. Moved on mobilisation to Parkhurst (Isle of Wight) and in January 1915 to Gosport for duty with Portsmouth Garrison.
John’s occupation and age, 54 by 1918, may also have had a bearing. His service number was changed to 38329 and following the war he continued serving in the 17th Battalion Hampshire Regiment TF and promoted to Sergeant. In Army Order 148 of April 1920, he was awarded the Territorial Force Efficiency Medal.
In the London Gazette of 11th July 1924 John was shown as being awarded the Imperial Service Medal upon his retirement as a Plumber, Chargeman, HM Dockyard Portsmouth and aged 59.
Sadly, he appears to have not lived too much longer although no specific record of his death can be found. But in the 1939 Register, Sarah is shown as a widower, living at 117 Tewkesbury Street, Cardiff. Thus, John will have died between 1924 and 1939 aged between 59 and 74. Sarah died in the first quarter of 1951 some 20 years later.
The Story The medal trio awarded to John Newbery were acquired from Noonans at their auction of 12th October 2022 and of interest because of the treble long service combination.
Initial checks revealed this was John’s only entitlement as he had served ‘at home’ during World War I in the Territorial Force, likely on account of his occupation and age.
Copies of Army Orders and the London Gazette came with the medals confirming all three medals, with Ancestry filling in other detail.
The research start point was the award of his Imperial Service Medal (ISM) in 1924 from the London Gazette as a Plumber Chargeman, HM Dockyard, Portsmouth. 60 years were taken off 1924 = 1864 and a cursory search made using this as his approximate year of birth and Portsmouth as the place he may have lived.
Surprisingly this gave an immediate match, John Newbery born in Portsea Hampshire during the last quarter of 1864. This in turn led to several censuses 1871,1881,1901 and 1911 all showing the same family and parents, John Edward and Eliza with the 1881 census showing him as a Plumber’s Apprentice aged 16. Following this, the rest fell into place as John worked as a Ship’s Plumber for the rest of his career right up to the award of his ISM.
Despite the not unusual name, a pleasing result enabling a brief biography to be pieced together. The medals are mounted in technically the wrong order as John died before the change of regulations elevating the ISM to be worn in a more senior position.
An interesting piece of history that evolved was the fact John senior was listed on the Censuses as a Metropolitan Police Officer, despite living in Portsmouth. However, in 1860, the Metropolitan Police also took on responsibility for the policing of the Royal Dockyards and other Royal Naval bases between 1860 until 1934, including Portsmouth, Chatham, Devonport, Royal Naval Air Station Pembroke, and the Royal Woolwich Arsenal.
Initial checks revealed this was John’s only entitlement as he had served ‘at home’ during World War I in the Territorial Force, likely on account of his occupation and age.
Copies of Army Orders and the London Gazette came with the medals confirming all three medals, with Ancestry filling in other detail.
The research start point was the award of his Imperial Service Medal (ISM) in 1924 from the London Gazette as a Plumber Chargeman, HM Dockyard, Portsmouth. 60 years were taken off 1924 = 1864 and a cursory search made using this as his approximate year of birth and Portsmouth as the place he may have lived.
Surprisingly this gave an immediate match, John Newbery born in Portsea Hampshire during the last quarter of 1864. This in turn led to several censuses 1871,1881,1901 and 1911 all showing the same family and parents, John Edward and Eliza with the 1881 census showing him as a Plumber’s Apprentice aged 16. Following this, the rest fell into place as John worked as a Ship’s Plumber for the rest of his career right up to the award of his ISM.
Despite the not unusual name, a pleasing result enabling a brief biography to be pieced together. The medals are mounted in technically the wrong order as John died before the change of regulations elevating the ISM to be worn in a more senior position.
An interesting piece of history that evolved was the fact John senior was listed on the Censuses as a Metropolitan Police Officer, despite living in Portsmouth. However, in 1860, the Metropolitan Police also took on responsibility for the policing of the Royal Dockyards and other Royal Naval bases between 1860 until 1934, including Portsmouth, Chatham, Devonport, Royal Naval Air Station Pembroke, and the Royal Woolwich Arsenal.
Medal Details:
- Imperial Service Medal: JOHN NEWBERY
- Volunteer Force Long Service Nedal: 6047 L.SJT:: J,NEWBERY. 3RD. V.B.. HAMPSHIRE.R.
- Territorial Force Efficiency Medal: 380329 SJT.J.NEWBERY. 17/HAMPS.R.
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