Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Grave: | Connaught Cemetery | XII. M. 4. Thiepval | |
| 2. Book: | The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918 | Pg.131 | |
| 3. Memorial: | The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour | 44A GQS | |
Awards & Titles: | |||
Family :
Husband of Alice Newcombe of 24 Mornington Rd., Regents Park, London.Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: 1st (Royal) Dragoons |
| Action : The Battles of the Somme 1916 |
The Battle of the Somme 1st July - 18th November 1916 is inevitably characterised by the appalling casualties (60,000) on the first day, July 1st 1916. Having failed to break through the German lines in force, and also failed to maximise opportunities where success was achieved, the battle became a series of attritional assaults on well defended defence in depth. The battle continued officially until 18th November 1916 costing almost 500,000 British casualties. German casualties were about the same, and French about 200,000. The Somme could not be counted a success in terms of ground gained or the cost, but it had a strategic impact as it marked the start of the decline of the German Army. Never again would it be as effective whilst the British Army, learning from its experience eventually grew stronger to become a war winning army. The German High Command recognised that it could never again fight another Somme, a view that advanced the decision to invoke unrestricted submarine warfare in an attempt to starve Britain of food and material, and in doing so accelerated the United States declaration of war thus guaranteeing the eventual outcome. 287 Brethren were killed on the Somme in 1916.
Detail :
Twenty three and a half years service in Royal Horse Guards (Blue).
Stated to have been killed in action.
Commemorated ST Mary's Church, Harrow, England: "ALSO IN LOVING MEMORY OF WILLIAM NEWCOMBE CAPT 1ST ROYAL DRAGOONS KILLED BEFORE THIEPVAL JUL 3 1916 INTERRED IN CONNAUGHT CEMETERY THEIPVAL"
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Comrades No. 2740 E.C. | London |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
13th November 1903 | 11th December 1903 | 12th January 1904 |
Listed as a Corporal Instructor and stationed at Regents Park Barracks when initiated in 1903. The contribution record shows full payment until his final year (3/- instead of 4/-) and the final annotation reads, "Killed in Action July 1916."
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley