NEWLOVE, Everson Wilsby
| Service Number: | 1270 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 4 January 1916, An original of C Company |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 42nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Maroon, Queensland, Australia, 26 July 1893 |
| Home Town: | Maroon, Scenic Rim, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Contractor |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Belgium, 5 April 1917, aged 23 years |
| Cemetery: |
Berks Cemetery Extension E 23 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Boonah War Memorial, Brisbane 42nd Infantry Battalion AIF Roll of Honour, Maroon War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 4 Jan 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1270, 42nd Infantry Battalion, An original of C Company | |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Jun 1916: | Involvement Private, 1270, 42nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Borda embarkation_ship_number: A30 public_note: '' | |
| 5 Jun 1916: | Embarked Private, 1270, 42nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Borda, Sydney |
Narrative
Eversen Welsby Newlove #1270 42nd Battalion
Eversen Newlove was one of two sons of Henry (Harry) and Alice Newlove who enlisted. There is scant information about his early life, save for the fact he was born at Maroon. When he presented himself for enlistment in Brisbane on 4th January 1916, he stated he was a 23 year old contractor. There is some confusion about the spelling of Eversen’s Christian names. He himself spelled Welsby as Wilsby on some documents and the official records have alternative spelling for Eversen (Everson).
Once passed fit, Eversen marched in to Thompson’s Paddock at Enoggera where he was drafted into “C” Company of the newly formed 42nd Battalion. The 42nd was designated to be part of the newly formed 3rd Division of the AIF. Unlike the other four divisions, the 3rd Division would not be immediately sent to the Western Front in early 1916. Instead the 3rd Division would spend almost nine months training at Larkhill on Salisbury Plain before being deployed to France.
Eversen boarded the “Borda” in Sydney on 5th June 1916 and marched into Larkhill camp in July. He spent several periods in hospital with bronchitis before crossing the channel to take up positions in the Armentieres sector of the Western Front close to the French Belgian Border. The ground in this area was very boggy which precluded the digging of trenches. Instead earthen breastworks were constructed to provide shelter to frontline troops. Soon after arriving at the front, Eversen was again hospitalised; this time with mumps.
The 42nd battalion diary records the battalion engaged in fatigue work as they rotated in and out of the frontline; and occasional trench raids, to maintain contact with the enemy in what was regarded as a “quiet sector”. On 5th April 1917, a small trench raiding party went out into no man’s land. The war diary records two casualties from this action, one of which was Eversen Newlove; Killed in Action.
His mates brought his body back to the Australian lines and he was buried in a temporary cemetery near Ploegsteert Wood. Eversen’s parents received his few personal possessions in the post and at the end of the war, his medals and memorial plaque.
Eversen’s remains were reinterred in the Berks British Cemetery at Ploegsteert and a permanent limestone headstone was erected over his grave.
Submitted 28 February 2021 by Ian Lang
Biography contributed by Ian Lang
Eversen Welsby Newlove #1270 42nd Battalion
Eversen Newlove was one of two sons of Henry (Harry) and Alice Newlove who enlisted. There is scant information about his early life, save for the fact he was born at Maroon. When he presented himself for enlistment in Brisbane on 4th January 1916, he stated he was a 23 year old contractor. There is some confusion about the spelling of Eversen’s Christian names. He himself spelled Welsby as Wilsby on some documents and the official records have alternative spelling for Eversen (Everson).
Once passed fit, Eversen marched in to Thompson’s Paddock at Enoggera where he was drafted into “C” Company of the newly formed 42nd Battalion. The 42nd was designated to be part of the newly formed 3rdDivision of the AIF. Unlike the other four divisions, the 3rd Division would not be immediately sent to the Western Front in early 1916. Instead, the 3rd Division would spend almost nine months training at Larkhill on Salisbury Plain before being deployed to France.
Eversen boarded the “Borda” in Sydney on 5th June 1916 and marched into Larkhill camp in July. He spent several periods in hospital with bronchitis before crossing the channel to take up positions in the Armentieres sector of the Western Front close to the French Belgian Border. The ground in this area was very boggy which precluded the digging of trenches. Instead, earthen breastworks were constructed to provide shelter to frontline troops. Soon after arriving at the front, Eversen was again hospitalised; this time with mumps.
The 42nd battalion diary records the battalion engaged in fatigue work as they rotated in and out of the frontline; and occasional trench raids, to maintain contact with the enemy in what was regarded as a “quiet sector”. On 5th April 1917, a small trench raiding party went out into no man’s land. The war diary records two casualties from this action, one of which was Eversen Newlove; Killed in Action.
His mates brought his body back to the Australian lines and he was buried in a temporary cemetery near Ploegsteert Wood. Eversen’s parents received his few personal possessions in the post and at the end of the war, his medals and memorial plaque.
Eversen’s remains were reinterred in the Berks British Cemetery at Ploegsteert and a permanent limestone headstone was erected over his grave.
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