War Medal 1939-45 - unnamed as awarded in box of issue addressed to Mr J,J, Newell, 4 Carisbrooke Ave. Devon Rd. Nth. Waterford, Herts.
It could be said that James Albert Newell, born Watford in 1917 was one of the unlucky ones. Enlisting as a Sapper in the Royal Engineers for service in WWII, he was AWOL from his unit, the 2nd Depot Battalion HQ, when London was hit by a wave of incendiary High Explosive bombs on the night of 26 October 1940.
He was admitted to Hammersmith Hospital in Shepherd's Bush that night with a fracture at the base of his skull and passed away at 4.30 a.m. on the morning of 27 October.
He must have been on the run for some time before that as an article in the Portsmouth Evening News of 19 February 1940 reported under the heading Deserter Accused that, "Stated to be a deserter from a RE Company, James Albert Newell (22) was charged with stealing from 24 Park Lane, Cosham an overcoat valued at 10 shillings belonging to Alfred Simpson. Detective Stevens stated that Newell stayed at Simpson's house for a day and after he left the coat was missing. Newell was arrested at Brighton on Saturday and when charged at the Guildhall said he was guilty. He was remanded in custody for a week."
His father, James John Newell of 4 Carisbrooke Avenue, Devon Road, Watford was his next of kin. His War Medal 1939-45 was posted to that address in 1948.
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