5 March 1915 : Major George Pope Newstead

George Newstead was born in Bristol, 23 September 1875

Location of Bristol in the south west of England (cc OpenStreetMap)

His parents were James (General Practitioner) and Louisa Anne  (née Pope). He was their only child at the time. They lived at James Newstead, Ashby Manor, Horncastle, Lincolnshire. 

Age 15, according to the 1891 Census, George lived at with his parents, his sister Louisa (age 12) and four servants.

Rugby School Sanatorium in Horton Crescent, Rugby. The foundation stone was laid in 1857 and the sanatorium remained here until the new sanatorium was opened in 1934. 1890s | IMAGE LOCATION: (Rugby Library)

He was educated at Rugby School (1889-94) where he was in the cricket eleven and football fifteen and where he won the Athletic Sports’ Challenge Cup.

Cricket on Rugby School Close. 1900s (C) Rugby Library 2022

He then went up to New College, Oxford.

He was gazetted 2nd Lieut. 24 June 1899. 2nd Suffolks, 15 May 1897, and promoted Lieut. 24 June 1899. Captain 15 March 1905 and Major, November 1914.

He married Maude Aileen (née Hanley). 

Officers of the West African Force (c) Royal West African Frontier Force 2022

George took part in various actions during the South African War and was then seconded to the West African Frontier Force in 1905. He returned to England and rejoined the 2nd Suffolks but in August 1910 returned to West Africa.

On 4 March, coming under heavy fire, Major Pope ordered the Maxim gun moved back. Returning to investigate he was shot in the side of the face. 

He died in Bare, Cameroons, West Africa.

To learn more read 'The History of the West African Frontier Force'

Some images from Our Warwickshire; Royal West African Front Force