Person

Newton Wynne Apperley was born in Durham City on 28 October 1894. His father Newton Wynne Apperley (1847-1925) was born in Australia to a British family. He returned to Britain where he settled in Durham City and worked as private secretary to the Marquess of Londonderry. His mother was Mary Apperley nee Hutchinson (1853-1932), the daughter of a wine merchant of Old Elvet, Durham. Newton’s parents were married in Durham in 1880 and had six children, three girls and three boys. Both of Newton’s brothers, Alan Wynne Apperley and William Wynne Apperley, served in the Durham Light Infantry (DLI) during the war and were wounded.

Newton attended Durham School between 1910 and 1911 then continued his education at HMS Conway. This was a wooden battleship used as a school ship based on the River Mersey. It was used to train boys to become officers in the Merchant and Royal Navies . Her successful boys were enrolled as cadets in the Royal Naval Reserve (RNR). At the school training placed a strong emphasis on leadership and responsibility. Nautical training included rowing and sailing, navigation and seamanship.

As a member of the RNR Newton was mobilised to serve in the Royal Navy at the outbreak of war. He was appointed midshipman on 1 September 1914 and joined HMS Emperor of India, a Duke class battleship, on 12 October 1914. After almost two years on his first ship he was transferred to HMS Virginian an armed merchant cruiser enforcing the blockade of the northern isles.

HMS Virginian’s log shows that Newton joined the ship at 3.40pm on 25 July 1916. It further records that he was discharged to hospital at 11.00am on 11 October 1916. Newton proved to be suffering from chronic nephritis (inflamed kidneys). He was awarded a Silver War Badge numbered 17932 on 1 October 1917. This badge was awarded to military personnel who had served at home or overseas during the war, and who had been discharged from service under King’s Regulations. The award of this badge would seem to indicate that Newton had been released from the Royal Navy on account of being permanently physically unfit. He died at home in Durham on 20 June 1918.

Newton Wynne Apperley was awarded the Star, Victory Medal, British War Medal and Silver War Badge for his service during the First World War.

Civil Parish: Durham

Birth date: 28-Oct-1894

Death date: 20-Jun-1918

Armed force/civilian: Navy

Residence: Southend, Durham (1901 census)
School Ship Conway, River Mersey, Birkenhead, Cheshire (1911 census)

Education: Durham School (1909-1910)
School Ship Conway, Birkenhead, Cheshire

Employment: Midshipman, Royal Navy Reserve

Family: Parents: Newton Wynne Apperley (1847-1925), Mary Apperley nee Hutchinson (1853-1932)
Siblings: William Wynne Apperley, Esther Mary Apperley, Harriet Gwenyvar Apperley, Alan Wynne Apperley, Sara Theresa Apperley,

Military service:

Midshipman (1 September 1914)
HMS Emperor of India (1914-16)
HMS Virginian (1916)

Medal(s): Star
Victory Medal
British War Medal

Memorial(s): Chapel, Durham School
War Record 1914-18, Durham School
Plaque, Durham Town Hall
Plaque, St Margaret of Antioch Church, Durham
Calvary, St Oswald’s Churchyard, Durham

Gender: Male

Contributed by David D, Stanley, Co Durham