Sergeant Edwin Cowling Newman

Edwin Newman was born in London, England on August 29, 1882. He immigrated to Canada and lived in Paris, on Banfield Street, working as a baggage man, presumably at the Paris Junction. He was married to Mary Anne Newman. They had one daughter, Edith Alice. Edwin is commemorated at St James Anglican Church Before the war, he spent one year with the 38^th Dufferin Rifles. Edwin was 33 years of age when he enlisted with the 125^th Battalion in Paris.

He was a member of the 10^th Platoon that embarked aboard the S.S Scandinavia on February 12, 1916. The 9^th and 10^th Platoons were the first contingent of soldiers from Paris, nearly 100 men, to go overseas. He was transferred to the 13^th Battalion, Canadian Railway Troops in the Depot in Purfleet, after arriving in England. The military planners recruited skilled railway workers from across Canada, ensuring technical expertise. They were essential for building, maintaining, and operating railway lines to transport troops, ammunition, and supplies, keeping the war effort moving. 

Edwin went to France in March, 1918 where he was promoted to Corporal, then Sergeant. Canadian Railway Troops (CRT) were frequently under enemy fire. Because their primary mission was to push rail lines as close to the front as possible to support major offensives, they operated in highly dangerous zones. Unlike infantry who had the protection of trenches, railway troops often worked above ground in the open to build or repair tracks. This made them prime targets for artillery shelling and aerial bombing. And they were constantly in such danger because there were often roughly 100 breaks per day due to enemy shell fire. During the massive German Spring Offensive in March 1918, CRT units were forced to abandon railway work and were instead used as emergency combat troops to build rear defense trench systems under fire.

Edwin was transferred back to England in January, 1919 and then back to Canada in June where he was discharged.