Leading Aircraftman (Under Training/Pilot) 927517 Roger Frederick Newman, 8 FTS, RAFVR was born the 7th of November 1920 at Rustington, the son of Walter Newman and Ethel May Flowers.

The 1939 Register records the family at Station Cottage, Forest Row. Walter was born the 7th of July 1887 and was the Station Master. Ethel born the 30th of September 1888 was incapacitated. Children recorded are Peter born the 19th of September 1916, a butcher and cutter and Roger, a clerk at a gas company.

On the 23rd of February 1941 whilst flying Miles Master N8000 with LAC (U/T Pilot) 1152416 Robert George Hewlett-Whittaker, the aircraft flew into the ground near Kilrenny, Fifeshire, killing both men. It was believed that they had been engaged in unauthorised low flying.

The Crawley and District Observer reported upon his death on the 1st of March, 1941 in its Forest Row Column. The paper notes that 'he was very popular in the village and was assistant scoutmaster and a member of the choir in the parish church. He was employed in the gas office at Tunbridge Wells and joined the Royal Air Force “about the beginning of the war”.

His funeral took place on Friday, 28th of February in the parish church.

The same newspaper for the 19th of April adds further information based on the parish magazine. Roger, it notes that 'he was ten years old when the family came to Forest Row, where his father had taken the post of Station Master. Roger was a “friend to all the world”, he had an exceptional singing voice and was a correspondent of the local Toc-H. He had joined the RAF in June 1940 and by January 1941 had passed his exams with great distinction and gained his wings.'