John Ernest Newland
Captain, 12th Battalion * Australian Imperial Force
- Register No.
- 924 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Captain all Captains →
- Unit
- 12th Battalion * Australian Imperial Force all * Australian Imperial Force VCs →
- London Gazette
- 8th June 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Born
- 22nd August 1881 at Highton, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
- Died
- 19th March 1948 at Caulfield, Victoria, Australia
- Memorial / grave
- at Brighton General Cemetery, Melbourne, Australia and on the Australian War Memorial, Canberra
Digest of citation
Captain Newland had organised an attack on an important objective, and personally led his company in a bombing attack under extremely heavy fire at Bapaume, France, on the 7th/9th April 1917, rallying his men who had suffered heavy casualties. His company, who were holding the captured position, were counter -attacked, by the enemy, the following night, but the captain, with utter disregard for his own safety and sensible use of reserves, along with his men, regained it On another occasion, when the company to his left was overpowered and his own company was being attacked from the rear, he drove off the combined attack that had unfolded from these directions. When the attacks were renewed three or four times, it was Captain Newland's tenacity and disregard for his own safety that had encouraged his company to hold out. The stand by this man was a great importance, producing outstanding results
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
NEWLAND, John Ernest. (reg No. 924).
Captain. 12th Battalion * Australian Imperial Force.
London Gazetted on 8th June 1917.
Born on 22nd August 1881 at Highton, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
Died on 19th March 1948 at Caulfield, Victoria, Australia.
Memorial on grave at Brighton General Cemetery, Melbourne, Australia and on the Australian War Memorial, Canberra.
Digest of Citation reads: Captain Newland had organised an attack on an important objective, and personally led his company in a bombing attack under extremely heavy fire at Bapaume, France, on the 7th/9th April 1917, rallying his men who had suffered heavy casualties. His company, who were holding the captured position, were counter -attacked, by the enemy, the following night, but the captain, with utter disregard for his own safety and sensible use of reserves, along with his men, regained it On another occasion, when the company to his left was overpowered and his own company was being attacked from the rear, he drove off the combined attack that had unfolded from these directions. When the attacks were renewed three or four times, it was Captain Newland's tenacity and disregard for his own safety that had encouraged his company to hold out. The stand by this man was a great importance, producing outstanding results.
* Southern Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmanian Battalion.
Additional information:. Major Newlands also held the Military Service Medal (MSM).
Additional information
Major Newlands also held the Military Service Medal (MSM).
* Southern Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmanian Battalion.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Brighton General Cemetery, Melbourne, Australia and on the Australian War Memorial, Canberra
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