John Newman was born in Richmond c.1892. He was the son of Augustus Edwin and Alice Newman. Augustus was a photographer who fell on hard times and was declared insolvent in 1886. His life appears to have taken a downward spiral since that time. When John enlisted on 21 June 1915 he stated that his occupation was driver, and he nominated his sister, Mrs. W Swaney of 142 Simpson Street, East Melbourne as his next of kin. This address was updated to 59 Grey Street, East Melbourne in 1921.
He embarked for Egypt on 26 August 1915 aboard HMAT Anchises as a private in the 21st Battalion, 3rd Reinforcements. He was taken on strength at Anzac on 18 October 1915. He had a relatively quiet time at Gallipoli, as the last major Allied offensives had been defeated in August. He returned to Alexandria on 7 January 1916. He rejoined his unit at Moascar on 7 March 1916. The day before at Giza he had been observed ‘breaking away from Railway Station at 4. P.m.’ for which he forfeited 28 days’ pay. He was transferred to the 5th Division and taken on strength of 60th Battalion on 9 April 1916. He was posted to the 15th Training Battalion at Hogs Back on 12 May 1916. In November, while still serving in the Training Battalion, he went AWL for two days and again had his pay docked. He embarked from Alexandria for Plymouth on 13 June 1916. On 27 September 1916 he was admitted to hospital at Codford and was there until 3 October 1916. On 6 December 1916 he proceeded overseas to France and rejoined his unit in the field on 3 January 1917. He was made corporal on 19 February 1917 and sergeant only a week later. He was reported wounded and missing on 12 May 1917 but later the same day it was discovered that he had been killed in action. Private H G Nowell of 60th Battalion later stated,
After the attack at Bullecourt, my platoon (under Sergeant Newman) was being relieved. After we left the trenches I was told by a Corporal whose name I do not know, that Sergt. Newman and Sergeant Doughty were both hit by the same shell. Sgt Newman was able to leave the trenches, but Sergeant Doughty was more seriously wounded and has since died of his wounds.
In another report Private M J Harrison stated that,
I was informed that Sgt J. Newman was wounded and unable to walk at Bullecourt (Somme) about May 12th 1917. He was blown to pieces by another shell before he could be rescued.
Base records wrote to his sister, his nominated next of kin, to ask if she was the closest blood relative alive, as widow, son, father, mother, or brother would be considered to have a better claim to his medals. A memo in reply from the area officer for West Melbourne stated that,
The father of the late Sergt. J. Newman is still alive. He is an inmate of the Salvation Army Home at Box Hill. I learned from Mrs Newman that her husband is such in name only, he has been a drunkard and has broken up the home, leaving her to support herself and daughter aged 15 years. He has not contributed towards their support for a number of years. In view of the above circumstances I suggest that Mrs Newman receive the War Medals of her son.
His father wrote a series of letters to Base Records and to the Minister for Repatriation requesting the medals for himself. They were incoherent and barely legible and as far as the authorities were concerned proved the point that the medals should go to Mrs Newman. Alice Newman also received a pension of £1 per fortnight from 12 September 1917. She was at the time living at 29 Victoria Parade, Collingwood, which appears to be the address also of Mrs Swaney, her daughter’s mother-in-law.
John’s name is inscribed on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France