James Ernest Newland

He led assaults and held firm against repeated enemy attacks

James Ernest Newland was born on 22 August 1881 at Highton, Victoria, to William Newland and Louisa Jane, née Wall. He attended Pomborneit State School. In February 1902 he enlisted in the 4th Battalion, Australian Commonwealth Horse, and sailed to South Africa in March. His contingent arrived shortly before the Boer War ended and returned to Australia without seeing combat.

He served with the Royal Australian Artillery in Victoria from 1903 to 1907, then worked as a policeman in Tasmania in 1909 and 1910. Rejoining the regular army in August 1910, he served in the Australian Instructional Corps. In December 1913 he married Florence May Mitchell at Sheffield, Tasmania.

On 17 August 1914 he joined the Australian Imperial Force as regimental quartermaster sergeant of the 12th Battalion. He sailed for Egypt that October and landed at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915. Wounded soon afterwards, he was evacuated and commissioned as a second lieutenant during his recovery. He returned to the battalion, then took charge of its transport in Egypt. Promoted to captain in March 1916, he went to France as battalion adjutant and later commanded A Company. During the Somme fighting, he led an attack near Mouquet Farm on 21 August. Recommended for the Military Cross, he instead received a Mention in Despatches.

Wounded again near Le Barque in February 1917, he returned in March. During the night of 7/8 April, his company attacked a defended windmill west of Boursies. He personally led a bombing party, rallied his men under heavy fire and helped capture the objective. On the next night, a German counter-attack broke into their positions. Newland brought forward reserves and, with Sergeant John Whittle, reorganised the defence and recovered the lost ground.

On 15 April at Lagnicourt, German troops overran neighbouring positions and attacked his company from several directions. He withdrew his men to a sunken road, encouraged them through repeated assaults and held until reinforcements arrived. As the attacks weakened, he led a counter-attack that captured forty prisoners. His leadership on these three occasions earned the Victoria Cross, announced on 8 June 1917.

Wounded for a third time at Bullecourt in early May, he was evacuated to England. King George V presented his VC in July 1917. He returned to Australia, and his AIF appointment ended on 2 March 1918. He continued serving in the permanent forces in instructional, recruiting and administrative appointments, including adjutant and quartermaster duties. Florence died in 1924; in 1925 he married Heather Vivienne Broughton, with whom he had a daughter, Dawn. He became a major in 1930 and received the Meritorious Service Medal in 1935.

During the Second World War he served as a quartermaster before retiring on 22 August 1941 with the honorary rank of lieutenant-colonel. He also worked for the Australian Red Cross in the Northern Territory during 1941. In January 1942 he joined the inspection staff at Footscray Ammunition Factory. Newland died at Caulfield on 19 March 1949, aged 67, and was buried at Brighton Cemetery with military honours. Dawn donated his medals to the Australian War Memorial in 1984.

Official citation The London Gazette, Second Supplement, 8 June 1917, page 5702:

Capt. James Ernest Newlands, Inf. Bn., Aus. Imp. Force.

For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty, in the face of heavy odds, on three separate occasions.

On the first occasion he organised the attack by his company on a most important objective, and led personally, under heavy fire, a bombing attack. He then rallied his company, which had suffered heavy casualties, and he was one of the first to reach the objective.

On the following night his company, holding the captured position, was heavily counter-attacked. By personal exertion, utter disregard of fire, and judicious use of reserves, he succeeded in dispersing the enemy and regaining the position.

On a subsequent occasion, when the company on his left was overpowered and his own company attacked from the rear, he drove off a combined attack which had developed from these directions.

These attacks were renewed three or four times, and it was Capt. Newland's tenacity and disregard for his own safety that encouraged the men to hold out.

The stand made by this officer was of the greatest importance, and produced far-reaching results.