First Contingent 1899 · Coronation Contingent 1902 · NZ Rifle Brigade 1916
Sergeant Charles Newman
Charles Newman was a Tawa Flat farmer and member of the Heretaunga Mounted Rifles who sailed as Trooper 79 with the First Contingent in October 1899. He came home early in 1901 to a public welcome and a gold watch from the people of Tawa Flat.
In 1902 he was chosen as one of the New Zealand soldiers who travelled to England for the Coronation of King Edward VII, and in September 1916, as a sergeant, he sailed again with the 11th Reinforcements of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade. Little is recorded of his birth or later life.
His story
A Tawa Flat farmer
Newman was a farmer at Tawa Flat on the Wellington-Manawatu line. His mother, Mrs Ellen Newman, lived there, and his sister Emily later nursed at the district hospital in Whangarei. He belonged to the Heretaunga Mounted Rifles, the Hutt Valley volunteer corps, and was among the volunteers who put their names forward when the corps was asked for men in early October 1899.
Source: Online Cenotaph record C34859; NZEF Project record 25930; Evening Post, 2 Oct 1899 (Papers Past EP18991002.2.45)Sails on the Waiwera
Newman was one of fourteen Heretaunga Mounted Rifles members chosen for the First Contingent and embarked on the Waiwera on 21 October 1899 as Private 79, 1 Company, New Zealand Mounted Rifles.
Source: Online Cenotaph record C34859; Evening Post, 6 Oct 1899 (Papers Past EP18991006.2.53); New Zealand Mail, 2 Nov 1899 (group photograph of Heretaunga members)Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein and Diamond Hill
The Cenotaph lists his campaigns as the Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg and Diamond Hill. It notes he was present at Kimberley Camp and, in February 1900, detached for duty on fit horses (the horses of the Contingent were by then wearing out). A letter from Sergeant Baynes of the First Contingent, printed in February 1900, describes a trooper named Newman who calmly dismounted to pick up a Boer shell that had landed nearby; this is probably the same man but is not certain.
Source: Online Cenotaph record C34859 (Stowers, Kiwi versus Boer); Hastings Standard, 22 Feb 1900 (Papers Past HAST19000222.2.7)Welcomed home at Tawa Flat
Newman and fellow trooper Cummings of Tawa Flat were the guests at a concert, dance and presentation at Tawa Flat School on Monday 18 February 1901. The Hon. C. H. Mills represented the Government and presented each with a gold lever watch, with the local band providing music.
Source: Evening Post, 18 Feb 1901 and New Zealand Times, 20 Feb 1901 (Papers Past EP19010218.2.58, NZTIM19010220.2.51)The Coronation Contingent
Newman was one of the New Zealand soldiers picked from the contingents that had served in South Africa to go to London with the Premier for the Coronation of King Edward VII. The published list gives him as 'C. Newman, First, Tawa Flat'. The Cenotaph says he attended the Coronation.
Source: Auckland Star, 25 Apr 1902 (Papers Past AS19020425.2.25); Marlborough Express, 17 Apr 1902; Online Cenotaph record C34859Years not yet traced
No detailed record has been found of Newman's life between the Coronation and 1916, beyond the Cenotaph's note that he was a farmer.
Source: Online Cenotaph record C34859 (occupation: farmer)Sails again with the Rifle Brigade
At the age of about 40, Newman enlisted in the NZEF and embarked at Wellington as a sergeant on 25 September 1916 on the Devon (HMNZT 64), with E Company of the 11th Reinforcements to the 1st and 2nd Battalions, New Zealand Rifle Brigade, number 25930. His next of kin was by then his sister, Nurse Emily Newman. Records of his service overseas and his return were not found.
Source: NZEF Project record 25930 (Nominal Roll Vol. 2, Roll 41, p. 27); Online Cenotaph record C34859
Rank and insignia
The rank he held, and the badge a soldier of that rank wore. These are simplified illustrations.
His medals
“Documented” means a source we name says he received it. “Listed on the Online Cenotaph” means the museum’s record lists the medal but we could not confirm it elsewhere. “Entitled” means his service dates qualified him, but we have not seen a record of the medal itself. The drawings are simplified illustrations.
His ships
Afterwards
Newman's life after the Coronation is not documented in the sources searched. He was a farmer of Tawa Flat on enlistment in 1916, with a sister who was a nurse; no death date, cemetery or marriage has been confirmed, and this should be treated as an open question until his Archives NZ file (R20522446) or a death record is checked.
His sign
This is the Service Record sign as we would make it from his record: his rank, name, regiment, number and date of embarkation. The medals on the sign are worked out automatically from the embarkation date, so the medals listed above are the ones to rely on.
Photograph
We haven’t hosted a photograph here
Rather than copy someone else’s image onto our own site, we’d rather send you to see it where it’s properly held: his full record at the Auckland War Memorial Museum’s Online Cenotaph.
Sources
- Charles Newman, Online Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial Museum.
- NZEF Project (UNSW), record for 25930 Charles Newman
- Evening Post, 6 Oct 1899, 'New Zealand's contingent for the Transvaal' (Papers Past)
- New Zealand Mail, 2 Nov 1899, Heretaunga Mounted Rifles photograph (Papers Past)
- Evening Post, 18 Feb 1901 (Papers Past)
- New Zealand Times, 20 Feb 1901 (Papers Past)
- Auckland Star, 25 Apr 1902, 'The Coronation Contingent' (Papers Past)
- Hastings Standard, 22 Feb 1900, Sergeant Baynes's letter (Papers Past)
What we could not confirm
Weakest record of the five: no birth, death or burial details found. The Cenotaph has no dates beyond the embarkations.
Identity check: number 79 / Heretaunga Mounted Rifles / Tawa Flat links the 1899 and 1902 newspaper items to the Cenotaph man. The WWI number 25930 appears on the NZEF Project with the same name, occupation (farmer) and his sister Emily as next of kin, matching the Cenotaph. Common name; a different Charles Newman of Tawa Flat in later records could be confused with him.
The Hastings Standard letter (Newman picking up a shell) is probably this man but the letter does not give his unit or number.
Ship home in 1901: Cenotaph says Harlech Castle, Evening Post says Karamea. Cenotaph's 'Harleck Castle' notes appear on several records and may be copied between them.
Whether he served at the front in WWI, was wounded, or returned is unknown; BWM/Victory shown as 'entitled' only.
The Coronation Medal (1902): contingent members may have received one, but nothing seen documents it, so it is not listed.
Whether the Coronation contingent member 'C. Newman, First, Tawa Flat' is the same man is very likely (same contingent and township) but no newspaper there gives his number.