Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Private Sydney Edward Newman (Service Nos:W50047/WX33050) initially served in the ACMF (20 April 1942 - 2 August 1942) as a Private with 13 Training Battalion, and was attached to 32nd Infantry Battalion on 3 August 1942 when he enlisted 'in the field' in the AIF. Private Newman was attached to 28th Infantry Battalion on 24 December 1944 when he embarked with his Unit from Darwin for Jacquinot Bay on board the Swartenhondt. On 21 May 1945 Private Newman embarked from Jacquinot Bay for Brisbane on board the Tarooma, and was attached to 28th Infantry Battalion at Discharge on 19 December 1945.

Sydney was born in Perth, Western Australia in 1916, fifth of ten children of Henry John Newman (b1888 in London, England) and Nellie Louise Ashford (b1888 in Nottinghamshire, England). Henry was an Omnibus Conductor when he and Nellie married in 1909 in London, where they lived and Henry worked as an Omnibus Conductor. Following the deaths of three infant children, Henry and Nellie immigrated in 1913, arriving in Fremantle on board the Ajana. The couple settled in Perth, where Henry was an Iron Worker and Tinsmith when he enlisted in the AIF in 1917 (Private;Service No:4440). Following his Discharge, Henry and Nellie lived in Fremantle, where Henry was a Steward, before settling in Northam in the mid 1920s. Henry and Nellie raised their family in Northam, where Henry was a Night Watchman/Caretaker. In the late 1940s, Henry and Nellie returned to Fremantle, where Henry worked as a Cleaner.

Sydney was working in Leonora as a Miner prior to 1939, when he married Anna Margaret Zan (b1920 in Leonora), and worked in Boulder as a Boiler Cleaner and Fireman in the Mines before enlisting in the Army. Following his Discharge, Sydney and Anna lived in Kalgoorlie, where they raised their family and Sydney was Fireman. In the mid 1950s the family moved to Medina in Canning, and Sydney was an Assistant Engine Driver until retirement. Sydney died in 1987 and Anna in 2001.