Arthur Purdon NEWSON

Arthur Purdon NEWSON Update Details

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NEWSON, Arthur Purdon

Service Number:	2718
Enlisted:	14 July 1915
Last Rank:	Corporal
Last Unit:	4th Infantry Battalion
Born:	Narrandera, New South Wales, Australia, 1894
Home Town:	Whitton, Leeton, New South Wales
Schooling:	Whitton Public School, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation:	Farmer
Died:	Died of wounds, France, 16 April 1917
Cemetery:	Aveluy Communal Cemetery Extension Row N, Grave No. 44, Aveluy Communal Cemetery Extension, Aveluy, Picardie, France
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour

World War 1 Service

14 Jul 1915:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2718, 4th Infantry Battalion
9 Aug 1915:	Involvement Private, 2718, 4th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Runic embarkation_ship_number: A54 public_note: ''
9 Aug 1915:	Embarked Private, 2718, 4th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Runic, Sydney
16 Apr 1917:	Involvement Corporal, 2718, 4th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2718 awm_unit: 4th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Corporal awm_died_date: 1917-04-16

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Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks

Arthur Newson served at Gallipoli for several months before the evacuation and was promoted to Corporal during late 1916.

Newson was recommended for a Military Medal the day before he died, ‘Corporal Newson was in charge of a Lewis Machine Gun when the Germans attacked Demicourt on 15th April 1917. Though the gun jammed at a critical period he kept his head, corrected the stoppage and got his gun to work with such skill that he shot down most of the enemy who had surrounded the post. He was subsequently wounded.’

In evidence given in his Red Cross one soldier stated ‘that as a matter-of-fact Newson mounted the parapet, stood straight up and fired the machine gun from his shoulder, a feat that only a very strong man could do.’ He was wounded shortly after by a sniper and died of wounds the next day.

In the Young Witness an article appeared under the heading ‘HARDEN SOLDIER KILLED. The sad news came to town by cable on Tuesday, that Private Arthur Newson, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Newson of "Nimby West," Murrrumburrah, had died of wounds received in France. The late Private Newson had come through some very severe actions—in one instance being the only one left unwounded in his detachment. He was well known in this district, and a fine young man and the sympathy of the whole district goes to his parents, brothers, and sisters. His age was about 23 years and he was reared at Whitton residing there until about three years ago, when he came to this district.’

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