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Auction: 24111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 718

(x) An Inter-War M.B.E., 'Great War' M.S.M. group of twelve awarded to Major (Commissary) W. E. Newman, Supply & Transport Corps, late Staff Sergeant Dorset Regiment, who earned a 'mention' for his services during the war

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Member's (M.B.E.) 1st Type breast Badge, Military Division, silver, hallmarked for London, 1933; India General Service 1895-1908, 2 clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98 (4639 Drmr. E. Newman, 1/Dorset Regt.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1908 (Sergt. E. Newman, S. & T. Corps.); 1914 Star (S/Sergt. E. W. Newman, S.&T. Corps.), officially re-impressed naming; British War and Victory Medals 1914-20 (Condr. E. Newman, S.&T. Corps.) with M.I.D. oakleaves; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, S. Persia (Condr. E. W. Newman. S.&T. Corps.); War Medal 1939-45; India Service Medal 1939-45; Dehli Durbar 1911, unnamed as issued; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (S/Sergt. E. W. Newman, S.&T. Corps.); Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R. (S. Sjt: E. W. Newman. S.&T. Corps.), the first with its Royal Mint case of issue, minor contact wear overall, slight edge wear to first two, overall very fine (12)

PROVENANCE:
Ian McInnes collection, Noonans 2007.

M.B.E. London Gazette 4 June 1934.

M.S.M. London Gazette 9 July 1917.

M.I.D. London Gazette 1908, 1917.

M.I.D. Gazette of India 27 March 1920.

Eugene William Newman was born at Oatacomand, India in December 1881 and enlisted in the Dorset Regiment as a boy recruit in January 1895. He was appointed a Drummer in the 1st Battalion seeing active service in the Punjab Frontier operations of 1897-98, when his Battalion formed part of the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division in the Tirah Expeditionary Force. Its' possible he served in the Dargai Heights action at which the Dorset Regiment distinguished themselves.

Newman went on to pass at the higher standards in Tamil and Hindustani, as well as the lower standard of Persian, 1900-03, and gained advancement to Lance-Corporal in February 1904. Shortly afterwards, he transferred to the Supply & Transport Corps on the Punjab-Bengal Unattached List and was advanced to Staff Sergeant in November 1905. Further active service followed in the Zakka Khel operations of 1908, when he won a "mention" from the G.O.C., Mohmand Field Force, and in 1911, having passed the Warrant Officer's examination, he was awarded the Delhi Durbar Medal, his C.O. in the 2nd Rawalpindi Division reporting that he did 'exceedingly good work at the Durbar Coronation deserving of special notice' - the award of his L.S. & G.C. was announced in IAO 85 of 1913.

In early November 1914, as a Staff Sergeant, he embarked for service in France and Flanders, where he was attached to the Lucknow Cavalry Brigade and was wounded on 26 May 1915, his C.O. noting in an official report submitted in the following year, 'Recommended for a Commission. One of the best N.C.O's in the Army.'

He was advanced to substantive Sub. Conductor in July 1917 and was awarded an immediate Meritorious Service Medal for devotion, in addition to another "mention".

Newman returned to India in November 1917 and was posted to Persia in June 1918, where he served as Acting Commandant of 145 Supply Tally Section, Bushire Field Force, from February until June 1919, and was mentioned again for valuable services during the period April 1918 to March 1919 (London Gazette 3 February 1920 refers). This latter "mention" undoubtedly stemmed from an official report submitted by his C.O., which stated that Newman had proved 'invaluable at the Base Supply Depot though suffering from an old wound obtained in France.'

After an extended leave in the U.K., he returned to India, where he held a string of appointments in the 1920s and 1930s at such locations as Calcutta, Jalapahar, Barrackpore, Bannu and Bombay. Commissioned as an Assistant Commissary & Lieutenant in May 1928, he was advanced to Deputy Commissary & Captain in May 1931 and to Commissary & Major in May 1934, in which latter year he was awarded the M.B.E. and placed on the Retired List.

Recalled in his original rank on the renewal of hostilities, Newman served as the O.C. of a supply company at Karachi until October 1941, when he assumed similar duties at a P.O.W. camp at Bangalaore. Here remained actively employed until August 1944, when he reverted to the Retired List, adding the 1939-45 War and India Service Medals to the India General Service Medal after being in service for 50 years.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£750

Starting price
£180