The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (1/736) Sergeant Thomas Claude Newman, 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, Korea

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Troy Clayton, the story for this day was on (1/736) Sergeant Thomas Claude Newman, 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, Korea.

1/736 Sergeant Thomas Claude Newman, 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
DOW 28 August 1952
No photograph in collection

Story delivered 25 June 2015

Today we remember and pay tribute to Sergeant Thomas Claude Newman.

Newman was born on 15 November 1929 to Frederick and Vera Newman at Deepwater, New South Wales. He was the first of seven children born to the couple. He went to school at Deepwater Convent School before the family moved to Tannymorel, Queensland. Here he attended the Tannymorel State School until he was 12, when he left school to work at Hoffman’s timber mill at Mount Colliery.

Seeking to better himself, Newman – after convincing his parents to sign their consent – applied to join the army. Following his basic training, Newman studied part-time to advance his career. During this period he also qualified as a rifleman and undertook specialist infantry courses.

When the Korean War began on 25 June 1950 the Australian Army was unprepared for a new ground war, especially one only five years after the end of the Second World War. With 3RAR in Japan and 1RAR and 2RAR seriously under strength in Australia, a volunteer program was instituted to bring the battalions up to strength.

Newman and a friend had the option to fill a single vacancy in the support company of 1RAR. The friends tossed a coin; Newman won the toss and his posting to the battalion was confirmed. On reaching 1RAR’s support company Newman was posted to the anti-tank platoon.

The battalion sailed for Korea in March 1952, disembarking at Pusan in April. It joined 3RAR as part of the 28th Commonwealth Brigade, and it was not long before the men found themselves in positions on the Jamestown Line. Their time in the front line was marked by constant patrols to deny no man’s land to the enemy. In August the battalion was manning positions on Hill 159, which the Australians called Red Hill. By this time Newman had been promoted to acting sergeant and was also acting commander of the anti-tank platoon.

On 28 August 1952, while the men carried out their daily duties, the Chinese mortared 1RAR’s positions, wounding four men. One of the wounded was Newman, who was hit by shrapnel in the right side of his chest. He and the others were evacuated to the nearby 60th Indian Field Ambulance, but Newman’s wounds were severe, and he died during the afternoon. He was 23 years old.

Newman’s body was laid to rest in the United Nations Cemetery at Pusan shortly afterwards. His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my left, along with 339 others from the Korean War.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Sergeant Thomas Claude Newman, and all those Australians who have given their lives in service of our nation.

Michael Kelly
Historian, Military History Section