Alfred Newman (sailor)

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For other uses, see Alfred Newman (disambiguation).

Commander Alfred William Newman was a British recipient of the Albert Medal. He was awarded the Albert Medal for Gallantry in Saving Life at Sea in 1918. The medal was later translated to a George Cross.

He was born in Empingham in the county of Rutland, 8 April 1888 where both his father and grandfather worked on the Earl of Ancaster's estate at Normanton. He joined the Royal Navy in August 1903, aged 15.

Newman served at the battle of Heligoland Bight in 1914 and was appointed Acting Mate of the R Class destroyer HMS Tetrarch in June 1917.

On 10 October 1917 an alarm of fire was given in the after magazine of the Tetrarch. Newman, who was on the upper deck, proceeded to the magazine as soon as he heard the alarm and seeing smoke issuing from a box of cordite, opened the lid and passed the cartridges on to the upper deck, where they were thrown into the sea. One cartridge in the middle of the box was very hot and smoke was issuing from its end. It is considered that by his prompt and gallant action, Newman saved the magazine from being blown up and the loss of many lives.

Newman was personally presented with the Albert Medal by King George V at Harwich on 26 February 1918 for his “gallantry in saving life by throwing a burning cartridge overboard on the 10th October 1917”. The award was published in the London Gazette, 1 March 1918.

He left the Navy in 1923 but was recalled in WWII because of his knowledge of boom defence work. Commander Newman retired in 1948. He died 1 September 1984.

In 1971 all living holders of the Albert Medal were invited to exchange the award for the George Cross. On being exchanged, the original medal was presented to the National Maritime Museum. The Museum also holds his George Cross and other medals on loan.