Reuben McCarthy Newman's army record is an unusual one. He was educated at the Albany St primary school (closed 1933) and Otago Boys' High School then worked as a clerk in the Department of Labour in Wellington. As a member of the local Territorial unit he was selected to join the Advance Party of the Samoan Force in 1914 with the 5th Wellington Regiment.
He was transferred to the Otago Infantry Regiment in March 1916 and promoted Sergeant at the beginning of April, leaving with the Otagos for France a week later. On May 26th he was "severely reprimanded" for neglect of duty during the period of the Regiment's first period of duty at the front line in France, near Armentieres. He was transferred out about a year later.
In May 1917 he was promoted to Warrant Officer 2nd Class and not long after ordered to England for possible selection for training as an officer fo the Indian Army. He was selected for the Indian Army at the end of Sdptember and discharged from the NZEF two weeks later.
In October Reuben was discharged from the NZEF and joined the Indian Army Officers Reserve.
DEATH.
FOR KING AND COUNTRY.
NEWMAN. — On the 23rd November, at the Officers’ Hospital, Abbottabad, India, from enteric, Lieut. Reuben McCarthy Newman, the youngest son of Mrs and the late W. A. Newman; in his 24th year. “ Duty nobly done.” -Evening Star, 11/12/1918.
Northern Cemetery, Dunedin.
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