George Cross awarded to Alfred William Newman RN (1889-1984). In May 1903 Newman entered the Marine Society Training Ship ‘Warspite’ and was drafted into the Royal Navy in August 1903. He specialised in gunnery and torpedo work. During WWI he served on HMS ‘Laurel’ at the battle of Heligoland. He was promoted to Acting Gunner in 1915 and appointed Mate of HMS ‘Tetrarch’ in June 1917. Commander Newman was presented with the Albert Medal by King George V at Harwich in 1918. In April 1919 he was Mentioned in Dispatches while serving in HMS ‘Dragon’ and in December that year was promoted to Lieutenant. In 1939, Newman now a Lt Cdr was recalled because of his unique knowledge of boom defence work. Promoted to Commander he was in West Africa from 1941-43 in charge of defending harbours in Gambia and from 1943-45 he was in charge of harbour defence based at Aden, covering the area from Suez to Bangkok. After further service in the Mediterranean Commander Newman retired in 1948. He died in 1984.

In accordance with the Government’s decision of October 1971, surviving holders of the Albert Medal could exchange them for the George Cross. On being returned to the Home Office, the original medal could be presented on behalf of the recipient to a museum of his choice.

The George Cross was instituted by Royal Warrant 24 September 1940. It is a silver Greek Cross in the centre of which is a medallion depicting St George and the dragon surrounded by the words ‘FOR GALLANTRY’, a Tudor Rose at the bottom. This example was presented to Commander Alfred William Newman and is inscribed on the reverse, ‘Acting Mate Alfred William Newman, RN 1917’. Suspension is by a ring from a bar decorated with laurel leaves attached to a dark blue ribbon.