Awarded to Lieutenant Commander Alfred William Newman RN (1888-1984). Obverse: Head of King George VI. Legend: 'GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX : F:D : IND : IMP'. Reverse: An oak tree and Royal crown supported by lions rampant, their heads turned away. Inscription: '1939', '1945'. Exergue: 'THE DEFENCE MEDAL' Reverse inscribed: 'CDR. A.W. NEWMAN A.M. R.N.' Fitted with a bar and orange ribbon with pale green edges divided by a narrow black stripe.
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 for services in late 1918 and in December that year was promoted to Lieutenant. In 1939, Newman now a Lieutenant Commander 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.