Harold Clive Newman (5 June 18966 December 1983) was an Australian public servant who was Commonwealth Auditor-General between 1955 and 1961.

Biography

Harold Clive Newman

CBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

was born in Charleston,

South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a States and territories of Australia, state in the southern central part of Australia. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories by area, which in ...

on 5 June 1896 to George Charles Newman and his wife Maria Mary (née Carmichael). He went to school at Charleston and Lobethal and then to the Adelaide School of Mines. He started work as a relief telegraph messenger at Woodside Post Office in 1910 and made permanent on 26 August 1911.Interview by Ian Hamilton in National Library of Australia He claimed that the date of birth in his war records was a mistake. When war broke out in August, 1914 he joined the 9th Light Horse Regiment and he went ashore with it at

Gallipoli The Gallipoli Peninsula (; ; ) is located in the southern part of East Thrace, the European part of Turkey, with the Aegean Sea to the west and the Dardanelles strait to the east. Gallipoli is the Italian form of the Greek name (), meaning ' ...

on 20 May 1915 and served continuously on the peninsula until the last night of the evacuation 19–20 December 1915. After leave in Egypt to recuperate from the Dardanelles Campaign, he was wounded during the second battle of Gaza in 1917. He had an operation to remove a bullet from his elbow and discharged as medically unfit and returned to Australia. After returning to Australia he helped to form the Returned Services League. An office bearer until his death, he was appointed a national trustee in 1955. On 4 October 1919 at Pirie Street Methodist Church, Adelaide, he married Vesta Ward Deeble. They had two daughters and a son. In 1919 Clive Newman transferred to the Department of Works and studied accountancy part-time. He served as accountant and chief clerk in Adelaide, Perth, Canberra and Sydney. He failed when attempting to enlist in the Army in 1939 and was later appointed Chief Finance Officer of the Defence Division of the Treasury at

Victoria Barracks, Melbourne Victoria Barracks Melbourne is an Australian Government building located on St Kilda Road in Melbourne, Australia. It was constructed in the mid-to-late 19th century as barracks for Colonial forces of Australia, British colonial forces in Austra ...

. He was appointed Public Service Inspector for

Western Australia Western Australia (WA) is the westernmost state of Australia. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east, and South Australia to the south-east. Western Aust ...

after the war. He returned to Melbourne in 1947 as head of the Defence Division of the Treasury. In 1954 he was appointed

OBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

(Civil Division) in the Queen’s birthday honours list for distinguished public service as Treasury representative on several defence committees. In 1955 he was appointed Auditor-General of the Commonwealth, a post he held until he retired in 1961. At his retirement party, Newman and his wife were presented with a television set as a farewell present. In 1960 Mr Newman was promoted to

Commander of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

in recognition of his continued and distinguished public service. He was a member of the Gallipoli Legion of Anzacs, the

Royal Commonwealth Society The Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) is a non-governmental organisation with a mission to promote the value of the Commonwealth and the values upon which it is based. The Society upholds the values of the Commonwealth Charter, promoting co ...

, the

Royal Canberra Golf Club The Canberra Golf Club, later known as the Royal Canberra Golf Club, was formed in 1926. Its original grounds were behind the Hotel Canberra on the river flats on both sides of the Molonglo River. History The club's Club House was on a site ...

and the Canberra Bowling Club. He died on 6 December 1983 aged 87. He asked for a bugler to play the “

Last Post The "Last Post" is a British and Commonwealth bugle call used at military funerals, and at ceremonies commemorating those who have died in war. Versions The "Last Post" is either an A or a B♭ bugle call, primarily within British infan ...

” over the grave he had selected alongside his wife at Charleston, South Australia.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Newman, Clive 1896 births 1983 deaths Australian public servants Australian Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Australian auditors Military personnel from South Australia Australian military personnel of World War I