Stuart Newall

Stuart Newall (9 May 1843 – 3 August 1919) was a New Zealand soldier and military leader. He served in the New Zealand Wars and also commanded the 5th Contingent that was sent to South Africa in 1900 to serve in the Second Boer War.

Born in Scotland, Newall moved to New Zealand in 1863 to go gold mining. He subsequently joined the militia and served in the Invasion of the Waikato of 1863. A few years later he joined New Zealand's Armed Constabulary and was involved in the New Zealand government's campaigns against prominent Māori warriors Tītokowaru and Te Kooti. He commanded Armed Constabulary posts in the Waikato region for a number of years and was present at the 1881 occupation of Parihaka. In 1883, he joined the Permanent Militia, becoming a professional soldier and holding training and administrative posts. In 1900, he was appointed commander of the 5th Contingent and served for several months in South Africa. He retired from the military as a colonel three years later. During the First World War, he was commandant at the King George V military hospital in Rotorua. He died in 1919 at the age of 76.

Early life Born in Durrisdeer in Scotland on 9 May 1843, Stuart Newall's given name at his baptism was Stewart. His father was a tailor. Newall moved to Australia in early 1863 but after a few months living in Victoria, moved to the South Island of New Zealand. He mined for gold in the Otago region but was unsuccessful and by the end of the year had enlisted in the Waikato Militia. During the Invasion of the Waikato, he was an escort for supply convoys and was also on garrison duty in South Auckland.

Armed Constabulary In 1868, the Armed Constabulary was formed as New Zealand's paramilitary force, having both a military and policing function. Newall became a sergeant in the new organisation, which was commanded by Colonel George Whitmore. The following year, Newall served in Whitmore's campaign against the Māori warrior Tītokowaru in the south Taranaki. When that came to a conclusion, he then fought in Te Kooti's War in the Bay of Plenty and was involved some of the engagements of the invasion of the Ureweras. During the campaign he was commissioned as an acting sub-inspector.