James Ernest Newland, VC (22 August 1881 – 19 March 1949) was an Australian soldier, policeman and a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest decoration for gallantry "in the face of the enemy" that can be awarded to members of the British and Commonwealth armed forces.

Newland was awarded the Victoria Cross following three separate actions in April 1917, during attacks against German forces retreating to the Hindenburg Line.

While in command of a company, Newland successfully led his men in several assaults on German positions and repulsed subsequent counter-attacks.

Born in the Victorian town of Highton, Newland joined the Australian military in 1899 and saw active service during the Second Boer War.

He continued to serve in the Australian Army's permanent forces on his return to Australia, and completed several years' service in the artillery.

Transferring to the Western Front in 1916, Newland was mentioned in despatches for his leadership while commanding a company during an attack at Mouquet Farm.

[1] On 17 August 1914,[5] Newland transferred to the newly raised Australian Imperial Force following the British Empire's declaration of war on Germany and her allies.

[4] Assigned to the 12th Battalion, he was made its regimental quartermaster sergeant and embarked from Hobart aboard HMAT Geelong on 20 October, bound for Egypt.

[6] At the commencement of the Gallipoli Campaign, the 3rd Australian Brigade—of which the 12th Battalion was part—was designated as the covering force for the ANZAC landing, and as such was the first unit ashore on 25 April 1915, at approximately 04:30.

[7] Newland was engaged in operations on the Gallipoli Peninsula until 9 June, when he was withdrawn from the area and placed in command of the 12th Battalion's transport elements stationed in Egypt.

[6] Newland was posted to command A Company from 8 August, and was subsequently moved to Sausage Valley along with the rest of the 12th Battalion in preparation for an attack on Mouquet Farm.

[10] After its involvement at Pozières and Mouquet Farm, the 12th Battalion was briefly transferred to the Ypres sector in Belgium in September, before returning to Bernafay Wood on the Somme late the following month.

On 26 February 1917, he was tasked with leading it during the 12th Battalion's attack on the village of La Barque during the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line.

[2] At Bark Trench, a position on the north side of the centre of La Barque,[11] the company encountered a German strongpoint and Newland received a gunshot wound to the face.

[7] By early April 1917, there remained three German-held outpost villages—Boursies, Demicourt and Hermies—between the area to the south of the I Anzac Corps position and the Hindenburg Line.

At approximately 22:00,[4] the Germans launched a fierce counter-attack under the cover of a barrage of bombs and trench mortars against A Company's position at the mill.

[13] They had some initial success and entered the forward posts of the mill, which were occupied by a platoon of Newland's men under the command of Sergeant John Whittle.

[14] Newland, bringing up a platoon from the battalion's reserve company, charged the attackers and re-established the lost ground with Whittle's assistance.

[17] Newland and Whittle were both awarded the Victoria Cross for their actions at Boursies and Lagnicourt; they were the only two permanent members of the Australian military to receive the decoration during the war.

The stand made by this officer was of the greatest importance, and produced far-reaching results.In early May 1917, the 12th Battalion was involved in the British and Australian attempt to capture the village of Bullecourt.

On 30 April 1925, he married Heather Vivienne Broughton in a ceremony at St Paul's Anglican Church, Bendigo; the couple would later have a daughter.

[21] In retirement, Newland served as Assistant Commissioner of the Australian Red Cross Society in the Northern Territory during the later months of 1941.