Douglas W. Newall

Educated at Timaru Boys’ High School. Entered Canterbury Agricultural College in 1936, aged 21. Member of 1st Rugby XV, Rugby Cap 1937. Secretary, Rugby Football Club in 1938. Bachelor of Agricultural Science awarded in 1937. Master of Agricultural Science (Hons) awarded in 1939.

Douglas enlisted in the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1940. He trained as a navigator in Canada, then was transferred to England and was commissioned as a Flying Officer. With 149 Squadron RAF he flew as a navigator/bomb aimer on Stirling bombers completing more than 30 missions over enemy territory. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) in 1943 for his “high order of skill in navigation and his determination to find and bomb the target in the face of the heaviest opposition”. He was an example and inspiration to his squadron. He was transferred to the Pacific in 1943, flying transport aircraft (No. 40 Squadron) and was an RNZAF instructor in Fiji. After the war, he taught at Waitaki Boys’ High School.