Death of Garibaldian Veteran

Horowhenua Chronicle, 10 September 1934, Page 8

Death of Garibaldian Veteran

AUCKLAND CENTENARIAN (Bv Telegraph—Press Association). AUCKLAND, Last Night. The death has occurred of Captain Wiliam .John Newby, a Garibaldian veteran and pioneer of New Zealand, in, his 102nd. year. He was a picturesque figure, who retained his faculties and vigour to a remarkable degree, and as recently as the afternoon before his death he paid a visit to the city. Born at Cambridge, England, on March 16, 1833, Captain Newby was educated in the town of his birth and took his B.A. degree at Cambridge University. Subsequently he joined the British Army, In 1859, when a lieutenant, he joined a force of 1000 picked men sent by the British Government to help the famous Italian patriot, Giuseppe Garibaldi, to create a united Italy. The expedition sailed from London in the ship Emperor and encountered severe storms which delayed the passage so long that the ship was given up for lost. Eventually they reached Naples and Garibaldi’s “British Legion” was fighting the following day. When recounting his experiences, Captain Newby said the Legion fought strenuously for eight months and 200 or 300 of its members were, killed. He thought he was the last survivor of the men who took part in that campaign. Captain Newby came to New Zealand in 1864 in the ship Winteher, landing with his brother-in-law, Chief Jpdge MacDonald, of the Native Land Court. He joined the Waikato Regiment, but was top late on the scene to take part in any fighting. Later he took up land. For morp. than a quarter of a century he had been living in retirement in Auckland. On the occasion of his 101st. birthday Captain Newby said he was the oldest living Justice of the Peace, his commission having been granted while he was resident in the Thames district, on December 20, 1894. Among Captain Newby’s treasured possessions was the sword he captured in the Italian campaign and a letter presented to him by members of his company. Another valued possession was a congratulatory message which Captain Newby received from Signor Mussolini on the occasion of his 100th birthday.