Edward Newitt

Edward Newitt was not only an excellent miniature rifle shot but also had an exceptional knowledge of ballistics and was very capable of giving lectures on, and writing about, the subject. As a fine writer, he contributed shooting articles to many publications of the day including Shooting and Fishing magazine. In 1906, his book The Citizen Rifleman was published (reprinted 1915) and it became the official handbook of the Miniature Rifle Clubs’ Association. Newitt was also one of the contributors to the very first journal of the National Rifle Association (NRA) in 1910.

In the 19th century, Newitt served with the Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). He was a member of the Southfields Miniature Rifle Club in Wandsworth, London, and in 1909 and 1910 captained England in the triangular competition against Australia and the United States. He also competed for a British team in a similar competition against their French counterparts in 1909. Newitt’s best results were in 1907 and 1908 when, representing the Country Life magazine, he won back-to-back Defries Challenge Cups, organised by the Press Rifle Club.

Newitt travelled to America with his family on the ill-fated RMS Lusitania in 1913. She was sunk by a U-Boat torpedo in May 1915.