Newt H. Hall

Who was Newt H. Hall?

Newt Hamill Hall was an American officer serving in the United States Marine Corps during the Boxer Rebellion who was one of 23 Marine Corps officers approved to receive the Marine Corps Brevet Medal for bravery. He was commissioned in the Marine Corps in 1897.

He was brought up on charges regarding his leadership activities during the Boxer Rebellion, where he and his men had to defend the walls of the Legation, and was exonerated by an official naval court of inquiry, which he himself requested, so as to not impede his career advancement in later years.

The British Minister had initiated a charge of possible "cowardice under fire," but no concrete evidence had surfaced by any witnesses. Under his direct command, one Legation wall defense area was lost, but later retaken. This possibly caused a reaction from the British Minister making statements after the siege as to Hall's possible laxity in command.