John Verdun Newton
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
John Verdun Newton | |
|---|---|
.JPG) Jack Newton in London, December 1943 | |
| Member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly for Greenough | |
| In office 20 November 1943 – 14 January 1944 | |
| Preceded by | William Patrick |
| Succeeded by | David Brand |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 12 April 1916[1] |
| Died | 14 January 1944 (aged 27)[1][2] Warmeloh, Germany |
| Cause of death | Killed in action |
| Party | Labor Party |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Australia |
| Branch/service | Royal Australian Air Force |
| Years of service | 1941–1944 |
| Rank | Flight Lieutenant |
| Battles/wars | Second World War |
| Service no. | 415270 |
John Verdun Newton (12 April 1916 – 14 January 1944) was an Australian politician and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) officer. While serving with the RAAF in Europe during the Second World War, Newton was elected to the Parliament of Western Australia for the seat of Greenough at the 1943 state election, but was killed in action 55 days later.[1][3]
While many other members of Australian parliaments (MPs) have simultaneously served in wars, Newton's tenure was unusual because he was: both preselected and elected while he was overseas;[3][4] one of only a few serving members of Australian parliaments to fly on combat operations;[n 1][5] neither sworn in, nor able to sit in parliament, and[1][6] killed in action while he was an MP.
Jack Newton was the son of Mary Elizabeth Newton (née Doyle), and Edward Henry Newton, who had moved from Victoria to become farmers at Mingenew.[n 2][7][8]
As the Second World War broke out, Newton and his three brothers were working as sharefarmers, growing wheat.[4][7][8] He was a member of the Wheat and Woolgrowers' Union (an association of small-scale farmers aligned to the political left). Jack Newton had reportedly also worked as a shearer and was a former member of the Australian Workers' Union.[3][9]
When a State election was announced for 20 November 1943, Newton was pre-selected as the Labor Party (ALP) candidate for the seat of Greenough in the Legislative Assembly (lower house). He reportedly made his formal nomination by cable from London.[3] Newton was elected with 52.81% (1,944 of 3,733 votes cast) of the first preferences,[10] defeating the incumbent, William Patrick of the Country Party. Greenough became one of two seats in the lower house gained by the ALP as it retained government.[6]
I want to thank you for having elected me your Parliamentary representative and for the high compliment you paid me. It is indeed a great honor [sic] you have conferred on me, and I hope I shall not disappoint you. The fact that you have elected me during my absence from the country fills me with gratitude and pride and I assure you I shall do my best to be worthy of your confidence.
* * *
But first ... I wish to complete the job I came here to do, and I know that you would like me to do that job well.
* * *
Happy Christmas, and victory and peace in the new year.
Towards the end of 1943, Newton took part in a BBC Radio Overseas Service program Calling Australian Towns, giving a speech that he styled as an address to his constituents in Greenough (see excerpt, left).[11]
Newton was officially listed as "missing in action" following a mission on the evening of 14 January 1944.
On 27 September 1945, the seat of Greenough was officially declared vacant.[12] A by-election was held on 27 October 1945. The Labor candidate was Jack Newton's brother, Cecil Newton, who was defeated by the Liberal nominee, David Brand.[12][13] (A veteran of the North African and Greek campaigns with the Australian Army, Brand later became Premier and retained Greenough until his retirement from politics in 1975.)
It was not unusual at the time for legislators to enter military service. In some Commonwealth parliaments that followed the Westminster system, there was a convention that if a Member of Parliament (MP) enlisted during wartime, they would be assigned a "pair": the party opposite would voluntarily withdraw one member from voting in parliament.[14] And some other legislators had, like Newton, been elected while on active service.[n 3]
Few serving members of Australian parliaments have flown on combat operations as military aviators. There may be only one other example: Thomas White was an RAAF staff officer in Europe during the Second World War, while continuing to represent a federal electorate in Victoria. According to the Australian Parliamentary Library, White "surreptitiously flew on several sorties as a second-pilot".[n 1]
Many other members of the Western Australian Parliament have died in office and one other MP has been killed in action: Bart Stubbs (ALP; Subiaco) died during the First World War, while serving with the Australian Imperial Force in Belgium. However, Jack Newton's case is unusual because he was killed in action before he could take part in a parliamentary sitting.[n 4]
