Rediscovering ANZACS, Captain Edward Newton

Guest Blogger - Judy Gilloway, SLQ Volunteer

Sometimes chance encounters facilitate items being donated to the collections of the State Library of Queensland. During a performance of the critically acclaimed Black Diggers play in Brisbane, such an event occurred.

A few friendly words exchanged between complete strangers seated beside each other: “What brings you here?” - started a conversation about a box of war medals and other items that had been found under a house in Chelmer in 1972, which had been purchased in an Estate sale. The new owners carefully kept these items, despite being flooded in the 1974 Brisbane floods and subsequently moving to a new home.

"I would prefer that these items be preserved as part of memorabilia and not to be traded through eBay etc for personal gain. Some of the items are over 100 hundred years old and have an unknown history but have been carried or worn and survived to this day.”

A search of this soldier’s records revealed that he had served in both World War One and World War Two. Firstly as a Sapper with the Australian Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company 1916-1919, then as Captain 1st Australian Mobile Laundry & Decontamination Unit, 1940-1944.

Edward 'Ted' Newton was born in Trentham, Victoria to Nicholas Newton and Mary Michelmiss; brother to Roland, Frances, Nicholas and William. Roland Newton, who served with the 14th Inftanty Battalion, died at Gallipoli 28 April 1915.

“I am moved by the information you have gathered. To think that for forty plus years we have had in our possession the personal belongings of a man who survived two wars and lost a brother at Gallipoli and the loss of his wife.”

Read more ...

• Service Record: NEWTON, Edward [WW1]
• Service Record, NEWTON, Edward [WW2]
• 29690, Edward Newton collection, State Library of Queensland
• Black Diggers, written by Tom Wright and originally directed by Wesley Enoch