John Verdun Newton
| John Verdun Newton | |
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Jack Newton in London, December 1943
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| Member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly for Greenough |
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In office 20 November 1943 – 14 January 1944 |
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| Preceded by | William Patrick |
| Succeeded by | David Brand |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
12 April 1916 Dongara, Western Australia |
| Died | 14 January 1944 (aged 27) Warmeloh, Germany |
| Political party | Australian Labor Party |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Australia |
| Service/branch | Royal Australian Air Force |
| Years of service | 1941–1944 |
| Rank | Flight Lieutenant |
| Battles/wars | Second World War |
| Service no. | 415270 |
John Verdun "Jack" 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.
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; one of only a few serving members of Australian parliaments to fly on combat operations; neither sworn in, nor able to sit in parliament, and; killed in action while he was a MP.
Jack Newton was the son of Mary Elizabeth Newton (neé Doyle), and Edward Henry Newton, who had moved from Victoria to become farmers at Mingenew.
As the Second World War broke out, Newton and his three brothers were working as sharefarmers, growing wheat. He was a member of the Wheat and Woolgrowers' Union (an association of small-scale farmers aligned to the political left) and had reportedly also worked as a shearer and a member of the Australian Workers' Union.
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