Newton, Thomas Eric

Born: 7th May, 1913 – Geraldton, Western Australia
Died: 1st July, 1942 – Montevideo Maru. Age 29.
Occupation – 1942: Driver,  8th Division Supply Column – 2/22nd Battalion
ID: NX33388

Thomas Newton’s Story

This is my Great Uncle Eric (full name Thomas Eric Newton) and I have been researching his movements for over 14 years (amongst other things like researching the Geneva Convention, crimes against POW’s of the Japanese, etc).  A very brief outline as follows:

Thomas Eric Newton (NX33388) was born on the 7th May 1913 in Geraldton, Western Australia and was 29 years of age when sent to Rabaul.  He was a Driver,  8th Division Supply Column, A.A.S.C. attached to the 2/22nd (Lark Force).  Eric (Advance Party) was sent over earlier than the rest of the 2/22nd.

There was a newspaper article printed in Western Australia in the 1940′s stating that there were remains of 8 bodies found in a cave at Rabaul and were supposedly those of drivers.  There must have been some form of  identification present for this to come to light. He sailed aboard the ‘Neptuna’ (from Sydney) on the 5th March 1941 and disembarked Rabaul 17th March 1941 and was sent over with only a handful of others. O/C for the Advance Party was Capt. L H Lannan.   He was reported missing 25th January 1942.

Photograph and story provided by Kelly Harris (nee Newton)

Newton, Thomas

Frederick Mansley and Eric Newton