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;The West Australian, 8 November 1943, p. 2. one of only a few serving members of Australian parliaments to fly on combat operations;"Thomas White (MHR, Balaclava, 1929–51; NAT/UAP/LIB), a veteran of World War I, joined the RAAF. He commanded a flying school and then in England filled senior administrative and training posts, and surreptitiously flew on several sorties as a second-pilot, before his discharge in 1944..." (Parliamentary Library [Australia], 2006–07, Commonwealth Members of Parliament who have served in war, pp. 9–10.)Government of Australia, 1943 UK0837. (Photograph of John Verdun Newton.) (2 November 2014). neither sworn in, nor able to sit in parliament, and; killed in action while he was an MP.
