Extract from A Newton Genealogv compiled by Philip and Roy Newton

Philip Sidney Newton the third son of Harry and Thelma was born at 'Garfield', Tubbenden Lane, Farnborough, Kent, on 14 August 1920. Like his brothers before him, he went to Brighton Grammar School (1928) and quickly showed leadership qualities, uniquely winning the Humphrey Cup twice, as the outstanding boy in the Junior School, in 1930 and 1931. Subsequently he became Head Prefect of the School and CQMS of their Officer Training Corps. He represented the school at cricket, football, athletics and rifle-shooting, thus following his father's footsteps to Bisley. 

He took the Civil Service Entrance Examination in 1938, passing 51st out of 135 to the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, which he entered on 30th January 1939. He had decided to join the Indian Army, as his brother Robert had done, but the declaration of War on 3rd September 1939 caused him to decide to join the Royal Sussex Regiment. Training was cut short at Sandhurst and he was commissioned 2/Lt on 22nd October 1939, having passed out 12th from the RMC. 

Colonel P S Newton, MBE, FMA - Obituary in Roussillon Gazette, Winter 1999

Born in 1920 and educated at Brighton Grammar School and RMC Sandhurst, "Pip" Newton was commissioned into The Royal Sussex Regiment in October 1939. Posted to the 5th Battalion after Dunkirk, he was selected to run the Divisional Battle School, at that time a new training concept. He rejoined the Battalion on its departure for the Western Desert, and saw action at the battles of Alam Halfa and Alamein. Service followed with the Middle East Officer Cadet Training Unit, and with Force 133 which was training to be parachuted into Greece. On the cancellation of this operation, he returned to the UK in 1944 and joined 2nd SAS, but for D Day was appointed to the staff of Headquarters 21 Army Group where he served in Normandy and Brussels, until attending the Staff College in 1945. He then rejoined HQ 21 Army Group as the staff officer dealing with the disbandment of the Wehrmacht. 

In 1948 there followed a tour with The Parachute Regiment. Then as DAQMG HQ 3 Infantry Brigade/District in Egypt he was appointed MBE in 1952 for his work during Nasser's violent anti-British campaign. He joined lst Royal Sussex in the Canal Zone just before their return to UK and went with the Battalion to Minden. After a further staff tour in the War Office, he rejoined lst Royal Sussex in Korea in 1957 shortly before their move to Gibraltar, where he was Second-in-Command to Lt Col Glennie. He was Officer Commanding The Depot at Chichester from 1958 until its closure in 1960, when he was appointed to command the lst Battalion, then stationed in HoIywood, Northern Ireland. 

His time in command was signalised by his determination to keep the Battalion physically fit and ready for action. His training exercises were imaginative and testing for all ranks. This was the time of the ending of National Service and although regular recruiting was difficult, he set about the matter with drive and great enthusiasm, bui1ding on any Regimental connections that came to hand. During his time there were some fine parades, notably that at the granting to the Regiment of the Freedom of Belfast in 1961, and the Presentation of Silver Drums to the Regiment by the People of Sussex in Brighton in 1962. 

From 1962 to 1965 he was GSO1, HQ 17 Division in Malaya and Borneo. Promoted Colonel in 1965, he held staff appointments in the Ministry of Defence (with two years as the UK Representative at the United States Command and General Staff College from 1968 to 1970), until his retirement in 1972. 

On leaving the Army he was appointed Secretary of the Army Museums Ogilby Trust, and devoted the remainder of his active life to the support of Army Museums in this capacity and as Member of various museum associations. For his good work in this sphere, he was made a Fellow of the Museums Association in 1986, and will be remembered by Army museums up and down the country for his consistent support and concern for their many problems. On his retirement in 1989, he was made Honorary Curator of The Staff College Museum, Camberley. From the time he left the Army he was a determined campaigner for the issue of a Special Service Medal to be awarded for prescribed peacekeeper or non-warlike operations where recognition had not previously been given, an aim that remains to be achieved. 

He was a keen sportsman, representing his battalion at cricket, hockey, golf, football, and shooting. He was an Army football referee and a one-time Vice Chairman of the Army Football Association. 

He married Joyce May in 1944. The marriage was dissolved and he married secondly Ethie Hilpern in 1977 who survives him. He leaves a daughter, Anne, of the first marriage.