Edward Rutter Newton was the son of John Newton. John was born 1877 in Gateshead, County Durham. He married Mary Isabella Shield in 1898 in Gateshead. They had at least two sons.

Edward, the younger son, was born 13 May 1910 in Chopwell in County Durham. In 1911 the family were living in Chopwell with John working as a miner.

In 1934 Edward married Violet Angus in Gateshead. In 1937 they were living at 28 Leyburn Grove in Shipley. By 1939 they had moved to 27 George Street in Saltaire with Edward employed as a labourer at Wigglesworth’s factory in Hirst Wood, Shipley.

Edward joined the R.A.F. in 1940 and served in WW2 reaching the rank of Corporal.

Having survived the war, Edward died in 1971 in Blackpool. His widow, Violet, died in Lincolnshire in 1994.