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The son of Rector Frederick Webb, the senior pastor at Holy Trinity Church Adelaide and Emma Webb he lived in Adelaide.

After graduating at the University of Adelaide, Dr John Newton Webb enlisted in the AIF and was appointed a Captain. He was discharged in England in 1920 at his request so he could further his medical study.

John Newton Webb also had a brother, Walter Frederick Swanton Webb (/explore/people/325734) that studied medicine at the University of Adelaide as well. He graduated in 1920.

WEBB John Newton MB BS DPH

1893-1980

John Newton Webb was born in Melbourne, Victoria on 20th September 1893.  He was the second son of Reverend Frederick and Emma Jane Webb; he had two brothers and two sisters. His brother Walter Frederick Swanton Webb also served in WW1. The Reverend Webb was appointed to the Holy Trinity Church, the first church in South Australia, on North Terrace, Adelaide in June 1895, when Webb was two years old.  Reverend Webb’s previous post was in Armadale, Victoria. Webb’s father became prominent in Anglican circles in Adelaide until his death in March 1925 one month after the death of his wife. Webb was educated at St Peter’s College and studied medicine at the University of Adelaide, graduating on 17th July 1917. He was a keen member of the Holy Trinity Church and taught in the Sunday school there. After graduation he was a house surgeon at the Adelaide Hospital before enlisting in the AIF five months later.

Webb joined the AAMC Reserve on 1st August 1917, following his medical registration and was posted to 7 AGH.  He enlisted into the AIF on 12th January 1918 as a captain; he was single and living with his parents in Trinity Rectory, North Terrace Adelaide, South Australia. His mother was nominated as his next of kin.  Military records incorrectly recorded his father as Frank Webb. He was described as 24 years and five months old, 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighed 140lbs, with fair complexion, blue eyes and brown hair and limited French. He embarked on Persic in Sydney on 21st March 1918 and disembarked in London on 24th May 1918. Webb proceeded to France via Folkestone on 12th Jun 1918. He was attached to 2 AGH initially but subsequently in June 1918 proceeded to 9 FdAmb. He was posted to 3 DIV Engineers on 23rd November 1918 before returning to 9 FdAmb on 21st December 1918 and on to 11 FdAmb on 23rd March 1919. He left France on 28th April 1919.  After periods of leave with and without pay he resigned his appointment on 5th June 1920 in England to undertake the Diploma of Public Health at University College, London. He gave his address as 279 Goldhawk Road, Shepherds Bush. He was required to return to Australia no later than 31st Dec 1921. Resignation of Australian’s from the military in countries other than Australia was not accepted lightly and he made several declarations confirming that he would return to South Australia after his course was completed. He was issued with the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Webb was living in Melbourne with his sister when his father died in 1925.  He was resident at 226 North Road, Brighton, Victoria, in 1939 when he wrote to the War Office saying that he had lost his medals and his Returned Soldiers Badge, and had them replaced at his expense for 13 shillings and nine pence. He did not appear to have married. John Newton Webb died in Alphington, Victoria in 1980, aged 86 years.

Source

Blood, Sweat and Fears: Medical Practitioners and Medical Students of South Australia, who Served in World War 1. 

Verco, Summers, Swain, Jelly. Open Books Howden, Adelaide 2014. 

Uploaded by Annette Summers AO RFD