A new portrait of Flight Lieutenant William “Bill” Newton VC painted by this year’s Archibald Prize winner, Blak Douglas, has been gifted to the Australian War Memorial.
Newton’s family commissioned the artwork in 2021, which was donated to the Memorial to share his memory with the nation.
“There was never any question it would be offered to the Memorial,” Bill Newton’s nephew, Nick Newton said.
“It’s important for reasons of continuity. It is where Bill’s Victoria Cross resides and anything that helps perpetuate his memory is a good thing.
“I couldn’t think of a better place for the portrait to be housed than at the Australian War Memorial.”
The posthumous portrait of Bill Newton, painted by Dhungutti artist Blak Douglas (aka Adam Hill), was based on a photograph of the 23-year-old Newton held at the Memorial.
“I don’t paint many portraits at all so it makes it a rare piece. I only do one portrait a year and that’s for the Archibald. You could count them on one hand,” Blak Douglas said.
Douglas said the painting was one of his more “positive images”.
“I just wish I had a chance to meet him in person and hear the stories of what he endured during his time,” Douglas said.
Bill Newton was awarded his Victoria Cross for his fearless approach to offensive actions flying Boston light bombers with No. 22 Squadron, RAAF.
He flew 52 operations, consistently displaying a determination to destroy his target. He was captured and executed on 29 March 1943.
Nick Newton says he grew up with stories of his uncle, with the nickname the “firebug” and described him as being known as “the life of the party, a really gregarious big, big man” with a big personality.
The portrait is just as vibrant, featuring the artist’s signature motifs.
“I never thought of representing a plane as spirit. That’s the spirit of his legacy,” Blak Douglas said.
In the painting, above Newton with the plane is a bold yellow sun Blak Douglas says comes from an omnipresent theme in his work.
“In all my paintings it’s always a product of Seven Sisters dreaming or under the guise of grandfather, grandmother spirit. It gives it my cryptic bona fide spiritual acknowledgement.”
The painting will be unveiled in front of Newton’s family and the artist Blak Douglas will perform during a handover ceremony at the Australian War Memorial on Friday 28 October.
Australian War Memorial Director, Matt Anderson, said: “The Memorial is thrilled to have this prestigious work by Blak Douglas in our collection. We don’t have anything like it. This evocative painting by such an accomplished artist will help us to honour the memory of William Flight Lieutenant William Newton VC for generations to come. We thank the Newton family for their generosity.”
Background about Bill Newton
Bill Newton was awarded the Victoria Cross for his offensive actions flying Boston light bombers with No. 22 Squadron, RAAF. On 16 March 1943, while leading an attack on an enemy base near Salamaua, New Guinea, Newton dived through intense and accurate shell-fire. Although his aircraft was repeatedly hit, he held his course and bombed the target from low level, destroying numerous buildings and supply-dumps. The plane was severely damaged but he managed to nurse the machine back home and land it safely.
Two days later he returned for another strike. As he bombed his designated target, Newton’s aircraft burst into flames, having been raked by cannon fire from the ground. He brought it down in the sea offshore before being captured and beheaded on 29 March 1943.
Disdaining evasive tactics, Bill Newton went straight at his objective to achieve maximum accuracy with his weapons. His exploits earned him the nickname of “The Firebug”.
