Edward Newby was born on 5th December 1884 at Lund House Green, Pannal, one of six children born to Robert and Sarah Newby. By 1901, aged 16, he had left the family home and was working as a milk boy at How Farm, Beckwith Head. On 31st March 1906, Edward married 21-year-old, Devonshire-born Margaret Passmore Crang at St. Matthias' Church, Burley-in-Wharfedale; the couple had four children, John Robert (born September 1906), Thomas William (born January 1908), Frederick Edward (born December 1908) and Hilda (born October 1910). The family remained at Burley into 1911, Edward working as a dairyman on a farm.
Edward voluntarily enlisted into the Royal Field Artillery on 10th June 1915 and was posted to 176th (Leicester) Howitzer Brigade. The brigade embarked at Southampton on 8th January 1916, disembarking at Havre on the following day.
Edward was killed in action on 9th July 1916. As his body could not be identified, he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. His widow, Margaret, married John Armstead on 19th October 1918 at St. Mary's Church, Low Harrogate.