Born on 15 September 1869 at Mears Ashby, Leicestershire, son of the vicar of the parish and his wife Laura Cox. He was educated at University College Hospital, and won the Erichsen prize in practical surgery. He served as clinical assistant in the throat, nose, and ear department, and senior clinical assistant in the eye department at his hospital. After serving as senior house surgeon at Salford Royal Hospital, Lancashire, he settled in practice at Croydon, Surrey, in partnership with J J Redfern, MD, Brice Collyer, MD, F S Collard, Sir E M Cowell, and C T Neve, the last three being also Fellows of the College. He was on the staff of the Croydon General Hospital, ultimately becoming consulting surgeon, and was also consulting surgeon to Croydon Borough Surgical Aid Society. During the first world war, 1914-18, he was surgeon to the Croydon War Hospital, and was created OBE for his war service. He was chairman of the Croydon division of the British Medical Association in 1921-22. Newby married Ida Kathleen Elborough, daughter of the first Town Clerk of Croydon. He practised at 12 Addiscombe Road, and later lived at 28 Fairfield Road, Croydon. Here he died on 14 December 1950, aged 81, survived by his wife and their son and daughter.