Frederick was the son of Dr George and Martha Newstead of Blyth, Northumberland. He enrolled at the College of Medicine, Newcastle upon Tyne in 1910, but left his studies to join the war effort. During his time at the college he won second prize in practical chemistry (1911), and also featured in the sports pages of the student journal – he was a regular in the annual students vs professors golf match.
He was a member of the University Officers’ Training Corps B Company and in April 1913 he was granted a commission in the special reserve of officers, 3rd Battalion, Durham Light Infantry. He was not gazetted but his application was forwarded to headquarters (Medical Gazette, Volume XIII, p.122). In October 1914 he was listed as a combatant (Medical Gazette Volume XV, p. 12).
Frederick was killed in action August 7th 1916.
The Morpeth Herald ran the following obituary: Capt. Frederick Lisle Newstead, who was killed in action August 7th, was the eldest son of Dr and Mrs Newstead, Blyth, and was 24 years of age. Educated at Alnmouth and Durham School, he entered the University of Durham College of Medicine. After studying medicine for three years, he received a commission in the Special Reserve of Officers, and was gazetted to the 3rd D.L.I. two years before the war broke out. He went to the front in September, 1914, and was attached to the D.L.I., and was promoted to Lieutenant. He was invalided home with an injury to his knee in May, 1915, with the rank of captain. Capt. Newstead was an all-round athlete, rowing for his school at Durham, and later playing football and golf for his college.