Person

Submitted by a relative:

Sergeant James Edward Norton served in the 20th Battalion of The Durham Light Infantry (DLI). He was 21 years old when he was critically wounded on 30 May 1916, in the vicinity of Armentieres. He was one of three uncles to my grandpa, the late William Preston, who were wounded during the First World War. William, or Billy as he was known, ensured that my sister and I knew from a young age about our great-great uncles and their tragic wartime experiences so that their sacrifice would not be forgotten.

The 1916 newspaper clipping (see transcript below) recalling James’ bravery suggests he was injured by a bullet, however, Billy owned a pocket watch that James was wearing on that fateful day. This terribly crushed piece of metal is testament to the tremendous force that left James in a crippled state for the rest of his life, so the letter from Temporary Lieutenant Hopper to James’ mother should, perhaps, be taken with a pinch of jingoistic salt.

At present, I only have a photocopied image of James, yet his kind eyes shine out through the grainy, shadowy photo. At the time that the photograph was taken, he surely could not have imagined the horrendous conditions he would endure in the months and years to follow.

Less than three months after he was injured, James’ 19-year-old brother, William Harkness Norton, was killed on the Somme near the village of Cambrin. Whilst William’s death must have been an awful loss to the Norton family, James was to endure his injuries for ten years and three months until he finally died on 27 August 1926.

If there can be a silver-lining in such a sad tale, it is perhaps that James’ sister Amelia regularly visited her brother at Newcastle Royal Infirmary. By early 1918, Amelia had struck up a friendship with a young Yorkshireman called Private William Preston who had been transferred to James’ ward to recover from having his leg amputated after receiving a shrapnel wound near Ypres. They eventually married and returned to William’s village of Seaton Ross where they had Edna in 1922 and Billy, my grandpa, in 1924.

Transcript of newspaper clipping:

Tyne Dock Sergeant’s Bravery

Mrs Norton, of 92 Ashley Road, Tyne Dock, has received the following letter from Temp.-Liet. James Thompson Hooper:-
“Your son, Sergt. James Edward Norton, was one of the dear lads of my platoon. They are all fine boys, but their bravery has yet to be put to the extreme test, which your son passed through with “flying colours”. The complete story will undoubtedly be best related to you by him when he has sufficiently recovered from the wound he received whilst preforming his duty. Briefly, however, he was employed on a dangerous task in charge of a “listening post,” which necessitates prowling about at night in “No Man’s Land.” This “No Man’s Land,” as you know, is that unoccupied stretch of land between the enemy’s wire trenches and outs – a dangerous spot since there is not any cover from the bullets which whiz in all directions. It was whilst carrying out his duty in this risky place that one of the German bullets found in your boy a target. But what I wish to emphasise is the commendable bravery with which he carried himself through the affair from the time he left our parapet until he came back wounded. He showed a brave spirit throughout, and his pain must have been acute. Not knowing in which hospital he is lying I am unable to write to him, so that he may know how please I am to have been an officer over him. This message I would like you to convey to him at your first opportunity, wishing for his speedy recovery. England is proud in the possession of such splendid boy-men, and the great proportion of this pride reflects honour upon the mothers of those sons. In this respect you are fortunate, and I voice the opinion of thousands when I congratulate you. With best wishes and heaps of luck for your other sons performing their duty in the various theatres of this great war.”
Sergt. Norton is 21 year of age, and joined his regiment in November of last year. Prior to joining the army he was footman to Lord Barnard, Raby Castle, Darlington. He is now in Epsom War Hospital seriously wounded, but is progressing favourably.
Mrs Norton has three sons in the army, all of whom are wounded.

Civil Parish: South Shields

Birth date: 1895

Death date: 27-Aug-1926

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: 288 Alice Street, South Shields (1901 census)
92 Ashley Road, Tyne Dock, South Shields (1911 census)

Employment: Messenger boy, scale makers (1911 census)
Footman, Raby Castle (immediately pre-war, see newspaper article)

Family: Mother: Dorothy Norton (1901 and 1911 censuses)
Father: Frederick Norton (CWGC)
Siblings: Annie Norton, Dorothy Norton, Frederick Norton, Amelia Norton, William Harkness Norton (1901 and 1911 censuses)

Military service:

20th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry
20/714
Lance sergeant
enlisted: 26 October 1915 (Silver War Badge List)
discharged: 25 December 1917 (Silver War Badge List)

Medal(s): Silver War Badge (339802)
British War Medal
Victory Medal

Memorial(s): Family gravestone in Harton Cemetery, South Shields

Gender: Male

Contributed by joeprestoncarroll, London