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Verity William Norton (1886-1949)


Haswell butcher worked in America before joining Canadian Army


William Norton had lived and worked in Pennsylvania, USA for four years before crossing into Canada in May 1914. He settled in Toronto, and worked as a butcher and became a member of a local active militia group. On 10 March 1915 he enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) becoming Private 241 in the Canadian Army Supply Corps, attached to 2nd Divisional Supply Column. Just four weeks later they were at Dibgate Camp, near Folkestone, Kent having crossed the Atlantic on the SS Metagama under the command of Major E.M. Harris. They had a strength of 4 officers and 258 other ranks.

On 9 September they sailed from Southampton to France and set up base at Hazebruck before moving on to Meteren, where on 20 November William was promoted to corporal. January 1917 saw the Column move their base to Bruay and for three months over the summer Corporal Norton was attached as a butcher at the headquarters of the newly formed Canadian Corps Supply Column at Houdain. Six months after returning to the 2nd Divisional Supply Column at the end of October 1917, the unit was amalgamated with 2nd Canadian Divisional Ammunition Sub Park on 14 April 1918 to form 2nd Canadian Divisional Mechanical Transport Company.

Until February 1919 Corporal Norton had taken all of his leave in France, but he returned to England for two weeks leave and then back to his unit, which having been based at Bonn in Germany, were then in Belgium awaiting orders to travel to La Havre and return to base camp at Witley, Surrey. They arrived back at base camp at the end of April 1919. William returned to Canada on 18 May and was demobilised from the CEF in Toronto on 1 June 1919.

Civil Parish: Haswell

Birth date: 17-Mar-1886

Death date: 19-Aug-1949

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: Store terrace, Haswell (1891 census)
Colliery Offices, Haswell (1901 census)
14 Providence Row, Durham City (1911 census)
Pennsylvania, USA (border crossing papers)
Williams Lake, British Columbia (Death Certificate)

Religion: Church of England

Employment: Grocer & Provision Merchant (1911 census)
Clerk (Border crossing papers)
Butcher (Enlistment papers)
Poultry rancher and storekeeper (Death Certificate)

Family: Parents: Arthur Norton, Jane Hamilton F Norton, nee Scott
Siblings: Hamilton A Norton, Lilian F Norton, Aline M Norton, Roberta B Norton, Verna J E Norton

Military service:

Corporal 241
Canadian Army Supply Corps
2nd Divisional Supply Column

Medal(s): British War Medal
Victory Medal

Gender: Male

Contributed by Jean Longstaff, Durham | (Mod - Gemma, Durham University Intern)

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