Ypres Reservoir Cemetery: P. Priano
Ypres Reservoir Cemetery: Pauline Priano
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Raymond Norton, one of 8 surviving children, (3 deceased), was the youngest of 4 brothers and had 2 elder and 2 younger sisters. His parents James Richard Norton and Sarah Bellas, were both born at Sunderland, County Durham, in 1866 and 1867 respectively, and married in 1879. Their son William Arthur was born in 1881 while they were living at 44, Bramwell Street, Sunderland, James Richard supported his family employed as a grocer. James Richard Jnr was born in 1882, George William, May 21st 1885, daughters Alice and Florence 1889 and 1891 respectively, they had now moved to 3, Hutchinson Terrace, however James Richard’s occupation was unchanged. After the birth of Raymond in 1892 they had a further 2 daughters, Margaret in 1896 and Hilda 1898. Still living in the same house, in 1901, their older children were also employed, William A. (20) is listed as a railway servant/cleaner, James R. Jnr (18) a shoe maker, George W. (15) was an apprentice butcher. By 1911 all the elder children had married and left home, James Richard was still employed as a grocer’s assistant, Sarah had found work as a domestic nurse, Alice (22) and Margaret (15) remained at home, Raymond (18) was unemployed but later worked as a driver for Bernstein & Co. of Sunderland, furniture producers, Hilda (13) attended school, they had moved to 12 Villette Mount, Sunderland.
December 10th 1915 Raymond Norton, having left his employment, enlisted at West Hartlepool, initially assigned to the Army Reserve he was examined at Sunderland, February 8th 1916, found to be fit and after a brief period of training departed for the front, June 16th 1916 as Private 697 attached to the 22d Pioneer Battalion Durham Light Infantry. The battalion departed via Southampton arriving at Le Havre the following day. Private Norton did not take part in the day to day engagements of the battalion as he had been assigned as an orderly to the Officers Mess, although he would have moved with his regiment throughout the conflict.
The 22nd Battalion having arrived just prior to the commencement of the Battles of the Somme were attached to the 8th Division and engaged carrying supplies to the forward lines and the wounded back to the dressing stations. Near La Boisselle while setting up a field dump the first 5 casualties of the battalion were wounded. Late October they lost 30 men digging communication trenches and carrying wounded for the 5th Division. Transferred to the Belgian salient during early 1917 the battalion spent the summer digging-in and laying railway track in preparation for the forthcoming attacks during the 3rd Battle of Ypres which began July 31st and lasted until November 10th 1917. During this period Private Norton was hospitalised several times with various ailments including scabies and myalgia. The 22nd, subjected to mustard gas attacks, shelling, battling through the rain and mud remained on the Ypres salient until the Germans once again attacked on the Somme, March 28th 1918.
Private 22/697 Raymond Norton was accidentally killed March 2nd 1918, a full investigation was held March 9th 1918 by the Court of Inquiry assembled at Ypres (Belgium) and depositions deposited by 2 witnesses, Lieutenant W. H. Davies and Corporal 23158 W. D. Crooks, both of the 22nd D.L.I. were taken into consideration by The Court. Corporal Crooks stated that, “At Ypres, 2nd March 1918 I was going around billets with the Company Commanding Officer about 11 a.m. When we got to the Sergeants mess Lieut. Davies went into the mess with the Company Sergeant Major, I remained outside and while I was standing outside the wall of the ruined building collapsed falling onto the mess. I assisted in clearing…illegible…away, Private R. Norton was up against the corrugation. He had a cut to his forehead and seemed to be badly crushed, he did not say anything. Private Norton was employed in the Sergeants mess. There was a high wind blowing at the time and I consider this might have caused the wall to collapse,” that of Lieutenant Davies stated virtually the same. The conclusion of the Court was as follows, “The Court finds that No. 697 Pte. Norton was accidentally killed by the collapse of an adjoining wall onto the Sergeants mess where he was employed and that the collapse of the wall was probably due to high winds blowing at the time…illegible…attributed to anyone.”
Private 22/697 Raymond Norton Durham Light Infantry was laid to rest in the nearby Ypres Reservoir Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium, grave III. C. 16, he was 25 years of age and single.
In the absence of a will all monies owed to him were assigned to his father as were his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to him at 12, Markham Street, Sunderland, County Durham. His eldest brother William Arthur commissioned at a cost of 4 shillings 4 pence an additional inscription to be added to his military headstone, it reads, “Till We Meet Again.”
Although all of Raymond’s brother were eligible for military service only the details of James Richard Norton Jnr have been found who served with the Durham Light Infantry.
Sarah Norton nee Bellas died in 1931 aged 74 years, James Richard Norton Snr aged 77 years in 1933, both registered in the district of Sunderland, County Durham.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Raymond Norton is remembered at Ryhope on R52.01 at Sunderland on S140.036 S140.048 Part 2 and S140.103
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 41
