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NORTON WAR MEMORIAL

World War 1 & 2 - Detailed information
Compiled and copyright © Kim Russell 2013

The memorial is situated outside All Saints Church in the village of Norton, Northamptonshire. It sits on a square plinth approx 3 ft square surmounted by a octagonal column, approx 8ft in height, topped by a stone cross. The names are inscribed in black lettering. There are 16 names listed for World War 1 only. Further details are to be found on the Norton Village website.

Photographs copyright © Kim Russell 2013

TO MY BROTHER ALEXANDER THYNNE
AND THE MEN OF NORTON PARISH
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FROM THEIR COUNTRY
IN THE WAR AGAINST GERMANY 1914-1919

THYNNE, D.S.O. Croix de Guerre
Alexander George (Lord)
Lt. Col. Wiltshire Regiment, commanding 6th (Royal Wilts Yeomanry) battalion. Killed in action 14 September 1918. Aged 45. Born 17 February 1873, baptised 27 March 1873 at St James, Piccadilly, Middlesex. Son of the Marquis and Marchioness of Bath. Entered France 24 July 1916. His will states that The Honourable (commonly called Lord) Alexander George Thynne of Norton Hall, Northampton D.S.O. died 14th Sept 1918 in France probate London 7 February 1919 - £331,310. 12s. 7d. In the 1891 census he is Census 1891 living in Berkeley Sq. London with his parents John and Frances and siblings, Thomas 18, Catherine 15, Beatrice 13, Alice 17, Alex 8. In the 1901 Census during the Boer War he is with 2nd Company (Wiltshire), 1st Battalion,Imperial Yeomanry; he was awarded the Queens South Africa Medal with clasps for Wittenbergen, Cape Colony, Transvaal. In the 1911 census he is seen visiting the Duke and Duchess of Beaufort at Badminton; he is 38, single and a Member of Parliament. Buried in Commemorated Bethune Town Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Plot II. Row L. Grave 13

Extract from THE V.C. AND D.S.O. BOOK VOL. III page 354:

THYNNE, LORD A. G. (D.S.O. L.G. 1.1.17) ; b. 1873 ; s. of the 4th Marquess of Bath and brother of the 5th Marquess ; educ. Eton and Balliol College, Oxford; ent. R. Wilts. Yeomanry about 1898 ; Lt.-Colonel ; served with 1st Batt. I.Y. in S. Africa, and on the Staff, 1900-2 ; Despatches twice ; Queen's Medal, 4 clasps; King's Medal, 2 clasps; was Secretary to the Lt.-Governor, Orange River Colony, 1902-5; served with Somaliland Field Force, 1903-4, as Reuter's Special Correspondent (Medal and clasp), and on the outbreak of the Europ. War he went to the front with the Wilts. Yeomanry, in which he was a Major; in 1916 he was made Lieutenant-Colonel commanding a battalion of the Wilts. Rgt., and was mentioned in Despatches in Jan. 1917, and again in Dec. of the same year. He was killed in action on 14.9.18.

Extract from the Derby Daily Telegraph Wednesday 18 September 1918:

M.P. KILLED IN ACTION.

"News reached Longleat, the Wiltshire seat of the Marquis of Bath, of the death at the front of Lord Alexander Thynne, who was lieut.-colonel in the Wiltshire Regiment. He was 45 years of age. and was senior Unionist member for Bath, which ho hail represented since January, 1910. Flags were half-mast in Bath Tuesday."

ARISS
Benjamin
Private 111631, 2nd Battalion, Tank Corps. Died of wounds 22 March 1918. Aged 21. Born Blackpitt, Oxford, enlisted Northampton. Son of Amos and Emma Jane Ariss, Norton. Formerly 234639, Royal Field Artillery. In the 1891 Census, his parents, Amos and Jane, are living in Barford St Michael; he is a cowman, they have a daughter, Myra Manning (4) he is living in a house called "Buttermilk" next door to his father, Benjamin, who is a shepherd aged 67 a widow, works at Buttermilk Farm. Amos and Jane married Q4 1890 she was previously Jane Manning and had her daughter, Myra west Manning, q1 1887. There is also a Manning on the memorial, were they relations of Jane's and is that why they came to Norton? In the 1901 Census he is living in Norton with parents Amos, an agricultural labourer, born Croughton and mother Emma J, born Claydon; in the same house are his half sister Myra Manning (14) Thomas Manning (cousin 8) Benjamin (4) Anne (3). In the 1911 Census he is living in Norton as a ploughboy on a farm, aged 14, still with parents, sister Anne and cousin Thomas William. No known grave. Commemorated on Pozieres Memorial, Somme, France. Panel 94.
BLENCOWE
John
Private 7780, 'B' Company, 1st Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment. Killed in action 24 October 1914. Aged 31. Born Limerick, Ireland, enlisted Northampton. He had only been in France for 7 weeks before being killed in action. As he was born in Ireland he is also listed in the Irish memorial records. In the 1891 Census his parents William, aged 40, born in Norton and Ann, aged 35, born in Templemore Ireland, (WM serving in 64th Foot) John, aged 7, born Limerick, Ireland; William, aged 5, born Jamaica; Ernest, aged 3, born Natal, South Africa; Mary aged 11 months, born Norton. In the 1901 Census he is listed as being born in 1884, working as a Servant-Groom, living in Norton Hall stables. In the 1911 Census he is living, as a lodger, in Chester, working as a Bootmaker. Buried in Perth Cemetery (China Wall), West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot XII. Row C. Grave 3
DIPPER
William
Private 6059, 22nd (Tyneside Scottish) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers. Killed in action 28 April 1917. Born Norton, enlisted Northampton. Son of Jesse and Annie Dipper of Norton, Daventry, Northampton. In the 1901 Censushis father, Jesse, was general labourer, born Warwickshire. Mother Annie, born Norton and his siblings were William, aged 4, Catherine, aged 3, and Oliver aged 1, all born in Norton. In the 1911 Census he is living in Norton with his parents, eldest child of 7 children. Buried in St Nicholas British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Plot I. Row H. Grave 15
EDMONDS
[Robert] Oscar
Private 36912, 10th (Service) Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment. Killed in action 13 July 1917. Aged 32. Born Cadishead, Lancashire, enlisted Manchester. Son of Theresa and the late Thomas Edmonds of 16 King Edward Road, Northampton, native of Norton. Formerly 23037, 9th Battalion, King's Shropshire Light Infantry. Buried in Coxyde Military Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot I. Row J. Grave 29
EDMONDS
[Thomas] Cyril
Lance Corporal Z/2900, 11th Battalion, Rifle Brigade. Killed in action 18 September 1916. Born Thorpe Malsor, Northants, enlisted London, resident Notting Hill, Middlesex. In the 1891 Census his mother is already widowed and living in Norton in the School House, she is a dressmaker. In the 1901 Census the two brothers named on Norton Memorial as Oscar and Cyril, are seen to be listed on the war memorial by their middle names, living in Norton with their widowed mother Theresa who came from Old Bradwell, Bucks. Oscar was born 1885 and was an architect/draughtsman; Cyril born 1887 was a drapers assistant, they were born in Northampton. They were her only children. In the 1911 Census Oscar is living with his mother in Norton Hall, where she is housekeeper. Cyril is living in Holloway, London as a woollen wharehouseman. No known grave. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Pier & Face 16 B & 16 C.

From his British Army WW1 Service record 1914-1920 (much is fire/water damaged so only the intelligible parts have been transcribed):

At the time he attested, 11 September 1914 at Winchester, he stated he was born in Thorpe Malsor. near Kettering, Northants, he was 28 years 5 months old and a worker in a warehouse. He was originally declared missing and then accepted as having died on or since 18 September 1916. He had been appointed a Lance Corporal 4 August 1916. He had been posted on 15 September 1914 and then again on the 21 September 1914. He was posted to the 5th Battalion on 26 April 1916 and then to the 11th Battalion (BEF) 28 June 1916. He had married Mary Magdalene Perrey (a spinster) at St Peter's Parish Church, Regent Square, London on 25 April 1916. (Civil Registration Pancras, London April to June Quarter 1916 - Volume 1B Page 131). he was 5 feet 5 inches, weight 126 lbs *(approx.), had a 35 inch girth. pale complexion, blue eyes and dark brown hair; he was Church of England. His wife was living at 14 Colville Road, Notting Hill, London previously at 8 Milliman Street, Guildford, Street, London W.C.1. . When he died he had no effects and the pension his wife recieved was 13s 9d per week. His wife remarried becoming mrs Bell, resident 1 Camden Town Gardens, Shepherd's Bush. He was entitled to the British War & Victory Medals.

FOSTER
Frank
Private 41519, 8th (Service) Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment. Killed in action 12 October 1917. Born Stowe, Northants, enlisted London, resident Weedon. Formerly Private 11835, Royal Flying Corps. In the 1901 Census Frank is aged 8, his father, William is a shepherd on a farm in Stowe. In the Census 1911 he is listed as born in Stowe in 1893, he is living with his parents in Muscott, he is a farm labourer. Buried in Cement House Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot XV. Row E. Grave 20
LITCHFIELD
John
Second Lieutenant, 3rd Battalion, attached to 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action 20 October 1914. His will states that Litchfield, John, of Muscott near Weedon, 2nd Lt. 3rd Battery, Bedfordshire Regiment, died 22 Oct. 1914 at La Bassee, France. Probate 23rd May to Hugh Leslie Litchfield (older brother) schoolmaster - £169-7s-10d. In the 1881 Census he lived at Noborough Lodge, his father, William, a was a farmer with 310 acres employing 7 men and 3 boys he had children William G, aged 8, Hugh, aged 6, Frank, aged 4, Watson, aged 2 and Thomas, aged 9 months. Also his grandfather, William, lived with him, he had farmed Noborough back at least until 1841 census. In the 1891 Census he is listed as the son of William Allin, farmer and Elizabeth. Also in house - Frank 14, Watson 12, Thomas a 10, John 9, Fanny 5. in the 1901 Census he is aged 18, a boarder in a school in North Street, Daventry. In the 1911 Census he is a school teacher boarding in Ampthill Road Bedford. No known grave. Commemorated on Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 31 & 33.
MANNING
Alfred [James]
Private 6634, 1/8th (T.F.) Battalion, Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment) Killed in action 18 September 1916. Aged 34. Born Norton, enlisted Long Buckby. Buried in Euston Road Cemetery, Colin Camps, Somme, France. Plot I. Row F. Grave 37.
MANNING
Frank
Private 40436, 8th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action 17 February 1917. Aged 28. Born Norton, enlisted Daventry. Formerly 3998, Suffolk Regiment. Son of George Manning, of Norton, Daventry, Northants. In the 1891 Census, his parents are George and Sarah, both aged 38, and he is living with along with his siblings, Ada, aged 12, Ethel, aged 9, Alfred, aged 7, and Frank, aged 1. They are living next door to William and Susannah Manning (George's parents) who have living with them William, aged 13, and John, aged 11, who are grandchildren. Alfred is the same age and lives next door but to John Blencowe. In the 1901 Census his father is George, a blacksmith, born Norton, mother Sarah, born Daventry, brother John, a coachman, aged 21 and Alfred is a groom, aged 17. Frank is living with his grandparents, William, aged 79, and Susannah, aged 78, next door to his parents. William is living on private means. In the 1911 Census his mother, Sarah, has died and Frank is living with his father and is a waggoner on farm. Alfred is boarding in Long Buckby and is a cab driver. Buried in Regina Trench Cemetery, Grandcourt, Somme, France. Plot VI. Row G. Grave 10.
MAJOR
John [Henry]
Corporal R/5623, 13th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps. Died of wounds 30 August 1918. Born Norton, enlisted Rugby, residence at time of death, Chalfont, Bucks. In the 1901 Census his parents are Harry, aged 35, and Alice, aged 30, father was a railway platelayer. Living with them is ?(illegible) brother, aged 9, John, aged 7, Frank, aged 3. In the 1911 Census the family had moved to Rugby and John was a labourer in the cement works. Buried in Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille, Pas de Calais, France. Plot III. Row A. Grave 1.
PENN
Harry
Private 24671, 2nd/8th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Died in United Kingdom 17 February 1918. Aged 25. Son of George and Susan Penn of Norton. In the 1901 Census he was living in Cold Higham, with his parents, George, aged 46, a stockman, and Susan, aged 41. Also living there were a stepson, Arthur Welsh, aged 19, an agricultural labourer, Harry, aged 8, Elizabeth, aged 5, and Mary, aged 8 months. Buried in Norton Church Cemetery. In the 1911 Census he is a lodger at Noboro Lodge and is a farm labourer. Buried in Norton (All Saints) Churchyard, right of the main path.
ROSE, MiD
Eric
Captain, 5th Battalion (London Rifle Brigade), London Regiment. Killed in action 28 March 1918. Son of Rev. & Mrs Percy Rose of "Highwood" Ridgeway Road, Redhill, Surrey. Educated at St Edwards School, Oxford. Mentioned in Desptaches (MiD). Formerly Sussex Yeomanry. In the 1881 Census Eric was living in Northampton girls orphanage with his parents Thomas and Lucy Jane, his father was a Colonel in the Northamptonshire Militia who had retired by now and perhaps had some advisory roll at the orphanage. In the 1901 Census his father was Vicar of Norton, Percy W, aged 42, from Northampton, and his mother, Isobel C, was aged 39, from France. Eric was aged 4, his sister Christine L H was 11 months. They lived in "The Cottage" Norton. Also with them was Percy's mother Lucy Jane 82; they had servants and a nurse living with them. In the 1911 Census he and his sister are visitors with a family in Fulham, London. No known grave. Commemorated on Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. Bay 9.
WASHBURN
Edwin
Private 45040, 7th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers transferred to 60518, 101st Company, Labour Corps. Died of wounds 14 May 1918. Aged 42. Born Woolverton, Warkwicks, enlisted Daventry, resident Weedon. Husband of Rosetta Washburn of 3 Cotten End Warks. In the 1911 Census he has been married for 9 years to Rosetta, he is a gardener at Brockhall. Buried in St Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, Seine-Maritime, France. Section P. Plot VII. Row O. Grave 3A
WRIGHT
Sydney John
Second Lieutenant, Essex Regiment. Killed in action 23 August 1918. Son of John and Lucy Wright of Flore, husband of Emily May (Sanders) Honeyhurst Farm, Little Braunston, Rugby. In the 1911 Census he is living at Whilton Locks in the house of Frank Litchfield working as a groom, aged 17. Buried in Foncquevillers Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Plot II. Row A. Grave 2.
CLARK
George
Private 178026, Machine Gun Corps. Died in United Kingdom 29 October 1918. Aged 30. Son of Charles and the late Elizabeth Rachel Clarke, husband of Rose Clara Clarke, of Norton. Born in Ashton, Northants, living in Weedon, married Rose Newton in 1915. In the 1911 Census he is living with his widowed mother and siblings in St Andrews Road, Northampton and is a bootmaker. In the 1911 Census he is living with his widowed mother and siblings in St Andrews Road, Northampton and is a bootmaker. Buried in Norton (All Saints) Churchyard.

 

NOTES: All of the names were copied from the Norton War Memorial, All Saints Church, Norton. All census information was found on Ancestry.co.uk. The service information was found either from the War Graves Commission or The Channel 4 History Website. Extracts have also been found from several other Military Sources on findmypast.co.uk. All information is given in good faith and believed to be correct. No liability is accepted for information found to be incorrect. If you do have further information or photographs of any of the above please contact:-

Kim Russell, 1 Eaglesfield, Norton NN11XN or email kimrussell@btopenworld.com

Last updated 28 June, 2022

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