Henry Thomas Norton

Born 26 Aug 1881 - Died 15 Sept 1916

Service number: WWI 8/3816 AWMM
WWI 8/3876 AWMM
Also known as: Harry AWMM
Armed force / branch: Army AWMM
Last rank: WW1 Quartermaster Sergeant AWMM Otago Infantry Regiment AWMM
War: World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM

Henry Thomas Norton — Quartermaster Sergeant H. T. Norton, of Wellington. New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, 18 January 1917, p.32. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections SDR-19170118-32-31. No Known Copyright Restrictions

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Biographical information

Henry Thomas "Harry" Norton was born in Dunedin on 26 August 1881. A boat builder by trade, he was living in Wellington with his wife, Florence Mary Norton, and their children before World War I. At the time of his enlistment, the family lived at Goldie's Brae, Wellington. Their children included Leonard George and Jean Lottie. Their youngest daughter, Kathleen Mary, was born while Norton was serving overseas.

Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira holds the Henry Thomas Norton letters (MS-2004-16). The collection contains correspondence written to Florence and their children during his training in New Zealand and service in Egypt and France. Examples are available to view digitally through Pou Kanohi New Zealand at War.

Norton entered Trentham Military Camp on 14 June 1915. In his first surviving camp letter, he described receiving his clothing and equipment, the muddy conditions and the plentiful food. He reassured Florence that he was comfortable and promised to write regularly, addressing her affectionately as "Chum" (Letter to Florence Norton, 14 June 1915: MS-2004-16).

The following day, Norton described being elected leader of the eight men in his tent. He was responsible for ensuring they attended parade on time, kept themselves and their quarters clean, completed rostered duties and maintained good behaviour. The men called him "King" and relied on him to settle questions and organise shared purchases. Norton regarded the responsibility as an early step towards promotion (Letter to Florence Norton, 15 June 1915: MS-2004-16).

His letters from Trentham record the development of his military responsibilities alongside his continuing concern for Florence and the children. They describe drill, camp routines, illness among the troops and preparations for overseas service. Further surviving letters from this period are dated 16 and 17 June, 22 and 24 June, 9 and 14 July, 26 August and 1 September 1915.

During the voyage overseas, Norton wrote separately to Florence, Leonard and Jean. In a letter to Jean dated 8 February 1916, he described the ships approaching the Suez Canal, the surrounding desert and mountains, date palms and flying fish. He asked both children to support their mother and continue practising music so they could play for him when he returned (Letter to Jean Norton, 8 February 1916: MS-2004-16).

In a letter written from Egypt on 26 March 1916, Norton described the heat, sand and flies and reported that he had retained his sergeant's stripes. His name had been put forward for appointment as quartermaster sergeant, and he had demonstrated his ability by drilling a platoon before several officers. Although he could have remained at headquarters, he expressed a preference for serving in the field (Letter to Florence Norton, 26 March 1916: MS-2004-16).

Norton proceeded to France in April 1916 and joined the 2nd Battalion, Otago Infantry Regiment, on the Western Front. His letters from France move between descriptions of military preparations and intimate messages to his family. He sent postcards well in advance of birthdays and his wedding anniversary, signing himself "your soldier husband" or "Soldier Daddy".

In a letter dated 7 May 1916, Norton expressed frustration with military censorship, which prevented him from writing as openly as he wished. He was waiting to enter the front line after months of training and hoped that he might eventually receive leave in Britain (Letter to Florence Norton, 7 May 1916: MS-2004-16).

On 9 May 1916, Norton wrote of his homesickness and his longing to return to Florence and the children. He had received no news about the family's "new recruit" and was anxious to know that Florence and the baby were well. He explained that he had written first as a husband and father and would then write as a soldier (Letter to Florence Norton, 9 May 1916: MS-2004-16).

In another letter dated 10 May 1916, Norton described returning to the trenches for ten days at a time. He wrote that the soldiers could sleep through the heavy artillery fire, although it was sometimes "terrific". He also warned Florence to have gifts and clothing sent from Egypt disinfected because they might carry skin diseases (Letter to Florence Norton, 10 May 1916: MS-2004-16).

On 29 May 1916, while resting in the grounds of a château, Norton described an overgrown garden filled with roses, forget-me-nots, wisteria and mature trees. The ferns reminded him of the New Zealand bush, while the garden led him to think of Florence and the children at home (Letter to Florence Norton, 29 May 1916: MS-2004-16).

That same day he also wrote separately to Leonard. Norton asked his son to support his mother, to speak openly with her and to train himself to become "a Gentleman worthy of the name", adding that it was now Leonard's responsibility to take his place at home (Letter to Leonard Norton, 29 May 1916: MS-2004-16).

By August 1916, Norton had received photographs of Florence and the newly born Kathleen Mary. He wrote that he kept them protected in his pocketbook and described Kathleen as "a regular little Darling". He sent Christmas presents to Florence and the baby and hoped to find suitable gifts for Leonard and Jean (Letter to Florence Norton, 30 August 1916: MS-2004-16).

Norton's final surviving letter to his children was written shortly before the Battle of Flers. He described his duties as a non-commissioned officer, including guards, piquets and responsibility for prisoners. On 14 September he added that the battalion was preparing to attack the German trenches at dawn:

"We are going over the parapet to take their trenches tomorrow morning at dawn."

He ended by asking Leonard and Jean to be good to their mother and promising that he would have much to tell them in his next letter (Letter to Leonard and Jean Norton, 12-14 September 1916: MS-2004-16).

Norton was killed in action during the Battle of Flers on 15 September 1916, aged 35. He is buried in Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Longueval, France. His service appears under both 8/3816 and 8/3876 in surviving records.

Florence maintained a memorial area in the family home containing Norton's portrait, medals and memorial scroll. Family photographs also record his original wooden grave marker, his later headstone and the continued remembrance of him by his descendants. He is commemorated by a memorial plaque at Old St Paul's Church in Wellington. AWMM

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Henry Thomas Norton