Robert's Story.
EARLY LIFE
Robert Norton was born in Macclesfield in 1860, the son of Emma and George Thomas Norton, a silk weavers’ foreman.
On 3 December 1883 Robert married Clara Dooley at St Paul’s Church, Macclesfield. By 1891 the couple were living at 33 Armitt St with four children: Gertrude Norton Dooley (13), Francis George Norton (6), Percival Norton (4) and three-month-old Frederick William Norton.
WW1 SERVICE
Sgt Robert Norton died in the 2nd Western General Hospital, Manchester.
News of his death was reported in the Macclesfield Times of 13 October 1916:
DEATH OF SERGEANT R NORTON – FORMERLY CARETAKER OF THE MACCLESFIELD DRILL HALL
Sgt Robert Norton… passed away on Saturday night at the 2nd Western General Hospital, Manchester. The deceased had been ailing for some time and was… in the hospital for about a month… Sgt Norton, who was 56 years of age, was a native of Macclesfield and served for seven years in the Royal Marines, his service including duty abroad. Subsequently he returned to Macclesfield and was appointed caretaker of the Drill Hall, which position he… occupied for 22 years. He was connected with the 5th Volunteer Battalion, Cheshire Regt, and transferred… to the Territorials, holding the rank of Regimental Quarter-master Sergeant in the 7th Cheshires at the time of his retirement. He then joined the National reserve, with whom he was mobilised on the outbreak of war, and went to Queensferry. Later he was transferred to the Manchester Regt and acted for a time as sergeant-instructor at… Ashton. Afterwards he was drafted to Cleethorpes, where he was stationed at the time he was taken ill.
Before the war he took an interest in the Church Lads’ Brigade, in which he held a commission as Second-Lieutenant, and he was formerly swimming instructor to the boys of the Macclesfield Grammar School and the Industrial School. Sergeant Norton leaves a widow and three sons, all on foreign service… The eldest, Frank, aged 32, had completed his time as a trooper in the 5th Irish Lancers when war broke out. He was called up as a Reservist and is now in France. Percy, aged 29, has been in the Army eleven years and is now a sergeant with the Cheshire Regt in Egypt, while the youngest son, Lance-Corpl Fred Norton, is with the Cheshires in France. He is 25 years of age and was… a clerk with Mr F May, solicitor and clerk to the Macclesfield Board of Guardians and Rural District Council… He is now lying in Rouen Hospital suffering from wounds…
Yesterday the funeral took place at the Macclesfield Cemetery with military honours… The mourners were Mr Wilcock, Mr Whalley (sen), Mr W Whalley (jun), Mr J Norton, Mr Walker, Mr A T Pattinson, Mr Okell and Mr Hollinshead. The widow and relatives afterwards visited the grave. Corporals J W Bullock, Hatton and Radfirth and Private Hordern were the bearers…
COMMEMORATION
Sgt Robert Norton is buried in grave ref. H. 6376 in Macclesfield Cemetery. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission holds casualty details for Sgt Robert Norton.
In Macclesfield, Sgt Robert Norton is commemorated on the Park Green, Town Hall, St Michael’s Church, and St George’s Church war memorials.
Research by Rosie Rowley, Macclesfield.