NORTON George

George Norton was the sixth child of William Norton and Elizabeth Phoebe Harris. He stated on his Attestation Paper that he was 44 years when he enlisted for the Great War on 10 May 1915 at Townsville, Queensland, Australia. George was in fact at least 46 years of age. His occupation was a horse driver at the time. He stood 5 feet 8 ½ inches (174cm) tall and weighed 12 stones and 1 pound (76.7kg). George was described as having a dark complexion with grey eyes and dark brown hair. He had a distinctive scar on the left side of his neck. George noted his religion as Church of England. He was a single man and listed his sister, Mrs. Phoebe Sainsbury, who was living at Cooran, Queensland at the time, as his next of kin.

On 20 August 1915, Driver George Norton of 2 L.H.F.A. (Light Horse Field Ambulance) boarded the HMAT “Shropshire” at Brisbane, Queensland, Australia to serve his King and country. He landed in Egypt, and on 09 November 1915, George was admitted to 2 A.G.H. (Aust. General Hospital) at Ghezireh with malaria. A week later, he was discharged to duty at Maadi. George was charged on 11 January 1916 with being A.W.L. (absent without leave) from 6pm to 10pm on 05 January 1916. He was awarded 14 days C.B. (confined to barracks). On 24 February 1916, George marched out of Maadi to Serapeum. In mid-May, he rejoined his unit at Kantara but on 29 May, was admitted to hospital and transferred to 1 Lowland F.A. with pyrexia. The following day, he was transferred to Temp. C.C.S. (Temporary Casualty Clearing Station) with synovitis knee and shoulder. On 02 June 1916, George was transferred to 31 Gen. Hosp. (General Hospital) at Port Said.

3 days later, George was transferred by the H.S. “Gascon” and admitted to 15 Gen. Hosp. at Alexandria. In mid-June, George was transferred by hospital train to Cairo and admitted to 3 A.G.H. with myalgia. On 10 July 1916, he was transferred the hospital ship “Clan McGillvray” at Suez, Egypt with muscular atrophy and vig hernia, for his return home. George arrived at Australia on 14 August 1916 and was discharged medically unfit from the A.I.F. (Aust. Imperial Force) on 27 September 1916.