TOPIC:

Hello. Thank you to the moderators for letting me join this forum.

I recently learned that my great great grandfather, John Henry Norton, served in the Boer War. Given that our family has very little information about him, I was eager to start researching this period of his life. Unfortunately, the little information I've found so far has only led to more questions and confusion. I'm hoping that some of you may be able to guide me in how I might proceed with my research.

My 2x great grandfather moved to Canada in 1910 and enlisted from there to fight in WW1. His Canadian Attestation Paper says that he had previously served as a private in the Imperial Yeomanry 12 and that his birthdate is June 13, 1876. I found a record of a John Henry Norton that served as a shoeing smith in the 65th Company, 17th Battalion of the IY, but the information and age in his attestation doesn't match anything in my great great grandfather's records. I know there are sometimes mistakes in the old records, but I've looked through the English censuses of that era and have found two different sets of census records listing these men over the same 20-30 year period, so I do believe that they are in fact two different John Henry Nortons.

That being said, there are quite a few J Nortons listed in the Boer War records, but no one else that appears to have served in the Imperial Yeomanry. Is it possible that he served in another unit under the Imperial Yeomanry and that's why I'm having trouble locating him? I admittedly know very little about the military. Any guidance that any of you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Shannon

Hello Shannon.......

F.Y.I. Here are all the Norton's in the IY.......

Norton, A. 20240, Trooper 5th Coy., 2nd Bn. I.Y.
Norton, Alfred 42506, Trooper* 38th Bn. I.Y.
Norton, Archibald Douglas 3495, Private 12th Coy., 3rd Bn. I.Y.
Norton, Charles Douglas 36832, Trooper Imperial Yeomanry
Norton, David Richmond 9710, Private 45th Coy., 13th Bn. I.Y.
Norton, George Henry 225, Private 1st Bn. I.Y. Staff
Norton, Gwynn 13184, Trooper 52nd Coy., 19th Bn. I.Y.
Norton, Harry Egerton 13054, Trooper 51st Coy., 19th Bn. I.Y.
Norton, James 32175, L/Corporal 84th Coy., 22nd Bn. I.Y.
Norton, John Henry 12120, Shoeing Smith 65th Coy., 17th Bn. I.Y.
Norton, William 39735*, Trooper 2nd Scottish Horse

M.

Thanks for the prompt response, Mike. Much appreciated. None of these men appear to be my 2x great grandfather. I might have to look at other J Nortons outside of the Imperial Yeomanry to hopefully find him.

I see that you were President of the Calgary Military Historical Society. I live in Calgary too and was sorry to hear that the CMHS was dissolved.

Shannon

He is there on FindmyPast indexed as John enlisting 1902 as John Henry 41903 Imp Yeo Born St Anthony’s Newcastle

Pete

Possibly arrived in SA too lete to qualify for medal.

Thank you so much! The fact that he enlisted in 1902 would definitely explain why I had difficulty tracking him down in the medal registries. I only have an Ancestry account, so I wasn't able to find this information. Now I can proceed with my research. Thanks again!

Shannon

Hi Shannon
Welcome to the forum.

When searching on Ancestry, your Great Grandfather is listed under Morton.


Also ,forget about the entry regarding Frobisher Bay. It is a Ancestry error pertaining to casualties. Not sure on his wife's surname? could be Smith?

He served in South Africa for 167 days.


Good luck with your research

Dave......