Norton, Hugh
Another former member of the Faculty of Arts whose death we record is Lieut. Hugh Norton of the R.F.C. This gallant officer was educated at Eastbourne and Wellington College, where he was a member of the O.T.C. and so good a marksman that he was one of the Shooting Eight. From thence he came to King's and studied in the School of Chinese, being ready to go out to the East when the war began. Changing his purpose he joined the Inns of Court O.T.C. and was gazetted to the King's Own (R.L.) Regiment, serving in France, the Balkans and Egypt in succession. After a short period of service in Egypt, Norton was attached to the R.F.C. and joined an air squadron at a part of the Front where the German scouts had been very active. With an "air life" of over forty hours before he even went to France, he knew no fear and was never happier than in the air, his great ambition being to become a scout on one of our fastest aeroplanes. His course of training in England had been attended by all success - he passed with flying colours all the possible tests. On the 24th March last he was over the German trenches taking photographs when he encountered a German scout machine. He was shot down and instantly killed. His Flight Commander looked upon him as "one of his most promising pilots who had shown great keenness." Above all he lived and died up to the inspiring motto of the R.F.C. - per ardua ad astra. King's College Review, June 1917
Biographical
| Surname(s) | Norton |
|---|---|
| First name(s) | Hugh |
| Family details | Son of David Norton, C.S.I., and Mrs David Norton of 30, Grassington Road, Eastbourne |
| Previous education | Eastbourne and Wellington College |
| College | King's College London and/or King's College London Hospital |
| Dept / course | Faculty of Chinese |
| Military unit | Royal Flying Corps, 8th Sqdn.; General List 118 Sqdn. |
| Date enlisted | Outbreak of war |
| War / conflict | World War One (1914-1918) |
| Campaigns | France, Balkans and Egypt |
| Date of death | 24 March 1917 |
| Age at death | 24 |
| Cause of death | Killed in action |
| Burial place | Warlincourt Halte British Cemetery, Saulty, Pas de Calais, France |
| Commemoration(s) | King's College Chapel |
| Sources | King's College London Archives; Commonwealth War Graves Commission |