Basic Details
Surname
Morton
Forenames
Robert
Gender
Male
Information stated on memorial
Alternative forename
Robert James
Served or died
Died
Service number
7474
Notes
This man was mistakenly listed on the Roll twice: once (wrongly) under the surname "Norton", and again under the correct surname Morton; both entries list him as Private 7474 in the Royal West Kents, killed in action 25/10/1914, and his address as 156 Westwood Street. As the Roll's two entries for him are under different surnames, we likewise have to have a Names record under each of them, to avoid giving the mistaken impression that we have overlooked an entry.

(CWGC records that Private Robert James Morton, regimental number L/7474, died aged 29 on 25/10/1914 serving in the 1st Battalion of the Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment, and is commemorated on Le Touret Memorial in France. They record him as the son of the late George Thomas and Elizabeth Morton. The Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects record that Robert's mother Elizabeth was his legatee. The Medal Rolls record that he was posted to France on 15/8/1914, and that he died of wounds on 25/10/1914. Soldiers Died in the Great War records that he was a native of Uphill, Folkestone who was living in Dover when he enlisted in Maidstone; it states he died of wounds on 25/10/1914.
Robert James Morton's birth was registered in 1884 in the Elham District of Kent; he was baptised at Hawkinge in Kent on 27/12/1884, the son of George Thomas and Elizabeth Morton. On the 1891 census Robert was living with his widowed mother Elizabeth at Uphill, Hawkinge, Kent; on the 1901 census they were living at 180 GNR Cottages in Peterborough. On the 1911 census Robert was serving as a Private in India with the 2nd Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment; his mother was staying in Dover with her daughter Jane Ashman).
Primary Service
As stated on memorial
Service (Primary - Stated)
Army
Unit (Primary - Stated)
West Kents
Sub-unit (Primary - Stated)
Not stated on memorial
Rank / Title (Primary - Stated)
Pte
Our References
Service (Primary - Our reference)
Unit (Primary - Our reference)
Rank / Title (Primary - Our reference)
Death and Burial details
Country of death
Not Stated on Memorial
Country of burial
Not Stated on Memorial
Cemetery
Not Stated on Memorial
Year of death
1914
Month of death
October
Day of death
25
Manner of death as stated
Killed in action
Manner of death reference
Killed in Action
Personal Details
Address
156, WESTWOOD STREET
Occupation
Not Stated on Memorial