Remembering Thomas George Wilson Norton - Topsham Museum

Added: 05 August 2015

This week in 1915, a new assault was launched in Gallipoli, Turkey.

After all attempts to move inland had been defeated, a British landing was made at Suvla Bay, linked to an assault on the hills beyond the Australian and New Zealand position. However, the attacks achieved very little, resulting only in more casualties on both sides.

Remembering:  Thomas George Wilson Norton RN of Topsham who served in this campaign

Thomas Norton was transferred from HMS Canopus to HMS Europea on 5^th July 1915.  HMS Europea was heavily involved in the two evacuations of the Gallipoli Peninsula (Anzac Cove, Suvla Bay and Cape Helles).  Thomas was subsequently mentioned in Dispatches (4834 Supplement to the London Gazette 5^th May 1916) and was also awarded the Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) whilst serving as a member of the Eastern Mediterranean Squadron during those evacuations as he volunteered to assist in rescuing naval personnel from a burning ammunition ship.  Europa was the flagship at Mudros July 1915-1919 and paid off at Malta in March 1920.