THOMAS MURTON
Born: 1874, Eye, Suffolk.
Died: 6th January 1900; age: 25; KiA at Colesberg, Northern Cape, South Africa.
Residence: Church Street, Eye, Suffolk.
Rank: Private; Service Number: 4121.
Regiment: Suffolk Regiment, 1st Battalion, South Africa Field Force.
Clasp Awarded: Cape Colony.
CENSUS
1881 Castle Street, Eye, Suffolk.
Thomas was 7 years old and living with his mother, siblings & maternal grandparents.
Elizabeth Mary Murton (nee Perfitt), 30, an Agricultural Labourer’s wife, born Braiseworth, Suffolk.
Samuel Murton, 10, born Eye.
William Murton, 8, born Eye.
Alfred Murton, 4, born Eye.
Robert Major Murton, 1, born Eye.
Emma Perfitt (nee Davy), 65, born Hoxne, Suffolk.
Robert Perfitt, 76, an Agricultural Labourer, born Norwich, Norfolk.
Thomas’s father, George Murton, 35, a Joiner, born Yaxley, Suffolk, was away from home and lodging at 6, Northern Road, West Ham, Essex – the home of 50 year old, Daniel Hall, a General Labourer.
1891 Church Street, Eye, Suffolk.
Thomas was 16 years old, a Bricklayer’s Labourer. He was living with his widowed father & brothers.
George, 45, a Carpenter.
Samuel, 20, a Bricklayer.
William, 18, a Bricklayer’s Labourer.
Alfred, 14.
Robert, 11.
Walter Murton, 8, born Eye.
Thomas’s mother, Elizabeth Mary Murton died 1885, Eye, Suffolk.
Thomas’s brother, Robert Major Murton lost his life in the First World War. Robert of New Shildon, County Durham was KiA on the 1st July 1916, he was ranked a Private, service number 21094 for the Yorkshire Hussars (Alexandra Princess of Wales’s Own), 7th Battalion. He was laid to rest at Fricourt British Cemetery, Somme, France. Robert was 36 years old, and married with children.
One of the notable Battles with a large loss of Suffolk life was the “Battle of Suffolk hill” at Colesberg, Northern Cape 5th- 6th January 1900. The hill was originally called Red or Grassy Hill. The Suffolk regiment was ordered to make a night attack on a Boer position on the heights, four companies, 354 of all ranks, set out at midnight under the command of Col. Watson. The Suffolks were met by a storm of bullets. The Colonel was amongst the first to fall, and the party later retired with 11 officers and 150+ men killed, wounded or captured.
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