Author: Brian Horrocks

Major g.G. Norton was commissioned into the 1st Battalion, The Middlesex Regiment in 1948. The Battalion was sent to Korea in 1950 as part of the first British Contingent to the United Nations Forces. On returning to Britain he served a period as Adjutant at the Regimental Depot, subsequently volunteering for service with Airborne Forces in 1952. He served with The 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment in Egypt and Cyprus during the EOKA campaign. In 1956 he commanded Support Company of the Battalion in the airborne assault on Port Said in the Suez operations. In 1957 he rejoined The Middlesex Regiment in Cyprus for the remainder of the emergency period, where he was mentioned in despatches. He completed three tours of duty in the Congo between 1960 to 1963 and was decorated by the Australian Government with the Silver Order of Honour for a rescue operation against rebel troops in the Kivu Province at Bakava. Soon after being seconded to Airborne Forces for the second time, in 1967, he was appointed Second-in-Command of the Depot the Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces