Robert James Wharton

Private - Service No. 9337 - 1st, 8th, 9th Battalions Norfolk Regiment

Robert James Wharton, born in May 1897 in Swardeston, Norfolk, was the eldest son of James Wharton and his wife Elizabeth (Andrews). He was one of six children, Violet (1899), John (1902), Reginald (1904), Nora (1907) and Olive (1910). James and Elizabeth were married at Mulbarton on 17th November 1896 and lived in Wood Lane, Swardeston where they raised their family. James was an agricultural labourer and worked for George Feltham of Common Farm who rented much of the arable land in the village at the time.

On 25th September 1919 Robert Wharton married Ada May Fulcher in Mulbarton, Norfolk. Ada Fulcher was born at "The Wood", at the top of Wood Lane, then part of Mulbarton, on 14th December 1898, the daughter of Robert James Fulcher and his wife Anna Elizabeth (Eagling). Robert and Anna Fulcher had a total of nine children but three died in infancy.

Robert and Ada Wharton had two daughters, Barbara (1920) and Audrey (1926), both born in Mulbarton. It is believed that Barbara married and had children but no descendants have been traced at this time. Robert Wharton died on 8th March 1961 in Atkinson Morley Hospital, Wimbledon at the age of 63, his home address was still "The Wood".

Robert joined the 1st Battalion Norfolk Regiment with the rank of private in early 1915 and was posted to France on 21st April 1915. His army records do not survive but we know he was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Norfolk Regiment Casualty Books carry the following entries:- 

Private R J Wharton 9337 9th Btn.

Gunshot wound finger. 11 Stationary Hospital. Rouen - 27-9-16. 

Princess Christian Hospital, Weymouth - 30-9-16.

Missing 21-3-18. Prisoner of war, Germany. Captured at Lagincourt. 

Repatriated P.O.W. Arrived Hull 19-11-18.

Norfolk Regiment 9th Btn. War Diary has him "missing at Lagincourt"

This tells us that he was wounded in September 1916 and treated in France before being shipped back to hospital in England. In March 1918 he was taken prisoner by the Germans and repatriated eight days after the armistice was signed. He was finally discharged by the army on 5th June 1919.

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