Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Alfred William Orton, a bricklayer, born 1861 in Barnacle, Warwickshire and his wife Mary Jane Orton (nee Miller, married in the 2nd quarter of 1881 in the Loughborough, Leicestershire district), a cotton spinner, born 1856 in Loughborough, Leicestershire, in April 1881 the family home was at 6, John Street, Loughborough, Leicestershire. In the 3rd quarter of 1886, Colin’s mother died aged 30 in the Loughborough, Leicestershire district. In April 1891 Colin Herbert was a schoolboy, born in the 2nd quarter of 1883 in Loughborough, Leicestershire and was residing in the family home at King Street, Loughborough, Leicestershire, together with his father, a bricklayer, his stepmother, Edith Jane Orton (nee Shorter, married in the 3rd quarter of 1889 in the Loughborough, Leicestershire district), born 1868 in Wheatley, Oxfordshire, and his half blood sibling Frederick Ernest, born 1890 in Loughborough, Leicestershire. In March 1901 Colin was employed as an apprentice bricklayer and was residing in the family home at 41, Empress Road, Loughborough, Leicestershire, together with his father, a bricklayer, his stepmother and half blood siblings, Frederick, Everard, born 1892, Alice, born 1893, Edith Jane, born 1896 and Elizabeth Kathleen, born 1901, all his half blood siblings were born in Loughborough, Leicestershire. In April 1911 Colin was absent from the family home at 11, Pinfold Gate, Loughborough, Leicestershire, residing there was his father, a bricklayer, his stepmother and half blood siblings, Frederick, a hosiery machine manufacturing worker on Cotton’s patent, Everard, an engineering armature winder, Alice, an engineering armature winder, Edith, a hosiery trade picker, Elizabeth, a schoolgirl, Doris, born 1904, Ivy May, born 1908 and Neville, born 1911, the latter three half blood siblings were all born in Loughborough, Leicestershire, Colin was serving as a Sergeant with the 1st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers and was stationed in West Ridge, Rawalpindi, India. Colin attested into the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment (Militia) for an engagement of 6 years on the 3rd April 1902 in Leicester. He gave his place of birth as All Saints, Loughborough, Leicestershire and his age as 18 years and 10 months. He gave his present address as 41, Empress Road, Holy Trinity, Loughborough, Leicestershire. He gave his trade or calling as bricklayer and his present employer as Mr. Parker, Builder of Loughborough, Leicestershire. He stated he was unmarried. He also confirmed that he had served for two days in the Northumberland Fusiliers and that he had been rejected for Army service due to defective teeth. He gave his father, Alfred William Orton of 41, Empress Road, Loughborough, Leicestershire as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 4¾ inches in height, weighed 109 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 32 and 34 inches. His complexion was described as fresh, his hair colour was brown and he had light hazel eyes. It was noted that he had a scar on the outer left side of his chin. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for the Militia. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 8196 on the 3/4/02. Commenced 49 days of drill on the 3/4/02. Discharged to the Northumberland Fusiliers.
The War Diary records: 13 Oct-14 – Bn. attached to 8th Bde., marched at 5:00am, halted at ZELOBES and came into action in the early afternoon on the extreme left of the line which was attacking BOUT de VILLE. Not much progress was made and the Bn. entrenched for the night on the line of RUE de PONCH.
APPENDICES VII & VIII: List of Casualties at PONT DU HEM and HERLIES.
13/10/14 Killed: 11, Sjt, Griffin. 3603, Pte, Herrett. 8550, CQMS, Orton. 3323, Pte, James. 573, Pte, Johnson. 8665, Pte, Button. 13/10/14 Died of wounds: 709, Pte. McCall. 8289, Pte, Brunt. 13/10/14 Wounded: 1530, Sjt, Smith. 89, L/C, Hart. 1105, Dmr. Wray. 312, Pte, Ward. 668, Pte, Hills. 1373, L/C, Shelley. 2044, Pte, Clark. 2372, Pte, Clark. 373, Pte, Willis. 9265, Dmr, Strickland. 2371, Cpl, Saxby. 3334, Pte, Gillot. 9910, Pte, Brown. 1442, Pte, Potter. 421, Pte, Glew. 1142, Pte, Jones. 2422, Pte, Morton. 2107, Pte. Scott. 2543, Pte, Contaworth. Captain and Adjutant W. N. Herbert.
On Friday November 20th 1914 The Leicester Journal published the following article under the heading. “THE ROLL OF HONOUR.” – News has been received in Loughborough of the death in action, on October 13 of Quartermaster Sergeant Colin H. Orton, of the Northumberland Fusiliers, whose parents reside in Pinfold-gate, Loughborough. As a boy Orton was a drummer in the Holy Trinity C.L.B. He joined the Army during the South African War, and has served his time in England, Ireland, Mauritius, and India. While in India he was in active service in one of the frontier campaigns, for which he obtained a medal. He was promoted from sergeant to quartermaster sergeant during the present war.
On Saturday November 21st 1914 The Leicester Chronicle and Leicestershire Mercury published the following article under the heading. “LOUGHBOROUGH Q.M.S. KILLED.” – Quartermaster Sergeant Colin Herbert Orton, of the 1st Northumberland Fusiliers, was killed in action in France on October 13th. He was for some time drummer in Loughborough C.L.B., and his parents live at 11, Pinfold Gate, Loughborough.