Charles Orton

Charles Talbot Orton (9 August 1910 – 28 May 1940) was an English first-class cricketer and British Army officer. Serving in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, Orton played first-class cricket in both England and British India. He served in the early stages of the Second World War, and was likely a victim of the Wormhoudt massacre in May 1940.

Early life and military career Orton was born at Farnham to Major-general Sir Ernest Orton and his wife Lady Orton. He was educated at Tonbridge School, and after completing his education decided to follow in his fathers footsteps by joining the British Army. He made two appearances in first-class cricket for the British Army cricket team in 1937 against Oxford University and Cambridge University. Besides representing the army, he also played cricket for Aldershot Command, Catterick Garrison and the Yellowhammers. He later married Margaret Stewart Rigg of Iverna Court, Kensington. Returning to England, he was promoted to the rank of captain just days before the beginning of the Second World War.

Second World War and death Orton was posted to France in September 1939, where he served during the Battle of France with the second battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, in May 1940 the battalion formed part of the rearguard stalling the German advance on Dunkirk. Holding the line on the Comines Canal and the Escaut, the battalion was eventually overrun and forced to surrender on 28 May. Taken prisoner, Orton along with men from the Cheshire Regiment, Royal Artillery and the French Army, were taken to a barn outside Wormhout. It was here on the same day that 80 men, including Orton, were massacred by soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler. He is buried at the Dozinghem Military Cemetery.