George Norton Cory

General Sir George Norton Cory KBE, CB, DSO was a Canadian born and educated soldier who served with the British Army in India, South Africa and Canada and during the Boer War, World War I and World War II.

Education
He was born 26 December 1874. He was the son of Charles D Cory, of Halifax, Nova Scotia. He entered military life when he enrolled at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario in 1891. Assigned student # 323, he graduated in 1895.

Military service
He was gazetted to the Royal Dublin Fusiliers 28 August 1895. He become Lieutenant on 5 January 1897 and Captain 24 February 1900.

He served in South Africa in the Boer War of 1899–1902. He was Adjutant, Composite Regiment of Mounted Infantry from 1900. He participated in operations in Natal, South Africa in 1899. The operations in 1899–1900 included action at Talana, South Africa and Lombard's Kop; Ladysmith, South Africa Colenso, Spion Kop; Vaal Kranz; Tugela Heights and at Pieter's Hill, South Africa. He participated in operations in Natal, Laing's Nek the Transvaal, South Africa and east of Pretoria, South Africa. He served at Dehalla, India in 1903, at Dehalla. He took part in operations in the interior of the Aden Hinterland in 1903. Captain Cory was Brigade Major, 7th Brigade. Southern Command, 2 April 1911 to 30 September 1913. He was promoted to Major in 1913. He was General Services Officer, 3rd Grade, in the War Office in 1913–14.

He served in World War I 1914–1918, as General Services Officer 3, 3rd Division. He was BEF in 1914. He was GSO2, 3rd Division, BEF in 1914 to 4 May 1915. He was GSO1, 51st Division, British Armies in France, in 1915. He was General Services Officer 1, 27th Division, British Armies in France. He was part of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force in 1915.

He was Brigadier General, General Staff, 16th Army Corps, Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. He served in the British Salonika Force from 1915 to 1917. He was promoted to Major General in 1919. By 1919, Major-General George Norton Cory had been awarded CB and DSO. He fought against Afghan tribesmen on the Northwest Frontier of India. He served as Deputy Adjutant-General in India from 1921–1922. From 1921–1922, he was Director of Personal Services in India. He served as Deputy Chief General Staff, India from 1922–1926.

During World War I, he was a member of the General Staff in France. He became General Officer Commanding 50th Division from 1927–1928. He retired in 1931. He was recalled to service in 1940. From 1940–1943, he was Inspector & Chief Liaison Officer to Allied Contingents. He retired for a second time in 1943.

Awards and recognition
In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa". "George Norton Cory, Captain, Royal Dublin Fusiliers was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 8 February 1901 (Sir R H Buller, 30 March and 9 November 1900) and London Gazette, 10 September 1901]. He received the Queen's Medal with seven clasps, the King's Medal with two clasps. He was created a Companion of the DSO [London Gazette, 27 September 1901]. He was awarded KBE, CB. He was knighted in 1926 by King George V. He was a founding member of the Royal Military College of Canada ex-cadet club in Hamilton, Ontario in 1930.

Legacy
Sir George Norton Cory sat for 5 portraits in the National Portrait Gallery, London.