Pte
Percy Norris
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 27/05/1891 |
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Place of birth: Hazleton, Gloucestershire, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Profession: Gardener |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 29628 |
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Enlistment place: Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Worcestershire Regiment, 14th Bn. (Severn Valley Pioneers) (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 30/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Hübner Farm, Langemarck, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 26 |
Memorial
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Tyne Cot Memorial Panel: 77 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Percy Norris was born in 1891 in Hazleton, Glouchestershire. He was the son of Henry and Emma Tryphena Norris. His entire family worked and lived at Salperton Park near Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. According to the 1911 census Percy’s father, Norris, was a roadman, repairing and maintaining roads. His mother was a charwoman. She was hired to work around the house. Henry, Percy’s older brother was a shepherd. His sister, Sophia Ann, the youngest of five sisters, was still unemployed. Percy himself was a gardener on the estate.
When Percy enlisted he joined the 14th Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment, also known as the Severn Valley Pioneers. This pioneer Battalion, was part of the Divisional Troops of the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division.
From the 25th of October 1917, the Severn Valley Pioneers were working behind the front lines, in the La Brique area near Sint-Jan, Ypres. “A” and “B” Companies were repairing the St Julien-Winnipeg Road and later carried materials for other companies. “C” Company extended two main duckboard walks between Alberta and Mousetrap Farm. “D” company was working on tramlines from St Julien to the Winnipeg area.
On October 30th, 11.30 pm, 2 officers and 103 other ranks were sent to the general officer commanding the 190th Infantry Brigade, of the 63rd Naval Division at Hubner Farm. The 190th Brigade had carried out an attack near the Paddebeek stream. They had suffered heavy casualties and the 14th Battalion was to go to the Brigade’s advanced headquarters near Hubner Farm to act as stretcher bearers. Two men of the battalion were killed during the work there. Private Percy Norris, 26, was, presumably, one of them. He was much loved by his parents and his siblings.
When Percy enlisted he joined the 14th Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment, also known as the Severn Valley Pioneers. This pioneer Battalion, was part of the Divisional Troops of the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division.
From the 25th of October 1917, the Severn Valley Pioneers were working behind the front lines, in the La Brique area near Sint-Jan, Ypres. “A” and “B” Companies were repairing the St Julien-Winnipeg Road and later carried materials for other companies. “C” Company extended two main duckboard walks between Alberta and Mousetrap Farm. “D” company was working on tramlines from St Julien to the Winnipeg area.
On October 30th, 11.30 pm, 2 officers and 103 other ranks were sent to the general officer commanding the 190th Infantry Brigade, of the 63rd Naval Division at Hubner Farm. The 190th Brigade had carried out an attack near the Paddebeek stream. They had suffered heavy casualties and the 14th Battalion was to go to the Brigade’s advanced headquarters near Hubner Farm to act as stretcher bearers. Two men of the battalion were killed during the work there. Private Percy Norris, 26, was, presumably, one of them. He was much loved by his parents and his siblings.
Sources 5
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Ancestry https://www.ancestry.com/ Sources used |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/832394/norris,-percy/ Sources used |
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Mc Carthy C., Passchendaele Day-by-Day account, Unicorn Publishing Group, 2018, London, pp. 154-155. Sources used |
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Naval and Military Archives http://www.nmarchive.com/ Sources used |
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The Long Long Trail http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/ Sources used |