ROBERT NORMAN
Born: 18th October 1882, Ipswich.
Died: 12th March 1915; age 32; KiA at Neuve Chapelle, France.
E.A.D.T. – Tuesday, 23rd March 1915 – KILLED AT NEUVE CHAPELLE – Mrs. Alice Norman, of Rosebery Road, Ipswich, has received intimation that her husband, Private Robert Norman, of A Company, 4th Suffolks, was killed in action on the 11th March. In a sympathetic note to Mrs. Alice Norman, Captain Eric Landon Brown says: Your husband was a soldier from head to foot, and an Englishman, and the example he set to the younger men was grand; I shall never have a better man to go with me anywhere. His death was instantaneous – a soldier’s death, without pain.”
Residence: 50, Rosebery Road, Ipswich.
Occupation: Labourer, at Paul’s Barley Factory, Ipswich.
First Enlistment: Location: Ipswich; date: July 1902; age: 20 years & 6 months; occupation: labourer; religion: CofE. Next of kin: mother – Maria Norman, of 13, Arthur Street, Ipswich.
Height: 5ft 7 1/2ins, fresh complexion, hazel eyes & light brown hair. Tattoo of the letter R on his right forearm.
Joined on the 5th August 1902, at Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.
Service:
Home – 28th July 1902 – 9th October 1902
Bermunda – 10th October 1902 – 2nd December 1903
Jamaica – 3rd December 1903 – 6th August 1905
Home – 7th August 1905 – 29th July 1914.
Served 12 years.
Injury – Gunshot Wound to the thigh, done at Morris Tube – Practice – at Port Royal, Newcastle, Jamaica on the 14th April 1904.
Court of Inquiry held on the 20th April 1904, at Newcastle, Jamaica, by order of Major M. N. Nunn – Commanding Troops at Newcastle for the purpose of investigating the circumstances under which No. 11715, Gunner Robert Norman, of the 66th Co. R.G.A. became injured.
Sergeant Ashton stated he was in charge of the firing point at Morris Tube Practice. He was temporarily absent at the time of the incident.
Gunner Badock said he was perfectly sober and was bringing the carbine to the present to fire his fifth round when his foot slipped from under him, and the carbine went off. The bullet hit Gunner Robert Norman, one of the markers who was standing about ten yards to the right of the target. He said he was not trying to change my position. His finger was around the trigger while bringing the carbine up to my shoulder.
firing his fifth round.
Major M. N. Nunn was of the opinion that Gunner Robert Norman was on duty at the time and the injury occurred through no fault of his own. The full Hospital stoppage was remitted.
Offence:
18th June 1905 – I. Striking a soldier when acting as a sentinel. II. Striking his superior officer while in the execution of his office.
Awaiting trial – 20th June 1905
Tried and sentenced to 56 days’ hard labour.
Second Enlistment Location: Ipswich – September 1914.
Date of Entry Therein: 6th November 1914 – France.
Rank: Private; Service Number: 2200
Regiment: Suffolk Regiment, 4th Battalion, ‘A’ Coy.
Medals Awarded: Victory, British & 1914 Star.
In 1920, the body was identified by a Cross marking grave No. 3 and reburied at Guards Cemetery.
Grave Reference:
IX.E.3.
Guards Cemetery,
Cuinchy,
Pas de Calais,
France.
Relatives Notified & Address: Son of Robert Norman, a sailor.
Brother to STANLEY NORMAN.
CENSUS
1891 13, Arthur Street, Ipswich.
Robert was 8 years old and living with his parents & siblings.
Robert Norman, 28, a Seaman, born Ipswich.
Maria Louisa Norman ( nee Bumstead), 27, born Ipswich.
Margaret Norman, 11, born Ipswich.
Alice Maude Norman, 5, born Ipswich.
Sophia Norman, 2, born Ipswich.
1901 13, Arthur Street, Ipswich.
Robert was 18 years old, a Corn Merchant’s Labourer. He was living with his widowed mother & siblings.
Maria, 38.
Alice, 15, a Stay Maker.
Sophia, 12.
Arthur Norman, 8, born Ipswich.
Emily Norman, 5, born Ipswich.
Lily Caroline Norman, 4, born Ipswich.
William Norman, 2, born Ipswich.
Stanley Norman, 1, born Ipswich.
1911 50, Rosebery Road, Ipswich.
Robert was 28 years old, a Labourer for a Corn Merchant Milling Trade. He was married and head of the household.
Alice, 24.
Robert, 3.
Elsie, 1.
3 lodgers.
Robert was educated at St. Clement’s School, Ipswich.
On Christmas Day 1906, at St. Helen’s Church, Ipswich, Robert married Alice Maud Prebble, May 1884, Ipswich, born 1884, Ipswich – daughter of George Prebble, a pipe maker and Ellen Elizabeth Prebble (nee Dykes), of 52, Curriers Lane, Ipswich.
Alice and Robert had three children:
Robert William Norman, born September 1907, Ipswich.
Elsie May Norman, born November 1909, Ipswich.
Arthur George Norman, born May 1913, Ipswich.
Soldiers’ Effects to Alice Maud Norman – widow.
The Battle of Neuve Chapelle, 10th – 13th March 1915, was the first planned British offensive of the war. The objective was to take the German line at the Village of Neuve Chapelle and break out and head towards the City of Lille, with the main objective taking the Aubers Ridge, beyond which was of strategic value. The Battle started well with a heavy bombardment of the German line (more shells fired on this occasion than the entire Boer War) with an advance which successfully took most of the first and second line trenches, but due to poor communications stalled once the village had been taken. The Germans then had time to set up more defensive lines outside the village and hold the British advance. 40,000 British and Indian troops took part in the Battle, with over 10,000+ Casualties.
Suffolk Regiment, 4th Battalion
The 4th Battalion, the Suffolk Regiment, entered the battle on the 11th of March, taking up positions on the outskirts of the Neuve Chapelle facing the Bois Du Biez, which were later ordered to occupy. The 4th Battalion lost many men through shelling on their positions, followed by a counterattack on the 12th by the Germans. In total, the Battalion sustained 217 casualties.
Suffolk Regiment, 4th Battalion, ‘A’ Coy:
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