Selected Biographies

Norris, Charles William ‘Henry’ – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 29.12.1860.[1]  Parents: Harry Norris of London (Groom at Ward & Silver’s Iron Foundry) and Harriet [née Schofield] of Long Melford (Horsehair Weaver).  Family Connections:  Father to Henry Norris [b1887]; also, father-in-law of Stephen Palmer [b1884] and Thomas Michael Wilson [b1893]. Home: High Street, Long Melford (1861), Hall Street, Long Melford (1871), 12 Devonshire Street, Finsbury, London (1881), Westgate Street, Long Melford [1885], 103 Saffron Hill Road, Camden, London [1882], 3 Queens Buildings, Waterloo Road, Camden [1892], 61 Newport Dwellings, Soho, London (1901), 31 Oswin Street, Southwark, London (1911).  Occupation: Railway Porter (1881), Shoemaker [1885], Cloth Worker (1901), Cloth Shrinker and Finisher (1911).  Married: Matilda Phoebe Lemon in 1881.  Service Record: Charles enlisted in 1876 as Boy Sailor No.97223 with the Royal Navy.  In September 1878 he appears to have deserted from the dock ship HMS Duke of Wellington anchored at Portsmouth; he was due to begin his ten years of adult service at the end of that year.[2]

Norris, Henry – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk in 1887.  Parents: Charles ‘Henry’ William Norris of Long Melford (Cloth Worker) [see details above] and Matilda Phoebe [née Lemon].  Family Connections:  Brother-in-law of Stephen Palmer [b1884] and Thomas Michael Wilson [b1894].  Home: 61 Newport Dwellings, Soho, London (1901), Military Barracks in South Africa (1911).  Occupation: Water-proofer before 1911, Soldier (1911).  Service Record: Henry is recorded as a Lance Corporal serving with 2^nd Battalion, The South Wales Borderers in South Africa in 1911.  It is not known if he saw service during the First World War as no definitive record has been found.[3]

Related Biographies

Palmer, Stephen – Born: St Pancras, London on 3.11.1884.[4]  Parents: Stephen Palmer (Decorator) and Rose [née Bayley] (Tailoress).  Family Connections:  Son-in-law of Charles William Norris [b1860] and brother-in-law of Henry Norris [b1887] both of Long Melford.  Home: 8 Philadelphia Terrace, Lambeth, London [1890], 2 Denmark Street, Bloomsbury, St Giles, London (1891), Gresse Street, Marylebone, London (1901 to 1911), 63 Huntley Street, Tottenham Court Road, London [1916].  Occupation: Printer’s Labourer (1901), Saddlery Porter (1911), Postman [1916].  Married: Matilda Phoebe Norris of Long Melford in 1916.  Service Record: Stephen was conscripted in 1916 as Pte.G/63560 with 20^th [Service] Battalion [3^rd Public Schools}, Royal Fusiliers [City of London Regiment], being posted to France from 22.7.1916 to 29.1.1918 as part of 19^th Brigade, 33^rd Division. He saw action during the Somme Offensive of 1916, and at the Battles of Arras and Third Ypres in 1917.  Promoted to Corporal he was transferred in the field in January 1918 to the regiment’s 4^th Battalion, as part of 9^th Brigade, 3^rd Division.  With his new unit he caught up in six major battles in March and April.[5]  Died: Stephen died from wounds received in action on 20.7.1918 and is buried in Pernes British Cemetery [grave ref: V.F.12], Pernes, Pas-de-Calais, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France.[6]

Wilson, Thomas Michael – Born: Gosport, Hampshire on 15.9.1894.[7]  Parents: Michael Wilson (Royal Navy) and Martha [née Punter].  Family Connections: Son-in-law of Charles William Norris [b1860] and brother-in-law of Henry Norris [b1887] both of Long Melford.  Home: 284 Chatham Hill, Chatham, Kent [1913], 63 Huntley Street, Tottenham Court Road, London (1921), 255 LCC Flats, Poynders Gardens, Wandsworth, London (1939) to [1952].  Occupation: Boiler Attendant [1913], Royal Marine [1913 to 1923], Coal Porter (1939).  Married: Matilda Phoebe Palmer [née Norris] of Long Melford.  Service Record: Thomas enlisted in March 1913 as Pte.17880 with the Royal Marine Light Infantry, serving through the First World War and receiving his discharge in 1923.[8]  Died: Wandsworth, London on 17.7.1952.[9]

Notes – [1] Date of birth from his RN Record.  [2] Royal Navy Registers of Seaman’s Services [ADM 188/109/97223].  [3] Rank and Regiment taken from the Military Census for 1911.  Henry’s father had also served in the armed forces, albeit briefly, when he joined the Royal Navy in 1876, jumping ship in Portsmouth after only two years.  [4] Date of birth from the Admissions Register of 9.9.1890 at St John and All Saints School, Lambeth, London.  [5] For details of his battalion’s movements in 1918 see the unit’s War Diary [WO 97/1431], see also his Medal Roll [WO 329] and Medal Index Card [WO 372].  [6] British Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929 [ref:750426] and Commonwealth War Grave Commission.  [7] Date and place of birth from his RMLI Record, however the 1939 Register records his birth date as 15.9.1893.  [8] Royal Marines: Registers of Service [TNA – ADM 159/129/17880].  [9] National Probate Calendar.