Pte 22793 George Norman

• Age: 21
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• D.O.W Monday 26th June 1916
• Commemorated at: Cerisy-gailly Mil Cem
  Panel Ref: II.L.18

George Norman was born on the 09th January 1895 at Liverpool and was baptised on the 20th January 1898 at St Peter's Church, Liverpool. He was the son of Joseph, a baker, and  his wife Elizabeth (nee Ashcroft), who married at Holy Trinity Church, Wavertree in 1894.

The 1901 Census shows Elizabeth Norman, born 1869, living with her parents, Richard and Ellen Ashcroft, her sister, Mary Ashcroft, and her 2 sons at 123 Lodge Lane, Liverpool.

In 1911, Elizabeth and Joseph live with their two sons at 60 Ritson Street, Liverpool, when George is said to be a hairdresser and his younger brother, Joseph, born in 1896, is a shop boy in a bread shop.

The 1911 Census shows Elizabeth Ann Ward (his future wife), age 17, born 1894 and living with her parents at 140 Hartnup St, Everton. She is employed at a tea merchants.

George  enlisted on the 09^th November 1914 at Liverpool and gave his age as 19 years and 11 months, and his occupation as a barman. He was five foot four and half inches tall, weighed 112lbs, he was of sallow complexion with blue eyes and blonde hair. He stated his religion as Church of England. He gave his next of kin as his father, Joseph, of 30 Wrayburn Street, stating that he had previously tried to join the Royal Navy but had been rejected because of poor eyesight.

On 30^th September 1915, George married Elizabeth Ann Ward at Liverpool Registry Office.   

On 04.10.15 at Larkhill Camp: He was ordered to forfeit 3 days pay and was given 14 days Confined to barracks (CB) for being absent without leave from 10.00pm, 2nd October to 4^th October at 8.50pm. It is safe to assume that his marriage four days earlier may explain his absence without leave 

08.11.15: At Larkhill Camp: His poor eyesight was acknowledged and he was supplied with spectacles.

10.12.15: At Knowsley Hall: He was given 2 days CB for being dirty on Guard Mounting

29.3.16: He embarked for France aboard “SS Invicta” from Folkestone to Etaples, joining the 50^th Brigade.

14.4.16: He was posted to 2^nd Entrenching Battalion.

29.5.16: He joined 20^th Battalion King's Liverpool Regiment.

On 26th June 1916 he died of wounds received in action, aged 21.

George now rests at Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery, (Grave II L 18). 

Gailly was the site of the 39th and 13th Casualty Clearing Stations during the early part of 1917, and of the 41st Stationary Hospital from May 1917 to March 1918. The villages were then captured by the Germans, but were retaken by the Australian Corps in August 1918. Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery (originally called the New French Military Cemetery) was begun in February 1917 and used by medical units until March 1918. After the recapture of the village it was used by Australian units. The cemetery was increased after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields of the Somme.

It was begun by French troops in December, 1914, and was known to the French by the name of Ferme Caudron. It was taken over by British troops in August, 1915, and used until July, 1916. It contained the graves of 887 French soldiers, 260 from the United Kingdom and six German. 

The cemetery now contains 745 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 114 of the burials are unidentified and special memorials commemorate five casualties buried at Maricourt and Ste. Helene whose graves could not be found. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

He was reported as died of wounds in the Liverpool Daily Post on 18th July 1916 and again in the Liverpool Echo  on 24th August 1916

One Of The "Pals"

Private George Norman, of the King's Liverpool Regiment, died of wounds in France. He left a widow, he was 21 years of age and his home was at 34 Clarendon Road, Townsend Lane, Liverpool.

His effects, which touchingly included his spectacles, were sent to Mrs Elizabeth Ward, formerly Norman, at 140 Hartnup Street, Everton. 

George is commemorated in the Hall of Remembrance inside Liverpool Town Hall on Panel 19. 

His wife Elizabeth received a pension of 10 shillings payable from 08th January 1917. They had a daughter also named Elizabeth who was born in March 1917.

Elizabeth married Peter Ward 1919 at St Cuthbert's Church, Everton, Liverpool. 

George's brother, Joseph, was a casualty of the Second World War. He was a railway capstainman who lived at 16 Clement Grove, Larch Lea, Liverpool. On the night of 23rd February 1942 when the city was in the midst of a blackout due to the risk of bombing of the city by the Luftwaffe, Joseph suffered catastrophic injuries and was pronounced dead at the Northern Hospital in Liverpool. His death certificate advises that the cause of Joseph's death was as follows:

"Shock following multiple injuries accidentally caused by his overcoat being caught in the tie-bar of the railway wagon on 23rd day"

The certificate was received following an inquest by the Coroner of Liverpool on 25th February 1942. Further poignancy if any were needed is that at the time of Joseph's death, his young son Ronald (Ronnie) then aged 9, was living in Aberystwyth, North Wales as he was one of the many children from Liverpool who were evacuated to avoid the Blitz. 

Grateful thanks are extended to Danielle Christina Flaherty, the great niece of George Norman, who has kindly assisted us with the telling of George and Joseph's loss to her family. Two men from Liverpool who were victims of two world wars.   

We currently have no further information on George Norman, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.