Pte 65291 Norman Gordon Grant

• Age: 23
• From: Plumstead, Kent
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Friday 8th November 1918
• Commemorated at: Dourlers Cc Ext
  Panel Ref: II.C.15

Norman Gordon Grant was born on the 15th March 1895 in Plumstead, Kent and was the son of John Grant and his wife Keziah (nee Melton). His parents married in West Ham in the June quarter of 1883.

Their first child, John Melton Grant, died in infancy in the September quarter of 1885, having been born in the September quarter of 1884.

On the 1891 census the family are living at 87 Tewson Rd, Plumstead. Father John 31 foreman engine maker b.Banffshire, mother Keziah 28 b.East Ham, Essex, children all born Plumstead, Alexander 5, William 3, Leslie 1.

The admission record to Plumstead School gives Norman's date of birth as 15th March 1895, and shows his address as 87 Tewson Road but has no parents names on the register. His admission date was 23rd May 1898. 

His mother died in the June quarter of 1899 aged 35, her death was registered in Romford.

On the 1901 Census Norman is aged 6 b.Plumstead living at 87 Tewson Road, Plumstead. His widowed father, John, is a 41 year old foreman engineer. Norman's siblings were all born Plumstead. and are listed as; Alexander a 16 year old apprentice, William is 14, Leslie 12, George 10, John 8, and Grace 4.

On the 1911 census the family are still at 87 Tewson Road, Plumstead. Norman is not present. Widowed father John 51 steam engine fitter b.Banff, siblings William 23 electric motor fitter, Leslie 21 steam engine fitter, George 19 steam engine fitter, John 18 steam engine fitter, Grace 14 at school. They have a servant Sarah Yallop 68, and visitor Nelly Hobden 22.

On the 1911 census Norman is single, aged 17 b.Woolwich, a Private with the Royal East Kent Regiment (Buffs) at Canterbury Barracks.

He enlisted in Chatham and originally served as 5770, Royal Army Medical Corps 10th Field Ambulance, Liverpool Regiment and was transferred at his own request in 1917 to the 18^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 65291.

He was killed in action on the 08th November 1918 aged 23 during the hundred days offensive which ended the First World War (8^th August-11^th November 1918).

At the time of his death on 08th November 1918, warfare had become mobile, with the British Army harrying the Germans, who would retreat to a position, fight, then retreat once more.The day before he was killed the Battalion had just marched from Mariollers to Marbaix in France, when it was ordered to take a position in the line near Marbaix, from the 1/5th Gloucestershire Regiment. On the following day, 8th November an attack was commenced at 07.30am supported by the 100th Battalion Machine Gun Corps and artillery fire. Despite their support, the advancing troops encountered fierce rifle and machine gun fire from the German position’s. Although the attack was eventually successful, two more officers and thirty six other ranks were to be wounded, and fourteen other ranks Killed, only three days before the Armistice.

Norman was one of those fourteen other ranks referred to and he now rests at Dourlers CC Ext, France, where his headstone bears the epitaph:

“GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS ST. JOHN 15TH CHAP.13TH VERSE”

Dourlers village was in German hands during almost the whole of the First World War. It was taken on 07th November 1918, after heavy fighting, by the 6th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and the 1st K.O.Y.L.I. The communal cemetery was used by the Germans during the war, but in November 1918, a small extension was made by Commonwealth troops at the west end. After the Armistice, the German graves from the communal cemetery and others from the battlefields, together with Commonwealth graves from isolated positions and small cemeteries, were brought into the extension which contains 161 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 14 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to four casualties known or believed to be buried among them. The extension also contains 108 German burials, 62 of which are unidentified.

Soldiers Effects to brother William M., no pension record found.

Norman was remembered on the first anniversary of his death in the Kentish Independant on 09th November 1919.

GRANT - In ever loving memory of our dear brother, Norman Gordon Grant, killed in action in France November 8th 1918.

Only those who have suffered are able to tell

The pain of the heart not saying "Farewell."

GRANT - In loving remembrance of our brother, Norman Gordon Grant, of Plumstead, killed in action November 8th 1918.

From Alex, Leslie, John, and Families.

GRANT - In ever loving memory of Norman Grant, late King's Liverpool Regiment, killed in action in France November 8th 1918.

Greatly missed by his old chum Pem.

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