Name
Norman Stanley Hill
1897
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
30/09/1917
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
291021
Gordon Highlanders
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
MENDINGHEM MILITARY CEMETERY
VI. F. 37.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
JUST ONE OF ENGLAND'S DEFENDERS HE DIED FOR HOME AND DUTY
UK & Other Memorials
Shenley War Memorial, St Botolph's Church Memorial, Shenleybury (now lost) (*1)
Pre War
Norman Stanley Hill was born in Shenley, Hertfordshire in 1897, the son of Walter Frederick and Elizabeth Hill and was baptised on 31 October 1897 at St Peter's Church, St Albans, Herts. He was one of five children, although one died in infancy.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at Rookery Yard Cottages, New Road, Shenley where his father was working as a baker making bread. They remained in New Road, Shenley in 1911 at which time 14 year old Norman was working as an assistant in the bakehouse to his father who was then a master baker.
Wartime Service
Norman enlisted in Cricklewood, north London and joined the 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders.
He was wounded on the 26 September 1917 when the 1st Battalion were in action at Zonnebeke. He received bomb burns and was badly wounded in the stomach and died of his wounds on 30 September 1917.
He is buried in Mendingham Military Cemetery, Belgium.
Additional Information
His father received a war gratuity of £9 10s and pay owing of £8 2s 11d. He also ordered the headstone inscription, while living at Guerdon House, New Road, Shenley, Herts., it reads: "JUST ONE OF ENGLAND'S DEFENDERS HE DIED FOR HOME AND DUTY".
No pension records seem to exist.
Brother to Walter Rowland Hill who served with the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry and died of his wounds in Aldershot, Hants. He is buried in Shenley (St Botolph) Churchyard, Herts.
*1 Believed named on the lost memorial.
Acknowledgments
Taff Williams, Brenda Palmer
