Name
William Edward Norris
1884
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
30/12/1917
33
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
43181
Northamptonshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LIJSSENTHOEK MILITARY CEMETERY
XXVII. CC. 19.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
SON OF MR. & MRS. W. NORRIS OF BERKHAMSTED, HERTS. LOVED BY ALL WHO KNEW HIM
UK & Other Memorials
Berkhamsted Town Memorial, St Peter's Church Memorial, Berkhamsted, All Saints Church Memorial, Berkhamsted
Pre War
William Edward Norris was born in 1884 in Berkhamsted, Herts, the son of Walter and Emma Norris and baptised on 14 September 1884 at Great Berkhamsted. He was one of seven children.
On the 1891 Census the family were living at Charles Street, Berkhamsted where his father's occupation was given as ironworker. They had moved to 35 Cowper Street, Berkhamsted by 1901 at which time William (now called Edward) was working as a grocer's assistant. They remained at Cowper Road in 1911 when William was working as a shop assistant for the Cooperative Society.
Wartime Service
William enlisted in St Albans and initially served with the Bedfordshire Regiment under reg. no. 26983, later transferring to the 2nd Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment.
He died of wounds on 30 December 1917, aged 33 and is buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Poperinghe, Belgium.
Additional Information
His mother received a war gratuity of £8 and pay owing of £5 1s 5d. She also received a war pension although the amount is unclear. While living at 35 Cowper Road, Berkhamsted, Herts. she ordered his headstone inscription: "SON OF MR. & MRS. W. NORRIS OF BERKHAMSTED, HERTS. LOVED BY ALL WHO KNEW HIM".
Brother to Walter Reginald Norris, Sergeant, 6th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, who died on 12 April 1917. He is also named on the St Peters Church and Berkhamsted Town Memorials.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild
