Name
Walter Reginald Norris
1889
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
12/04/1917
28
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Serjeant
12256
Bedfordshire Regiment
6th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
DUISANS BRITISH CEMETERY, ETRUN
I. Q. 22.
France
Headstone Inscription
LOVE AND REMEMBRANCE LIVE FOR EVER THY WILL BE DONE
UK & Other Memorials
Berkhamsted Town Memorial, St Peter's Church Memorial, Berkhamsted
Pre War
Walter Reginald Norris was born in Great Berkhamsted, Herts in 1889 the son of Walter and Emma Norris, and baptised on 10 March 1889 at Great Berkhamsted. He was one of seven children.
On the 1891 Census the family were living at Charles Street, Berkhamsted where his father was an iron worker. They remained in Berkhamsted in 1901 and 1911 but had moved to 35 Cowper Road. Walter was then working as a nursery man's carter.
He married Lillie Susan Cooper on 24 May 1915 at Didmarton, Gloucestershire and was already a Lance Corporal with the 6th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, giving his address as Ludgershall, Wiltshire (the Battalion's base).
Wartime Service
Walter enlisted in Hertford and served with the 6th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment in France from 11 October 1915.
The Battalion fought in the Battle of Bazentin Ridge and an attack on Pozieres on 15 July 1916 and suffered 330 casualties.
At some point he was promoted to Sergeant but died of wounds at No. 41 Casualty Clearing Station on 12 April 1917, aged 28, during the Battle of Arras. He is buried in Duisans British Cemetery, Etrun, France.
Additional Information
Brother to William Edward Norris who served with the Northamptonshire Regiment and died of wounds on 30 December 1917. He is also named on the St Peters Church and Berkhamsted Town Memorials.
His widow received a war gratuity of £15 and pay owing of £12 6s 3d. She also received a pension of 16s 3d a week and, while living at Mount Cottage, Didmarton, Badminton, Glos., ordered his headstone inscription, which reads "LOVE AND REMEMBRANCE LIVE FOR EVER THY WILL BE DONE".
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild
