Name
Norman Frederick Fitzjohn
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
55708
Northumberland Fusiliers
11th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Biography
Norman Frederick Fitzjohn was better known as “Fred” and was born at Abbots Langley in the summer of 1894. He was the only child born to Charles and Hannah Fitzjohn. His father was widowed when his first wife, Eliza, died in the winter of 1888. The couple had had eight children. When Charles remarried at Abbots Langley on 11th March 1893, his new wife brought a step-son, Henry, from her previous marriage. So in total Fred had four brothers and five sisters. At the time of the 1901 Census the Fitzjohn family lived at Bank Cottages at Bedmond. They had lived there for over thirty years. Charles worked as a Horseman on a Farm.
Fred enlisted with the Army Service Corps (ASC) on 2nd January 1915 at Hertford. When he enlisted he gave his address as The Bank, Bedmond, and his occupation as a Carman. He was listed in the Parish Magazine Roll of Honour for the first time in February 1915, and he was shown serving with the Army Service Corps. Fred embarked at Southampton on 22nd September 1915 for France, and landed the next day at Le Harve. Fred continued to serve with the ASC in the Field until 14th March 1916 when he was admitted to an isolation hospital suffering from measles. He was discharged from hospital on 31st March 1916 and returned to his unit, however was re-admitted, this time suffering with Colic, on 20th May 1916, and was released five days later on 25th May.
Fred was granted leave between 16th and 26th December 1916, and when he returned on 2nd January 1917, he was awarded the Good Service Badge. He continued serving with the ASC until he was sent to the Army Service Corps Base Depot on 9th August 1917. From there he was compulsorily transferred to the 11th Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers on 24th September 1917, and joined his new unit in the Field the next day.
On 6th November 1917 he was sent with the Northumberland’s to Italy, and arrived there on 11th November. The 11th Northumberland Fusiliers took part in two major actions whilst in Italy, supporting the Italian army in repelling an Austro-Hungarian offensive across the River Piave on 15th June 1918. The Austrians were forced back in what was their last major attack of the War. Fred was granted leave between 13th and 27th July 1918 and returned to take part in the Battle of Vittorio Veneto, which effectively brought the War to an end on the Italian Front.
Fred eventually returned to England on 10th March 1919, and was demobilised on 9th April, and returned to Bedmond Bank. He was listed in the Absent Voter records for Abbots Langley for Autumn 1918 and Spring 1919, and was shown serving as a Private with the 11th Northumberland Fusiliers, and living at Bedmond.
On 2nd February 1919 Fred was medically examined and it was confirmed that he suffered from an arthritic left knee, which was as a result of Military Service. He was granted a War Pension of 8 shillings per week for 68 weeks. However he was re-examined on 30th December 1919, and a request to extend the Pension was rejected as no grounds were found for the disability.
Norman Frederick or Fred Fitzjohn survived the War as did his brother Arthur.
Additional Information
Formerly Army Service Corps
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
