The Norris Brothers of the Great War, Sergeant Alfred Norris MM and Bar, born 10 June 1892, and Private James Norris, born 29 June 1899, served together with 1st Battalion, Canadian Machine Gun Company. Middle brother Lance Corporal Leonard Norris, born 3 October 1894, attested later on 30 March 1916, and served with the 8th Battalion.
All three brothers wounded on the Western Front, though one would not return. The other two brothers suffered from the long-term effects of mustard gas, contributing to their early deaths.
Sergeant Alfred Norris MM and Bar
Sergeant Alfred Norris MM and Bar 438822 born 10 June 1892 in Bilston, Staffordshire, England. He enlisted 6 January 1915 at Fort Francis, Ontario, with the 52nd Battalion. He was the first of three sons to James & Ada Norris of Pinewood, Ontario, serving in the Great War. At this time, Alfred stood 5′ 11″ tall, 148 pounds, with dark complexion, brown eyes, and dark brown hair.
52nd (2nd R.W.) Battalion
Organized in March 1915 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Archibald Walter Hay. Mobilized at Port Arthur, and later recruited in Port Arthur, Kenora, Fort Francis, Fort William and Dryden. Draft of 5 officers and 250 other ranks sent to England on 17 June and 4 September 1915. Embarked from Saint John 23 November 1915 aboard CALIFORNIA, and later disembarked in England 2 December 1915, with a strength of 40 officers, 1032 other ranks. Later arrived in France 21 February 1916 with the 3rd Canadian Division, 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade, and reinforced by 18th Canadian Reserve Battalion.
Sir Arthur Currie
52nd Battalion returned to England 11 February 1919, and later disembarked in Canada 24 March 1919, demobilized 30 March 1919. In addition, Regimental Colour donated by Princess Beatrice Chapter IODE, Port Arthur and Kings’ colour by Busy Bee Club, Fort William, and presented by Sir Arthur Currie at Tournai, 3 February 1919.
Private Norris sailed from Montreal per SS MISSANABIE on 4 September 1915. Private Alfred Norris, eldest of the Norris brothers, taken on strength, 12th Battalion, 14 September 1915, Shorncliffe.
12th Battalion
Organized Valcartier Camp and later composed of recruits from New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Quebec. Commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel H F McLeod. Embarked from Quebec 1 October 1914 aboard SCOTIAN, and later disembarked in England 14 October 1914 with a strength of 54 officers, 1156 other ranks. 6th, 9th, 11th and 12th Battalions became Canadian Training Depot on 17 January 1915, and later absorbed by new 12th Canadian Reserve Battalion on 4 January 1917. Also perpetuated by The Royal Rifles of Canada.
Private Norris transferred to 1st Bde Machine Gun Company in France, 7 March 1916, later arriving in France at Le Havre, 9 March 1916, and joining his unit in the field, 24 March 1916.
1st Battalion, C.M.G.C.
1st Battalion, Canadian Machine Gun Company initially organized at Mont du Cats in January 1916 as the 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade Machine Gun Company. Commanded by Lieutenant J R Anglin, later by Captain William James Austin Lalor. Later redesignated as 1st Canadian Machine Gun Company in July 1916.
Mont-des-Cats
Initially composed of machine gun sections of infantry battalions of 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade, 1st Canadian Division. The 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 13th Canadian Machine Gun Companies were detached from their respective brigades later in September 1917 and formed the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 13th Companies of the 1st Canadian Divisional Machine Gun Battalion. Finally, reorganized on 27 March 1918 to form the 1st Battalion, Canadian Machine Gun Corps.
Captain Ernest Brownlow Underwood MC, DCM
In this photograph (MIKAN No. 3522310), HRH Prince of Wales is shaking the hand of Captain Ernest Brownlow Underwood, M.C., D.C.M. of the 2nd Battalion C.M.G.C. Underwood had gone overseas as the Company Sergeant-Major of the 27th Battalion, C.E.F., later Regimental Sergeant-Major. Before the war he had serviced in the 1st Battalion of the Highland Light Infantry and had had an extensive overseas career in the British Army.
Steve Cowan
Private Alfred Norris to be Lance-Corporal, 13 March 1917.
Alfred Norris granted 10 days leave, 25 June 1917. Lance-Corporal Norris the first of the Norris brothers awarded the Military Medal in the field, 18 July 1917.
Promotions
Lance-Corporal Alfred Norris to be Acting-Corporal with pay, 9 October 1917, and later, to be Corporal, 1 November 1917. Corporal Norris on Machine Gun course, Pernes, 2 December 1917, and later rejoined unit in field 8 December 1917. Norris awarded Bar to Military Medal, No.3225 Supplement to the London Gazette, 13 March 1918, and later absorbed into the 1st Battalion, Canadian Machine Gun Corps. Finally, Corporal Norris promoted Sergeant, 1 May 1918.
Battle of Amiens
On the first day of the Battle of Amiens, shortly after jumping off for the attack, No.3 Company suffered casualties from hostile shell fire. Captain Alex Clarence Bowles MC, wounded severely, 6 other ranks killed, in addition, Sergeant Alfred Norris among 21 other ranks wounded. Alfred later admitted to No.1 C.C.S., with penetrating GSW wounds to head, chest, left arm and both legs, 8 August 1918. In addition, his wounds devastating, and Alfred’s recovery long, and brutal.
Sergeant Alfred Norris later admitted to 2nd Canadian General Hospital, Le Treport, penetrating wounds, 9 August 1918. Then, on 10 August 1918 listed as dangerously ill. On 30 August 1918, still dangerously ill. Finally, admitted 1st London General Hospital, 5 September 1918. Furthermore, Alfred’s condition improves and on 7 September 1918, removed from the dangerously ill list.
Sudden death
One week before the Armistice, Alfred’s condition deteriorated suddenly, and he died of his wounds at London General Hospital, 4 November 1918.
Alfred buried at Brookwood Military Cemetery, Plot III, Row G, Grave 4. During demobilization, the remaining Norris brothers offered the opportunity to visit Alfred’s grave.
Brookwood Military Cemetery
In 1917, an area of land in Brookwood Cemetery (The London Necropolis) initially set aside for the burial of men and women of the forces of the Commonwealth and Americans, who had died, many of battle wounds, in the London district. Brookwood Military Cemetery the largest Commonwealth war cemetery in the United Kingdom, covering approximately 37 acres.
In addition to the Commonwealth plots, the cemetery also contains French, Polish, Czechoslovakian, Belgian and Italian sections, and a number of war graves of other nationalities all cared for by the Commission. Brookwood Military Cemetery contains 1,601 Commonwealth burials of the Great War and 3,476 from the Second World War.
Private James Norris
Alfred’s younger brother James Norris 438823 born 29 June 1899. He also enlisted 6 January 1915 at Fort Francis, Ontario, with the 52nd Battalion. At this time, James stood 5′ 11″ tall, with fresh complexion, blue eyes, and medium brown hair.
Private James Norris arrived in France at Le Havre on 9 March 1916, and later Taken on Strength by the 1st Brigade, C.M.G.C., joining his unit in the field on 24 March 1916 with his brother Alfred. James granted 10 days leave to England on 15 July 1917, later rejoining his unit in the field on 24 July 1917.
Mustard Gas
James admitted to No.22 General Hospital suffering from the effect of gas poisoning (mustard gas) at Hill 70, 5 September 1917.
Battle of Hill 70
James Norris invalided to England, and admitted to Horton City of London War Hospital, Shell Gas, 10 September 1917, and finally discharged 24 December 1917. In addition, Private James Norris “Granted permission to marry at public expense” on 15 December 1917, and we assume he did so as his “Past marriage approved” on 26 December 1917.
Pleurisy
James posted to Canadian Casualty Depot (C.C.D.) at Seaford for the remainder of the war. James admitted for pleurisy, 6 April 1918, to No.14 Canadian General Hospital, Eastbourne, and later discharged to 3rd C.C.D., Seaford on 6 June 1918.
Pte James Norris returned to Canada aboard SS METAGAMA and later demobilized 6 May 1919 at the Quebec Depot. Finally, James died on 19 August 1950, aged 61 years old.
Lance Corporal Leonard Norris
The middle brother, Leonard Norris 820494 born 3 October 1894 and attested 30 March 1916. At this time, Leonard stood 5′ 10″ tall, medium complexion, brown eyes, and brown hair and he enlisted with the 141st Battalion at Stratton, Ontario, 30 March 1916.
Leonard granted farm furlough from 1 May to 1 June 1916, and once again from 19 July 1916 to 9 August 1916. caught for smoking on parade, 16 August 1916, and awarded five days F.B. His family still needed help at the farm, and it would have been quite normal for the C.E.F. to discharge Leonard on compassionate grounds, yet, this not to be.
141st Battalion
Leonard arrived in England aboard SS OLYMPIC (the TITANIC sister ship) 7 May 1917, and later Taken on Strength by the 18th Reserve Battalion. Proceeded overseas for service with 8th Canadian Infantry Battalion, 7 September 1917, later arriving at his unit in the field near Passchendaele on 11 September 1917.
Battle of Passchendaele
8th Battalion
Leonard would spend exactly one month on the Western Front. While being relieved in the Wieltje area on the night of 11 November 1917 following the Battle of Passchendaele, Leonard gassed and admitted to No.6 Canadian Field Ambulance, Shell gas. Leonard one of 269 men of the 8th Battalion wounded during the battle (107 missing, and 35 killed).
Leonard invalided to England and admitted for Gas Poisoning Shell, 7 December 1917, 4th General Hospital, Plymouth and later transferred to Basingstoke, 8 December 1917. Later discharged to No.3 Canadian Casualty Depot, Seaford, 14 January 1918. Like his brother James, Leonard’s lungs have been too damaged, and he will never return to the front.
Admitted V.D.S., 23 March 1918, Canadian Hospital, Etchinghill, and later discharged 16 May 1918. Leonard returned aboard SS OLYMPIC (the same ship he left Canada upon), disembarking at Halifax on 17 January 1919. He was the first of the Norris brothers to return to his family.
The Norris Family
Leonard worked for CN Rail and died of cancer in 1955, also at the early age of 61 like his brother James. His son Leonard Norris a 97-year-old veteran, and Canadian Dispatch Rider of the Second World War.
Ronnie Norris, brother of Leonard and son of Leonard senior a WW2 Navy veteran.
