There is a special place for warriors like him.
He was a peculiar character. Very silent, very intent.
Henry Louie served as Lance Corporal Henry Norwest MM & Bar 435684, son of Louis & Genevieve Louie, of Sacred Heart, Alberta. Born in 1884, Henry was of Métis French-Cree descent. Henry became one of the most famous snipers of the Great War, with 115 confirmed kills, before meeting his fate three months before the end of the Great War.
Henry a young ranch hand from the Fort Saskatchewan area, a cow puncher by trade.
Before the outbreak of the Great War, Henry worked as a rodeo performer and briefly served with his local police department.
First Enlistment of Henry Norwest
On 22 January 1915, Henry Louie 3474, born 8 May 1884 volunteered for overseas service in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, his next of kin noted as Watson Louie. However, after three months with ‘C’ Squadron, 3rd Canadian Mounted Rifles, discharged from service for a single instance of drunkenness (AWOL 1-3 April) on 3 April 1915 at Medicine Hat. In addition, Private Louie had not endeared himself to the Regimental Sergeant Major. Unusual for a non-Indigenous recruit to be discharged for drunkenness, many having several lapses, and yet still sent overseas.
3rd Canadian Mounted Rifles
Organized in December 1914 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Francis O. Sissons. Mobilized at Edmonton and Medicine Hat, and recruited in Alberta. 3rd CMR left Montreal on 12 June 1915 aboard MEGANTIC and arrived in England 21 June 1915 with a strength of 28 officers, 598 other ranks. Arrived later in France on 22 September 1915 with the 1st Brigade, Canadian Mounted Rifles. Perpetuated by The Alberta Mounted Rifles, which amalgamated with the 19th Alberta Dragoons in 1936.
Royal North West Mounted Police
Henry Louie worked several months with his local police department. Then, undeterred, he reenlisted under a new name, Henry Norwest, and admitting to 5 months previous service with the RNWMP, accepted on 8 September 1915. At this time, Henry stated he was born 1 May 1884. In addition, Henry stood 5′ 9″ tall, with dark complexion, hair and eyes. He was Roman Catholic.
Prior to sailing, Henry docked three days pay in early October, likely, another instance related to alcohol. He sailed for England on 27 October 1915 aboard SS ORDUNA.
50th (Calgary) Battalion
50th (Calgary) Battalion organized in December 1914 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Edward G. Mason. Mobilized at Calgary and recruited in Calgary. Drafts of 5 officers, 251 other ranks and 5 officers, 250 other ranks sent to England later on 14 June and 11 September 1915.
Colours had been presented in Ottawa on 25 October 1915 by Jos Irwin and deposited for safekeeping in Bramshott Parish Church, Hants and, on 26 March 1922, in Central Methodist Church, Calgary.
Bramshott Camp
Lance Corporal Henry Norwest embarked from Halifax 27 October 1915 aboard SS ORDUNA, and later the 50th Battalion disembarked England 4 November 1915 with a strength of 41 officers, 1036 other ranks.
When on active service, Lance Corporal Henry Norwest drunk at Grayshott. He forfeits 5 days pay, 24 December 1915.
While training at Bramshott, Henry sprained his knee on 2 January 1916. Admitted to the hospital at Bramshott, and discharged five days later.
France
Henry entered the Western Front on 11 August 1916, with the 50th (Calgary) Battalion of the Canadian Infantry, 4th Canadian Division, 10th Canadian Infantry Brigade (later reinforced by 21st Canadian Reserve Battalion).
First Action
First action of the 50th Battalion on 19 August 1916 as ‘B’ Company enter the trenches near Abeele. At this time, Major Lister Olny Webster commanding, and killed in the afternoon, becoming the very first casualty of the battalion. Furthermore, on 21 August, Brigadier General William St Pierre Hughes attends his burial, two hundred yards southwest of Rheninghelst (Rheninghelst New Military Cemetery).
Battle of Flers-Courcelette
Lance Corporal Henry Norwest saw action in October 1916 during the Battle of the Somme (Battle of Flers-Courcelette). At this time, Henry quickly impressed officers with his sharpshooting skills. Able to stay motionless for hours and his camouflaging techniques allowed him to spend long periods in no man’s land.
Lance Corporal Henry Norwest was able to search out enemy snipers and shoot with deadly accuracy.
Field Punishment No. 2
While the battalion in training at La Communal, Lance Corporal Henry Norwest sentenced to 10 Days Field Punishment No 2 for being AWOL from 9:30 pm 24 September 1916 to 10:00 am 26 September 1916.
Injured
LCpl Henry Norwest shot himself in the right foot on 14 November 1916, and admitted to No. 11 Stationary Hospital, Rouen. Before being released, the injury determined to be accidental, and Henry discharged from the Convalescent Depot at Le Havre on 23 November 1916, ten days after the incident. Finally, Lance Corporal Henry Norwest rejoins his unit on 3 December 1916.
Battle of Vimy Ridge
In 1917, Henry took part in the Battle of Vimy Ridge and awarded the Military Medal for helping take control of the Pimple on 10 April 1917. The 50th Battalion in action on the second day of the battle as of 3:15 pm, having assembled in BEER TRENCH. Quickly, objectives reached within 30 minutes, but then Lance Corporal Norwest’s work just beginning.
The 50th Battalion retired from the battle beginning at 11 pm. Finally pulling out by 1 am, the battalion suffers 186 casualties, 57 of them fatal, with 31 missing and Major John Francis Costigan killed in battle and buried at Villers Station Cemetery.
Villers Station Cemetery
Villers Station Cemetery associated particularly with the Canadian Corps whose headquarters were nearby and many of the graves in Plots V to X date from April 1917 and the Battle of Vimy Ridge.
Battle of Hill 70
On 13 August 1917, just prior to the Battle of Hill 70, Lance-Corporal Henry Norwest leads the battalion in winning the Corps Rifle Shoot competition at VANCOUVER CAMP, Chateau de la Haie.
The Battle of Hill 70 became a turkey shoot for the Canadian Corps. After seizing the ‘summit’, the German’s counter-attacked no less than thirteen times. Lance Corporal Henry Norwest particularly active from 21-24 August 1917 during the battle.
When Luck Runs Out
On 18 August 1918, Henry’s luck ran out as he went to hunt a German sniper’s nest, just south of Hallu, France.
This time, the hunter had become the prey, and the enemy sniper spotted him first, and Henry instantly killed, aged 34. A comrade mentioned “It must have been a damned good sniper that got Norwest”.
Military Medal & Bar
Norwest’s skill as a sniper became legendary, and in 1918, posthumously awarded his Bar to the Military Medal.
Service Record
Furthermore, Henry’s service record reveals “Pension granted for his illegitimate children cancelled 29 October 1919, non-being maintained by Dominion Government. These children received gratuity $120. Pension granted mother of the deceased (Mrs. Genevieve L. Norwest), 4 January 1920.”
Incredibly, two, rare photos of Henry’s original grave marker exist.
Warvillers Churchyard Extension
The extension to Warvillers churchyard made by fighting units in August 1918. It contains 48 Commonwealth burials of the Great War, three of which are unidentified. The extension designed by W. H. Cowlishaw.
Warvillers a village approximately 4 kilometres north of Bouchoir, a town on the main straight road from Amiens to Roye. The Churchyard a little east of the village.
Marilyn Buffalo
Legacy
Great-granddaughter of Henry Norwest, Marilyn Buffalo interviewed by the CBC on 9 April 2017. Notably, Buffalo mentioning how Henry’s children not properly compensated by the Canadian government, and their treatment in Canada’s horrific Residential School system.
In 2008, Norwest’s name finally added to the cenotaph at the Fort Saskatchewan legion, in addition, two stones placed in his honour at the cemetery in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta.
A Tribute
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