Name
George William Norwood
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
05/08/1916
18
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
247
Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
24th Bn.
"A" Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
VILLERS-BRETONNEUX MEMORIAL
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Bushey memorials
Pre War
Born in Bushey in the first quarter of 1898, George William [registered as William George M] Norwood was the eldest son of William and Margaret (nee Maxey) Norwood. His parents were married on 29 October 1890 in Oxhey, Watford.
At the 1901 Census, the family had moved to 82 Brownlow Road in Willesden, London and George [also recorded as William G M] was 3 years old. His father, a general labourer, was aged 31 and Margaret was 32 years old. George had three siblings, Ellen, Minnie and John, who were 8, 5 and 1 years old respectively. Also present was William’s 34-year-old brother, Walter, who was also employed as a general labourer. The birthplaces are given as Garston for William, Bushey for Margaret, Watford for Ellen and Millie, Bushey for George and Rickmansworth for Walter.
At the 1911 Census, the family had moved to 168, Thornhill Road, a 5 room residence in Tolworth, Surrey. George is now recorded as such, but with another name [possibly William] inserted at the front as an afterthought. His father was working as a gardener and painter and George, aged 14, worked as a house boy. He now has three more siblings, Thomas Maxey, Violet Alice Maxey and Arthur James Maxey, who are 9, 6 and 3 years old respectively. Thomas and Violet were born in New Malden and Arthur was born in Surbiton.
George emigrated with the family to Australia in 1912, arriving on 20 July at Melbourne. William died in Australia in 1946 and Margaret died in Australia on 5 October 1951 at Mordialloc, Victoria.
Wartime Service
The following information is taken from the National Archives of Australia:
George enlisted on 16 March 1915 in Melbourne for the ‘duration of the war and 4 months’ as Private 247 in ‘A’ Company of the 24th Battalion, Australian Infantry of the Australian Imperial Force. He gave his age as 18 years and 2 months and occupation as a labourer. He was 5 feet 6¾ inches tall, 9 stone in weight, with a fair complexion, blue eyes and light brown hair, and had a chest girth of 33¼ inches. He had a small scar on his left wrist and a scar outside his right knee.
His father signed his ‘consent and approval’ on paper headed Wm NORWOOD, Painter and Decorator. At the date of enlistment, the address for George's father was Cranbourne, Victoria, but was subsequently updated to Lower Dandenong Road,
George was sent to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force on the Gallipoli Peninsula, embarking on 30 August 1915, where he served until being transferred to Mudros in Greece, disembarking on 10 January 1916. He was then sent to join the British Expeditionary Force on 20 March 1916 arriving at Marseille in France on 27 March 1916.
He served on the Western Front and was killed in action on 5 August 1916, aged 18. He is remembered with honour on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial in France. He received one Star medal, which was issued on 20 January 1921.
His effects, including Card, tobacco pouch, playing cards military book and letters were returned to William Norwood of Crambourne, Victoria.
There is correspondence dated 27 June 1927 from The Farmers and Graziers Cooperative Insurance and agency Company, Limited to The Base Commandant, 3rd Military District, Victoria Barracks, Melbourne, which states; “While on a recent visit to Canada, a Mr E. G. Ahern, who was in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, handed me the enclosed identity disc. You will see that it is that of No. 247, W. G. Norwood, ‘A’ Coy, 24th Batt’n A.I.F. It was found in France on the Somme on 15 September 1916. Mr. Ahern thought that it may help to clear up the fate of W. G. Norwood if he were missing. On the other hand, he may be alive and well. Kindly pass the disc on to the A.I.F. Records Dept. also please acknowledge, and oblige."
This is followed by a letter date 5 July 1927 to Mr W Norwood of Lower Dandenong Road, Mentone, Victoria, which states: “I am enclosing herewith the identity disc of your son, the late No. 247 Private G.W. Norwood, 24th Battalion, which was returned to this office by Mr. Donnelly, Manager of the Farmers and Graziers Cooperative Insurance and agency Company, Limited, Box 1600 HB G.P.O. Sydney, New South Wales. I am informed by Mr Donnelly that while on a recent visit to Canada he received the memento from a former member of the Canadian Expeditionary Force and that it was recovered on the Somme (France) in September 1916. Mr Donnelly has been formally thanked on behalf of the Department for his interest in this matter. Captain, Officer i/c Base Records”
There is also correspondence in May 1939 to Mrs Margaret Norwood, c/o Mr G Wadelton of Chute Street, Mordialloc, Victoria, which states: “With reference to your recent representations to the Repatriation Commission on the subject of replacing the War medals, etc. of your son, the late No. 247 Private G.W. Norwood, 24th Battalion, A.I.F., stated to have been destroyed by fire, I very much regret having to inform you that no provision is made in existing regulations to allow of the issue of duplicate war medals in the case of a deceased soldier.” This letter follows one dated 3 May 1939 which states that Mrs Norwood’s home at Warrandyte, Victoria, and all its contents, including the war medals and badges, were completely destroyed by bush fire in January 1939.
Additional Information
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild
Acknowledgments
Andrew Palmer
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild
