Part 143

=NIXON, GERARD FERRERS=, Lieut., 129th Battery, Royal Field Artillery, yst. _s._ of Major-Gen. Arundel James Nixon, of Clone, Ballyragget, co. Kilkenny, D.L., late R.A., by his wife, Maria Lucy, dau. of the late John Laurence, D.L.; _b._ Stoke, Devonport, 25 Jan. 1891; educ. Cheltenham College and Royal Military Academy, Woolwich; gazetted 2nd Lieut., R.F.A., 23 Dec. 1910, and promoted Lieut. 23 Dec 1913; left for France, Aug. 1914, and was killed in action near Neuve Chapelle, 24 Oct. following. Buried Fauquissart, in an orchard in the Rue de Bacquerot; _unm._ The Officer commanding his battery wrote: “It is a very great sorrow indeed to us all that we have lost him. Officers and men were devoted to him. He was a gallant little fellow and a first-class officer.” He was mentioned in Sir John (now Lord) French’s Despatch of 14 Jan. 1915, for gallant and distinguished conduct in the field. He was a keen sportsman; rode very well and was very good at all games.

=NIXON, WILLIAM=, Boy, 1st Class, J. 26752 (Ports.), H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.

=NOBBS, WILLIAM ROBERT=, Seaman, R.N.R., 2282A, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=NOBLE, CHARLES CRAWFORD=, Private, No. 6/698, 13th Canterbury and Westland Regt., New Zealand Expeditionary Force, _s._ of George Noble, of Blue Spur, Hokitika, New Zealand, Gold Miner, by his wife, Jeannie A. S., dau. of Alexander Walker, of Strichen; _b._ Fraserburgh, 31 Jan. 1887; educ. All Saints’ School, Strichen; went to New Zealand, 7 May, 1906; volunteered and joined the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, after the outbreak of war, 17 Aug. 1914; left for Egypt with the main body in Oct.; took part in the landing at the Dardanelles, 25 April, 1915, and died on board H.M.S. Royal George, 12 May following, of wounds received in action at Cape Helles on the 8th; _unm._

=NOBLE, CORNELIUS=, Private, No. 1856, 5th Battn. Northumberland Fusiliers (T.F.), yst. _s._ of John Noble, of 310, Church Street, Walker, co. Northumberland, by his wife. Alice; _b._ Walker, 7 June, 1895; educ. West Walker Council Schools; joined the 5th Northumberland Fusiliers, 1 June, 1913; volunteered for Imperial service, 5 Aug. 1914; went to France, 20 April, 1915, and was killed in action 24 May, 1915, during the Second Battle of Ypres, 24 May, 1915. Buried, Boulogne; _unm._

=NOBLE, GEORGE=, Private, No. 6507, 1st Battn. Royal West Kent Regt., _s._ of Thomas Noble, of 25, Sigismund Street, Blackwall; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; died 26 Nov. 1914, of wounds received in action.

=NOBLE, GEORGE=, Driver, No. 8125, 1st Battn. Royal West Kent Regt.; served with the Expeditionary Force in France; killed in action 28 Oct. 1914; _m._

=NOBLE, JACK EDWARD=, Private, No. 15184, 3rd Battn. Middlesex Regt., _s._ of George Noble, of High Wycombe, Bucks; served with the Expeditionary Force in France; killed in action, 21 March, 1915.

=NOBLE, ROBERT=, Stoker, Petty Officer (R.F.R., B. 4521), 171089, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=NOBLE, THOMAS=, of Aberdeen, lost when the mine-sweeping trawler No. 61 (Crathie, of Aberdeen) was sunk by a mine, Aug. 1914.

=NOEL, HERBERT BISHOP=, C.E.R.A., 2nd Class (Pensioner), 269614, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=NOLAN, MYLES PATRICK=, Private, No. 2754, 2nd Battn. 8th Middlesex Regt. (T.F.), 2nd _s._ of the late William Nolan, of Fulham, by his wife, Catherine, dau. of Michael (and Mary) Murphy, of Dublin; _b._ Fulham, S.W., 3 June, 1897; educ. Council School there; was an Assistant Engineer, P.O. Telegraph; joined the 10th Middlesex Territorials in June, 1912; volunteered for foreign service, Aug. 1914; was transferred to the 2/8th Middlesex, and was drafted to Gibraltar, Sept. 1914, returning to England, Feb. 1915; went to France, 8 March, 1915, and was killed in action at Rye, France, 21 Oct. 1915, being shot by a sniper; _unm._ Letters from his officers speak of him as a good soldier and a general favourite.

=NOOTT, MERVYN=, 2nd Lieut., 1st Battn. The Buffs (East Kent Regt.), yst. _s._ of William Mathias Noott, M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., L.S.A., and his wife, Louisa (Upton Lodge, St. Peter’s, Thanet), eldest dau. of the late Sir Alfred Hickman, 1st Bart., M.P.; _b._ Kensington Park Road, London, 19 May, 1890; educ. Mr. Edminson’s, Tan-y-bryn, Llandudno, and Fauconberg School, Beccles; joined the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battn. The Buffs as 2nd Lieut. 15 March, 1911, and promoted Lieut. 20 Jan. 1913; passed into the Regulars as 2nd Lieut., 1st Buffs, 24 May, 1913; left for France, 16 Sept. 1914; and was killed in action at Radinghem Wood, near Lille, 20 Oct. following; _unm._ Capt. R. Bright wrote: “Your son was killed in action on the 20th. He was gallantly leading his men under heavy fire, and every one who was near him cannot speak too highly of his conduct. I cannot tell you how sorry I am to lose him, and how I feel for you in your loss. But he died gallantly and knew nothing of being hit, being killed instantaneously. He was a good soldier and thoroughly popular with both officers and men, and we can ill afford to lose him.” Major (Brig.-Gen.) E. H. Finch-Hatton, D.S.O., wrote: “There is one thing that I can bear witness to, and that is a more noble and more chivalrous boy has never fallen on the field of battle. His enthusiasm and his sense of duty and chivalry were quite out of the ordinary. He was more like a knight of old, and it is such as he who have made the glory of the British Army to be what it is to-day--the wonder and the admiration of the world.” And L.-Corpl. Kisby wrote: “The platoon would have followed him anywhere. Yes, every man was devoted to him. He won this by his many acts of kindness and cheerfulness, and, above all, they had a great respect for him as a brave man, for undoubtedly he knew no fear.” He had taken a flying certificate and hoped to join the Royal Flying Corps.

=NORLEY, SIDNEY HENRY=, Acting Chief Stoker, 195527, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=NORMAN, ALBERT EDMUND=, Capt., 3rd (Reserve) Battn. East Surrey Regt., attd. Army Cyclist Corps, yst. _s._ of the late Henry Alexander Norman, of Croydon, by his wife, Annie, dau. of (--) Roberts; _b._ Croydon, 7 April, 1875; educ. Whitgift Middle School, Croydon; was in a Bank; received a commission as 2nd Lieut. in 1st Vol. Battn. Royal West Surrey Regt. 7 Jan. 1905; gazetted Lieut., 3rd East Surreys, 11 Sept. 1914; attd. Army Cyclist Corps, 1 Dec. following; promoted Capt. 24 March, 1915, and went to France 27 March, and died in hospital at Merville, 11 May, 1915, of wounds received in the advance against the Aubers Ridge on the 9th. Buried at Merville. The N.C.Os. and men of his company erected a stone to his memory. A comrade wrote: “He very much distinguished himself in offering to take a despatch message under heavy fire. He was successful in getting it through, but was wounded on returning to Headquarters.” He was mentioned in Sir John (now Lord) French’s Despatch of 30 Nov. 1915 [London Gazette, 1 Jan. 1916]. He _m._ at Croydon, 5 Jan. 1905, Linda Burnell, dau. of the late William Bust Turner, of Croydon, Surrey; _s.p._

=NORMAN, EDWARD=, A.B., 226971, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=NORMAN, ERRINGTON HOUNSOME=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 9676), S.S. 2428, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=NORMAN, ROBERT=, Private, No. 2200, A Coy., 4th Battn. Suffolk Regt., _s._ of Robert Norman, Sailor; _b._ Ipswich, 18 Oct. 1882; educ. St. Clement’s School, Ipswich; was a Labourer at Paul’s Barley Factory, Ipswich; volunteered and enlisted in Sept. 1914; went to France, 6 Nov. 1914, and was killed in action at Neuve Chapelle, 11 March, 1915. Capt. S. L. Brown wrote: “Your husband was a soldier from head to foot, and an Englishman, and the example he set to the younger men was grand--I shall never have a better man to go with me anywhere. It may, perhaps, be a little comfort to you to know that his death was instantaneous: a soldier’s death without pain.” He _m._ at St. Helen’s Church, Ipswich, 25 Dec. 1906, Alice Maud (50, Rosebery Road, Ipswich), dau. of George (and Ellen) Prebble, of Ipswich, and had three children: Robert William, _b._ 14 Sept. 1907; Arthur George, _b._ 31 May, 1913; and Elsie May, _b._ 6 Nov. 1900.

=NORMAN, ROBERT=, Leading Seaman (R.F.R., I.C. 35), 186027, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=NORMANLY, MARTIN=, Private, No. 9791, 3rd Battn. Coldstream Guards, _s._ of Thomas Normanly, of Montuaigh, Curry, co. Sligo, Farmer, by his wife, Bridget, dau. of Thomas Gallagher; _b._ Montuaigh, Curry, afsd. 14 Oct. 1892; educ. National School there; was a Coal Miner; joined the Coldstreams in Oct. 1912; went to France, 12 Aug. 1914, and was killed in action at Mons, on the 25th; _unm._

=NORRIS, GEORGE CROSSLEY=, Deckhand, No. 207 D.A., Trawler Section, R.N.R.; lost when the mine-sweeping trawler No. 61 called “Crathie” (Thomas W. Irvine, of North Shields) was sunk by a mine, Aug. 1914.

=NORRIS, OSWALD MARK=, Private, No. 61221, 1st Canterbury Infantry, New Zealand Expeditionary Force, 7th _s._ and yst. child of Thomas C. Norris, of Christchurch, J.P., late Secretary and Treasurer to North Canterbury Hospital Board, by his wife, Mary; _b._ Christchurch, New Zealand, 15 June, 1892; educ. Christ’s College, Canterbury, New Zealand, after which he took up sheep farming in Hawkes Bay, and while there joined the local Regt. of Mounted Rifles, in which he was a corpl. when war broke out. He volunteered for Imperial service, 12 Oct. 1914; left for Egypt with the main body; took part in the repulse of the Turkish attack on the Suez Canal in Feb. 1915, and was killed in action during the landing at Gebe Tepe, Gallipoli, 25 April, 1915; _unm._ A comrade wrote: “In our camp life your son’s sterling qualities and high principles made him very popular. The memory of your son Oswald--a brave and true man--will ever remain dear to us”; and another: “He was a favourite among all, and everybody admired his strength of character and his great lovable disposition.”

=NORRIS, REGINALD HAYDEN=, Corpl., No. 9096, 2nd Battn. The King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regt., _s._ of William Norris, of 6, Pleasant Place, Chalvey, by his wife, Mary Ann; _b._ Chalvey, Slough, 8 March, 1889; educ. Board School there; enlisted 22 Oct. 1906; left for France, 20 Sept., and was killed in action at Metrean, 13 Oct. 1914. Buried there. He _m._ at Scotforth, Lancaster, 25 Dec. 1913, Helena Eleanor (12, Abbey Terrace, Scotforth, Lancaster), dau. of Joseph Kendall, of Scotforth; _s.p._

=NORRIS, ROBERT=, Engine Room Artificer, 2nd Class, No. Ch. 149732, R.N., _s._ of Robert Norris; _b._ Chatham, co. Kent, 22 Aug. 1866; educ. St. Paul’s School there; joined the Navy, 23 May, 1889; served in South African War (medal), and on H.M.S. Cressy, and was lost when that ship was sunk in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914; _unm._ He had the Long Service and Good Conduct medal.

=NORRIS, WILLIAM=, Private, No. 10734, 1st Battn. Coldstream Guards, yst. _s._ of Joseph Norris, of 35, Albert Road, Tamworth, Warwick, Carpenter (a native of Lancashire), by his wife, Elizabeth, dau. of David Marney, of Melbourne, Victoria; _b._ Melbourne, 28 Nov. 1893, came to England with his parents when two years of age, and was educ. at Tamworth Council School; was employed as a Platelayer on the L. &. N.W. Railway; enlisted in May, 1914, and was killed in action at Ypres, 29 Oct. 1914; _unm._

=NORSWORTHY, EDWARD CUTHBERT=, Major, 13th Battn. (Royal Highlanders of Canada), 3rd Brigade, Canadian Expeditionary Force, eldest _s._ of James Counter Norsworthy, of Ingersoll, P. Ontario, Canada, by his wife, Mary Jane, eldest dau. of Alexander Cuthbert, of Ingersoll, and gdson. of John Norsworthy, of the Parish of Widdicombe, co. Devon, England (who went to Canada in 1852); _b._ Ingersoll afsd., 29 May, 1879; killed in action in the Battle of Langemarck on 22 May, 1915; educ. Ingersoll and St. Thomas’ Public Schools, from which he passed to the Upper Canada College, and thence matriculated to McGill University, at which time he won the Governor-General’s gold medal for mathematics. He subsequently became registered as a Student of the Institute of Actuaries of Great Britain along with his younger brother Stanley. At the examination held that year, there were thirty-six candidates writing in the Dominion; of this number five were successful, including Major Norsworthy and his brother. In his student days he had been connected with the Cadet Corps at St. Thomas’ Collegiate Institute, and the Upper Canada College Rifle Corps. Deciding to adopt a career in the financial world, he obtained a position with Messrs. G. A. Stimson & Co., of Toronto, and in 1901 he opened an office in Montreal as Manager for the Dominion Securities Corporation. He joined the 5th Royal Highlanders as a subaltern, shortly after his arrival there, and after passing his examination at St. John’s (Quebec) Military School, he became Capt. in 1905, and Adjutant three years later, and Major in 1909. On the outbreak of war, Major Norsworthy volunteered his services, and helped to organise the 13th Battn. for active service, and accompanied it to Europe as Senior Major and Second in Command. While in England, he was offered an appointment with Sir Max Aitken, the Canadian “Eye Witness,” but preferred to remain with his regt.; _unm._ On 22 April, 1915, the Germans, using virulent and asphyxiating gasses for the first time, were able to overcome a portion of the French troops adjoining our line. In the words of Sir John French’s Despatch of 15 June, 1915: “The left flank of the Canadian Division was thus left dangerously exposed to serious attack in flank, and there appeared to be a prospect of their being overwhelmed, and of a successful attempt by the Germans to cut off the British troops occupying the salient to the east. In spite of the danger to which they were exposed, the Royal Highlanders of Canada held their ground with a magnificent display of tenacity and courage; and it is not too much to say that the bearing and conduct of these splendid troops averted a disaster which might have been attended with the most serious consequences.” The 13th Battn. (5th Royal Highlanders) were the first Canadian troops to meet a charge of the Germans, and notwithstanding they were greatly outnumbered, and were being attacked in flank in their dug-outs, Major Norsworthy skilfully led his men out to the Ypres-Poelcapelle Road, manning the road ditches facing the advancing Germans, and heroically holding their position, and refusing to give one inch of ground, thereby setting the pace for the whole division. Major Norsworthy’s part in the action was thus described by one of the privates present: “After having remained in the dug-outs for about one hour, with our throats parched and our eyes watering, caused by the gas, we could see that the Germans had broken our lines. It was reported to Major Norsworthy, and he gave the order to ‘stand to’ which we were waiting anxiously to do, and he led us out to the Ypres-Poelcapelle Road. It was not long before they began to pick our boys off. Major Norsworthy was hit in the neck by a bullet, but it did not stop him from walking up and down our line, encouraging our men to hold fast. It was not until he received the second bullet that he had to give in and lie down. We bound him up as well as we could, but the second wound was serious, and he died about three-quarters of an hour after.” Another private who was with Major Norsworthy said: “As we advanced out of our dug-outs and trenches--that were being enfiladed--we met a perfect storm of shell and rifle bullets, when some inclinations of hesitancy and flinching were shown. Seeing this, Major Norsworthy sprang to the front and called out, ‘Come on, men, remember that we are Canadians and all the eyes of Canada are upon us.’ His action and words steadied those that were wavering, and we all followed him with a wild cheer, and advanced to the Ypres-Poelcapelle Road ditches--facing the advancing Germans--which gave us some little protection, and we stuck it there to the last man.” The following are extracts spoken to the first Canadian Division after the twelve days and nights of fighting included in the period from 22 of April to the 4th of May, 1915; “I tell you truly that my heart is so full I hardly know how to speak to you. It is full of sorrow for the loss of those comrades of ours who have gone, and pride in what the first Canadian Division has done. I think it is possible that you do not all of you quite realise that if we had retired in the evening of 22 April, when our Allies fell back before the gas and left our left flank quite open, the whole of the 27th and 28th Division would probably have been cut off. This is what our Commander-in-Chief meant when he telegraphed as he did: ‘The Canadians saved the situation.’ My lads, if ever men have had a right to be praised in this work, you have.” Major Norsworthy was mentioned in F.M. Sir John (now Lord) French’s Despatch of 31 May, 1915, for gallant and distinguished service in the field.

=NORTH, ARTHUR=, Sergt., No. G. 582, 9th (Service) Battn. East Kent Regt.; died in Dover Military Hospital, 4 June, 1915; _m._

=NORTH, FREDERICK ALBERT=, Sergt., No. 8010, 2nd Battn. East Surrey Regt.; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders; died 3 April, 1915, of wounds received in action; _m._

=NORTH, CHARLES NAPIER=, Major, 5th Field Coy. Royal Engineers, eldest _s._ of the late Col. Roger North, R.A., by his wife Fanny Ellen (Briarwood, Camberley), dau. of Stephen Beeching, of Tunbridge Wells; _b._ Bristol, 16 Aug. 1874; educ. Radley College, where he gained the Heathcote Mathematical Scholarship, and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich; gazetted 2nd Lieut. R.E. 10 Feb. 1893, and promoted Lieut. 10 Feb. 1896, Capt. 1 April, 1904, and Major, 25 July, 1913; served (1) in the South African War, 1899–1902, took part in the operations in the Orange Free State, March to May 1900, in the Transvaal, east of Pretoria, Aug. to Nov. 1900, in the Orange River Colony, May to June 1900, in Cape Colony, south of Orange River, 1899–1900, and in the Transvaal, Orange River Colony and Cape Colony, 1901–2; and was afterwards on the Staff, and from 20 May, 1902 to 7 Aug. 1902, was employed under the Dir. Mil. Intelligence (Queen’s medal with three clasps and the King’s medal with two clasps); and (2) with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders, 15 Aug. to 1 Nov. 1914, on which latter date he was killed in action near Zonnebeke, during the First Battle of Ypres, being shot by a sniper while engaged in inspecting the erection of barbed wire entanglements in an exposed position. Buried in Zonnebeke Wood, N.E. of Ypres. The General Officer Commanding, Royal Engineers, 2nd Division, wrote: “Major North’s death was a severe loss not only to his own company, but to the Royal Engineers and the service generally, as on several occasions his devotion to duty and his excellent work had come under my observation, and I have no doubt his example conduced largely to the fine performance of the 5th Field Coy.” Major North was mentioned in Sir John (now Lord) French’s Despatch of 14 Jan. 1915. He _m._ at St. Mary Abbott’s Church, Kensington, 18 Dec. 1913, Norah, dau. of the late Col. Gribbon, of Inverness Terrace, W., and had a dau. Elizabeth, _b._ posthumous, 31 March, 1915.

=NORTH, WILLIAM THOMAS=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 2721), 286931, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=NORTHCOTT, ALBERT HENRY=, Shipwright, No. Chat. 345561, Royal Navy, _s._ of Lieut. Albert Northcott, R.N., by his wife, Mary Elizabeth Swete (4, Springfield Terrace, Elburton Cross, near Plymouth), dau. of Samuel Tolcher; _b._ Plymouth, co. Devon, 6 April, 1887; educ. Ryders High School, Stoke Devonport; was for some time a Shipwright Apprentice in Devonport Dockyard; joined the Navy in 1907; served on H.M. ships Cyclops, London, and Cressy; took part in the Battle of Heligoland, and was lost when the Cressy was torpedoed in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914; _unm._

=NORTHEY, ALFRED=, Lieut., 4th, attd. 3rd, Battn. Worcestershire Regt., yr. _s._ of the late Rev. Alfred Edward Northey, formerly Vicar of Rickmansworth, co. Hertford, by his wife, Alice (Lisworney, Torquay), dau. of Frederick Hatton, and grandson of Lieut.-Col. William Brook Northey, of The Mount, Sevenoaks, Coldstream Guards, J.P., D.L.; _b._ at The Vicarage, Rickmansworth, 10 Sept. 1886; educ. at Rottingdean, Sherborne School, and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst; gazetted 2nd Lieut. to the 4th Worcesters 3 Feb. 1906, and promoted Lieut. 24 Oct. 1908; joined his battn. at Malta, where he was stationed until Nov. 1908, when it proceeded to Bareilly, India. Returning from India on sick leave in Feb. 1911, he was sent to the Depôt at Worcester, and was there when war broke out. He acted as Machine-Gun Officer at Tregantle, Cornwall, until 30 Aug. 1914, when he left for France in charge of a draft, and, after being stationed for three weeks at St. Nazaire, joined the 3rd Worcesters (7th Brigade, 3rd Division) at the Front. He was killed in action, 12 Oct. following, close to Richebourg St. Vaast, while the battn. was fighting its way through Richebourg to Neuve Chapelle. He was _unm._ His Commanding Officer wrote: “He was killed whilst leading his men in the attack. He was killed instantly, and did not suffer. He was a splendid officer, and can ill be spared. I hope it may be some little comfort to you, that he died leading his men in the most gallant manner.” He was mentioned in Sir John (now Lord) French’s Despatch of 14 Jan. [London Gazette, 17 Feb., 1915.] Lieut. Northey was an excellent musician, playing both piano and violin; a good all-round sportsman, and very popular with both officers and men.

=NORTON, WILLIAM GEORGE=, Private, No. 3582, 2nd Battn. (Royal Fusiliers) The London Regt. (T.F.), _s._ of George Thomas Norton, of 21, Newman Road, Plaistow, Labourer, by his wife, Mary Ann, dau. of William Smith, Master Baker; _b._ Poplar, 7 Dec. 1898; educ. West Ham; trained in the West Ham Boys’ Naval Brigade for 2½ years under A. E. Cleave, commanding officer; was employed as a Coppersmith at the Plaistow Railway Works; volunteered and joined the 2nd Royal Fusiliers, 13 Feb. 1915; went to France, 17 April, and died at No. 2 Casualty Clearing Station, Bailleul, 6 June, 1915, of a gunshot wound in the head, received in action, 31 May, 1915; _unm._ Buried in the Civil Cemetery, Bailleul.

=NOTTON, HARRY GUY=, A.B., J. 2639, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.