CORNTHWAITE, Norman
| Service Number: | 2032 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 21 June 1915, Melbourne, Vic. |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 24th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Mirboo North, Victoria, Australia, March 1895 |
| Home Town: | Mirboo North, Latrobe - Victoria, Australia, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Allambee South State School No 3075 |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Belgium, 5 October 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Hallston and District WW1 Roll of Honor, Leongatha Fallen Soldiers Honour Roll, Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 21 Jun 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2032, 24th Infantry Battalion, Melbourne, Vic. | |
|---|---|---|
| 26 Aug 1915: | Involvement Private, 2032, 24th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '14' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Anchises embarkation_ship_number: A68 public_note: '' | |
| 26 Aug 1915: | Embarked Private, 2032, 24th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Anchises, Melbourne |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Norman Cornthwaite, Regimental Number 2032, was the second son of John and Lillian Cornthwaite. John and his brother William Cornthwaite originally took up leases on McDonald Track at Narracan South – Thorpdale Lots 1, 2 and 3 (Narracan Parish Map 1882). Their local claim to fame was some of the tallest trees in the world (Eucalyptus regnans) were then growing on these Lots, with one tree holding the record for the tallest tree in the world for which authentic records exist.
John Cornthwaite moved to Allambee South, Lot 41 in the late 1880’s. The land had previously been selected by R. H. Clerke in 1878, and subsequently James Shaw (map dated 1885). In 1890 John married Lillian Townsend. Norman was their second child, born in 1895. He was close to his sisters Elsie and Grace; and along with his younger brother Rupert played for the Allambee South Football Club.
Norman enlisted on the 21st June 1915 in the 24th Battalion, 3rd Reinforcements aged 20. His occupation is listed as a farmer. He embarked from Melbourne on HMAT Anchises on 26th August 1915 and served in Gallipoli, before being posted to Alexandria in January 1916 and then to France in March 1916. He sustained a gun shot wound to his scalp in 22nd August 1916 resulting in his transfer to Hospital in Etaples before rejoining his unit 30th September of that year. On 5th October 1917 he sustained a gunshot wound to the hand. According to the report of P.C. Kay of 24th Battalion “He called out to me “I’m off” and started running down to D/S when struck by a shell at Passchendale” He died in Action 5th October 1917 and has no known grave. His name is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial. His cousin William Cornthwaite who enlisted in the 58th Battalion was also killed in Action 29th September 1918.
Courtesy of Avenel Jane
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