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Son of Joseph William Block and Emily Block nee Briggs of 29 Webster Street, Ballarat, Victoria. Brother of Reitta Isabell Block, Emily Golda Block, Alma May Block, Stanley Harrison Joseph Block, Louis Nathan Block, William Leslie Block, Alice josephine Block and Esther Eleanor Block

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

From Ballarat & District in the Great War
 
It is all too easy to forget that, in the midst of stories of great heroism and lives of incredible achievement, there are many ordinary tales. Examples of everyday young men who decided for reasons known only to them, to be a part of the grand adventure that they believed was the Great War. And most of them simply had not had the chance to explore life much beyond boyhood.

When Norman Samuel Block was born at Warrnambool in October 1896, the family was still bathing in the exceptional wealth provided by their patriarch, Nicholas Moses Block. A native of Bayern in Germany, and the member of a prominent Jewish family, he had amassed a considerable fortune, leaving an estate of over £32,000 when he died in 1887.

Norm’s parents, Joseph William Block and Emily “Golda” Briggs, had married at Ararat in 1884. Their life was comfortable, with Joseph being a partner in Block Brothers, a firm of goldsmiths, watchmakers, jewellers and opticians. Joseph, and his brothers Nathan, Cornelius and Louis, maintained shops in Ararat and Hamilton. They were also particularly interested in horseracing and often supplied valuable prizes to amateur riders.

After the opening of a further store in Timor Street, Warrnambool, Joseph disposed of the Ararat property in April 1887. Initially, he took over the operation of the shop in Gray Street, Hamilton, before he, too, moved to Warrnambool.

The death of Nathan Block on 10 June 1894, it seems to have been the beginning of the end of brother’s partnership.

When Norm Block was born, he was Joseph and Emily’s seventh child, but only their second son. Two further boys were born after the family moved to Ballarat. Initially, they lived at 68 Doveton Street and Joseph Block had become a traveller, selling door-to-door.

After a move to a more permanent home at 142 Armstrong Street north, Norm was enrolled in the Macarthur Street State School. The family also became members of the congregation at St John’s Soldiers Hill, further north along the same street.

In May 1905, friends of Joseph Block were distressed to hear that he was lying dangerously ill. People were aware that his health had ‘completely broken down’ some time earlier, but grave concerns were held for his wellbeing. Those concerns were completely justified – Joseph died on 17 May. At 43, Emily Block found herself alone with her children – four, including Norm, were under 10, the youngest two merely toddlers.

By 1909, they had moved to 29 Webster Street. Norm had left school and was working as a general labourer.
With the passing into law of the Universal Training Scheme in 1911, it became compulsory for young males to receive military training. Having already reached 14 years-of-age, Norm joined the Senior Cadets of the 71st Infantry Regiment. The Area Officer co-ordinating the boys, was Captain Graham Coulter and they met weekly at the Drill Hall in Curtis Street. Under the guidance of some of the best of Ballarat’s officers, the boys received instruction in drill, physical training, rifle practice, ‘and other exercises calculated to develop the mind and body.’ It is interesting to note that non-compliance of this scheme could result in very harsh penalties – with fines up to £50 and six-months imprisonment with or without hard labour.

Norm advanced to the senior ranks of the 71st (City of Ballarat) Infantry in June 1914. Just five months later he was to undertake a far more rigorous military experience – he volunteered at Ballarat on 30 November. Local doctor and military officer, Colonel C. H. W. Hardy (q.v.) conducted Norm’s medical examination. Although he was slightly under the minimum height requirement at 5-feet 4½-inches, Norm’s chest measurement of an expanded 34-inches was acceptable. He was a good-looking kid with a dark complexion, dark brown eyes and black hair.
Because he was only 18 (he claimed to be a year older), Norm required his mother’s permission to enlist. There was a delay of over a week before Emily provided him with the necessary document. ‘…I hereby give my consent to my son Norman Block to join the Imperial Force…’ (I like to imagine the conversations between mother and son as he pled his case and she, stoically, tried to hold out against the inevitable…)

On 12 January 1915, Norm, who was in camp at Broadmeadows, was posted to the 3rd reinforcements for the 14th Infantry Battalion with the regimental number of 1574. Three days later he had to undergo a second physical; Captain John Adey, of the Army Medical Corps, passed him fit and ready for active duty.

Whilst most of the 3/14th came from the suburbs of Melbourne, there were a smattering of Ballarat and district men alongside Norm Block – they were Duncan Blythen, Herbert Alfred Bush (Creswick), Stanley Roderick Dixon, John Holst, Frank Williams (from Banongil Station at Skipton), William Nolan and George Bawtree Webb, Frederick James (Creswick). They embarked from Melbourne on 19 February 1915 onboard the troopship Runic.

Norm reached Egypt shortly before the units comprising the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force prepared to leave for the proposed front in the Dardanelles. The 14th Battalion sailed from Alexandria on 12 April, with the troops onboard the transport Seeang Choon. After a brief stopover at Lemnos, they continued on to Gallipoli. At 6pm lighters filled with the wounded began to pull alongside the Seeang Choon. Throughout the night men of the 14th worked helped to bring the wounded onboard. It must have been horrific and overwhelming – the sounds of pain and anguish; and the smell of blood and fear. All the training in the world had not prepared them for this.

Although Norm Block’s service record was devoid of information pertaining to this period, it is believed he was amongst the bulk of the 14th Battalion that landed on the beach at ANZAC Cove just after 11am on 26 April.

The next entry for Norm Block was on 8 June: he was onboard the Hospital Ship Sicilian, having suffered a severe gunshot wound to the chest. As the ship made its way to Malta, Norm succumbed to this wound. The following day, Chaplain E. Teale buried Norm’s body At Sea.

Frustratingly, the gaps in Norm’s records gave no indication when he was actually wounded, which means his mother was never provided with that information. There was also no precise point of burial to prove how far from Malta the Sicilian was when Norm died. On checking the Unit Diary, there were several possible dates for when he was wounded – at Courteney’s Post on 1 June, two men were wounded; then, on 5 June there was a further casualty in the Reserve Gully, and two more on 7 June. For the most part it was especially quiet; the men were mainly involved in fatigue parties and weren’t called on to provide support in the line. Therefore, those who were wounded, were extraordinarily unlucky. It is possible, however, that Norm had been wounded far earlier, that is during the holding of Courteney’s Post in late May, when the Turks launched a sudden concentrated attack of artillery and machine-gun fire on the trenches held by the 14th Battalion. Unfortunately, that is the closest we will ever be to knowing when Norm Block was actually wounded.
Naturally, his family was heartbroken. At such an early stage of the war, the country had yet to fully comprehend the cataclysmic effect this war was going to have; reality was still a very hazy concept and this was further complicated by the sad lack of information.

Of course, when parcels of effects were returned, that reality became painfully obvious. Emily Block received two small packages that contained all of the personal items Norm had carried with him – these included the useful and necessary, such as a “housewife” (that had contained needles and thread for repairing his uniform) and a shaving brush; the usual letters and photographs, and the insightful – a Testament and prayer book – indicating a level of continued faith. They also returned Norm’s wallet, a purse and holdall, a note book and two pieces of comb.

As Norm Block had been buried At Sea, there was no grave to be marked at the conclusion of the war. His name was instead inscribed on the Lone Pine Memorial.
Stories like those of Norm Block were fairly typical - they were played out across the country during the war years. He was an ordinary Australian kid with nothing to really single him out from dozens of other boy soldiers. And yet that is why he, and others like him, are so special. In telling the ordinary stories we are reminded that it important to remember their uniqueness, something that is all too often lost when individuals become part of collective group.

‘…His King and country called him,
The call was not in vain;
On Australia's Roll of Honour
You will find our brave Norm's name…’