Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”

Died on this date – 4th May…… Charles Norris was born at Buenos Aires, Argentina, South America around 1893.

Charles Norris, along with his mother Harriett Norris & siblings William, Albert & Edith were passengers on Clyde which arrived at the port of Southampton, England on 1st July, 1901 from Ensenada, Mexico.

The 1911 Wales Census recorded Charles Norris as an 18 year old Labourer in Fuel Works, living with his family at 9 Lynn St, Cwmbwrla, Swansea, Wales.

According to information provided for the Roll of Honour by his father – Charles Norris came to Australia when he was 19 years of age.

He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 16th January, 1915 as a 22 year old Fireman from 16 Pultney Street, Adelaide, South Australia.

According to information provided for the Roll of Honour by his father – Charles Norris was previously a Stoker in Mercantile Marine. He had also been a Bugler Boy in Kings Shropshire Light Infantry.

Charles Norris married Muriel Gladys Hobbs on 18th March, 1915 in Adelaide, South Australia.

He was written up while in Camp on 6th February, 1915 for “Breaking camp on February 6th & absent without leave until Sunday 4 pm 7th.” This was admonished & he forfeited 2 days’ pay. He had only entered Camp on 16th January, 1915 for recruit training.

On 18th February, 1915 while posted at Glenelg Private Norris was written up for another Offence  - Drunk. Absent without leave from 9 am to 1.45 pm on 18th February, 1915. He was fined 5/- for drunkenness & awarded 4 days confined to Barracks & a loss of 1 days pay for being absent without leave. He had been drunk on 3 occasions since enlistment & his general character was listed as bad.

Private Charles Norris, Service number 1904, embarked from Adelaide, South Australia on HMAT Hororata (A20) on 20th April, 1915 with the 12th Infantry Battalion, 5th Reinforcements.

He was taken on strength of 12th Battalion at Gallipoli on 22nd June, 1915.

On 6th August, 1915 Private Norris was wounded at Gallipoli. He was admitted to No. 1 Australian Casualty Clearing Station at Anzac on 6th August, 1915 with shell wound/s to left Leg then transferred the same day to Mudros. Private Norris was admitted to No. 15 Stationary Hospital at Mudros on 8th August, 1915 with Gunshot wounds to Back & Arm. (another entry on Casualty form – Active Service recorded he was admitted to 15th Stationary Hospital with G.S.W. Left leg). He was transferred to Hospital Ship Rewa on 31st August, 1915.

Private Norris disembarked from Hospital Ship Rewa at Plymouth, England on 10th September, 1915 & was admitted to County of London War Hospital, Epsom, England the same day with shrapnel wound/s to left Thigh. He was severely wounded. The Hospital Admissions form recorded “Wounded in the Dardanelles Aug 6, 15. Arrived wound healed at Epsom.” On 29th September, 1915 it was recorded that the patient was now well and fit for duty after a rest. 

He was absent without leave from 15th November, 1915 to 18th November, 1915 & was awarded 96 hours detention & forfeited a total of 8 days’ pay.

On 19th November, 1915 Private Norris was admitted No. 1 Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield, Middlesex  with G.S.W.  The Hospital Admissions form recorded “Wounded left thigh bullet came right through & of left fore finger. Three weeks Lemnos. Epsom 6 weeks furlough 3 weeks. There is a scar of exit in back of thigh with area of cutaneous anaesthena over region by post cutaneous nerve. The end finger joint is stiff after ____”

A Medical Report was completed on Private Charles Norris on 28th November, 1915 at Harefield Park regarding his disability – G.S.W. (gunshot wound/s). The Officer in charge of the case recommended that Private Norris was permanently unfit for Active Service. The Medical Board stated that the disability was not permanent & the probable minimum duration was six months. As a result they recommended that Private Charles Norris was permanently unfit for Active Service but fit for Home Service.

Private Charles Norris arrived at Depot at Weymouth, from Hospital on 22nd December, 1915.

He was admitted to Verne Military Hospital, Portland on 3rd March, 1916 with Chancre. VD – total period 4 days.  He was transferred on 6th March, 1916 to Cherry Hinton Military Hospital, Cambridge & discharged on 11th April, 1916.

Private Charles Norris died at 11.30 pm on 4th May, 1916 at Sydney Hall Military Hospital, Weymouth, Dorset, England from injuries received as a result of a motor accident – fractured skull.

A Court of Enquiry was held on 6th May, 1916 enquiring into the death of Private Charles Norris – “he on 4.5.16 was knocked down by a motor car at Weymouth sustaining a fracture of the base of Skull. He was removed to Sidney Hall Military Hospital and died twenty minutes after admission.”  Finding:  “Death was caused by accident and no blame is attached to any person.”

He was buried in St. Peter’s Churchyard, Cockett, Swansea, Glamorganshire, Wales.

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)

https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/swansea.html