Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Norman Horace Churchman was born in May 1889, in Norwood. He was living in Gawler at the time of his enlisment. In his early life, he worked as a moulder – someone who specialized in creating sand moulds for casting molten metal, to create parts and tools commonly used in the mining, railway and agricultural industries.

At the age of 26, Churchman enlisted for service abroad with the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) in Keswick on 20 March 1915, where he was assigned to the 10th Battalion. Six months later, he embarked from Adelaide on board the HMAT Star of England.

On 25 December 1915, in Alexandria, Churchman was taken on strength in the 10th Battalion, before being temporarily detached to the Assistant Provost Marshall (APM) less than two months later, on 18 February 1916. The Assistant Provost Marshall was the military police of the army. Members were responsible for maintaining discipline among soldiers, guarding prisoners of war, and keeping order in the military camps and nearby villages and cities. Privates were commonly detached to the APM for extra manpower, and there were always APM staff wherever there were troops stationed. Egypt was a major base for ANZAC troops, a place for major camps and training grounds, and the APM were required to control discipline in these areas. Norman Horace Churchman and the other APM staff in Egypt managed the leave of soldiers and the behaviour in the Egyptian cities, deal with issues like fighting and crime, and guard detained soldiers and prisoners. The Australian soldiers were notorious for common misbehaviour, so working in the APM was a very important role to ensure discipline and stability throughout the military ranks.

On April 2 that year, Churchman was taken on strength in the 50th Battalion, after being transferred from the 10th. Between August and November 1916, Churchman, along with the rest of the battalion, fought on the Western Front in France. Their service took place in highly competitive and critical areas such as Pozières, Warlencourt and near Bapaume. During this time, they experienced the horrors of trench warfare, with constant exposure to artillery shelling and sniper fire. 

On 5 November 1916, Churchman was documented absent without leave (AWL). Because of this, the Commanding Officer of his battalion awarded him a week of 2nd tier field punishment the day after. This level of punishment in the military consisted of a soldier remaining with his unit, receiving extra duties and labour, being confined to barracks or camp when not working. On 2 January 1917, he was admitted to hospital with an infection, where he stayed for 73 days.

After marching into the French commune of Etaples, on 20 March 1917, Churchman rejoined his unit. 13 days later, on April 2, he was reported missing in action (MIA) during the Attack on Noreuil. It was documented on April 2 that two officers and 60 other ranks were believed captured. Later that day, word was received that Churchman was captured by the German forces, and was being held as a prisoner of war (POW) at Limburg Camp. Limburg Camp was designed to hold close to 12,000 prisoners during World War One, and it was essential in its agricultural facilities, where the allied soldiers were forced to labour, working to grow and harvest food for the Germans. Soldiers inside the camp were allowed to send letters and communicate to loved ones back home. In a letter to his mother which he wrote on April 4 1918, Churchman says that he is in improved health since his active service for the ANZACs, and that him and five others have been working on a farm together. He also asks his mother to send through some games, so that they can pass the time. In a later letter from Churchman, dated 12 June 1918, he says that they were grateful for the parcels they received, although it was a while before they had been able to access them. He also says that the British soldiers (also known as Tommies), often say that people look after the Australian soldiers well, and Churchman knows they do.

After the armistice on 11 November 1918, the Australian soldiers were repatriated, and brought back home. On 24 December 1918, Churchman arrived in England after being released from the POW camp, where he was granted leave until the 30 December. Finally, he returned to Australia on 2 March 1919.

Churchman was then discharged on 5 July 1919. Overall, Churchman had served abroad for 3 years and 212 days, and served for 4 years and 108 days altogether.

In March 1921 Churchman married Marion Underwood, and had at least three children: Rees, Billy and Marion. He moved to the suburb of Southwark, where he lived with his family until he passed away on February 10, 1954, aged 64. He is buried at West Terrace Cemetery, in the AIF section.

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