Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Norm was born on 20 Apr 1917 at Port Lincoln to Frederick Walter Flavel and Emma Simmons Flavel (nee Le Brun).  He was the second youngest of six children in the family, 4 boys and 2 girls.  His family had moved from Gladstone to Charlton Gully (near North Shields, SA) in 1909 and then to Lock 2 years after his birth, where his father share farmed “Sandview” farm, prior to purchasing it; he also commenced a grain buying and blacksmith business in the township and was the school bus driver until his retirement in 1952.

Norm went to school at Lock leaving after completing Grade 7. He then worked on the family farm and may have undertaken an apprenticeship as a butcher, possibly at Elliston (or learnt his trade on the farm). He married Dorothy Bascomb in 1941 and their first child, a son Brian, was born prior to his enlistment in the Army on 17 Jun 1943 at Elliston (SA); at this time he listed his wife as his next of kin and his trade as farm labourer/butcher.

He was sent to Warradale for processing before marching into 3rd Training Battalion (Bn) at Woodside for recruit training during which he was sent to Signals School for specialist education as a Signaller; he then returned to complete his recruit training in Oct 1943. On completion of training, Norm was allocated to 1st Australian Line Section, Royal Australian Signals Corps, and was sent to Port Moresby (PNG) arriving in late 1943. He remained in PNG throughout the war.

The signals units had to provide communications, whether by despatch rider on motorcycle, over the telephone and wireless, or any other necessary means. Communications had to be maintained around the clock, under all conditions, and no matter how difficult. Linesmen from the Line Section in PNG had to struggle through the country, clearing paths through the undergrowth, while laying out wire from heavy spools. Whenever a line was cut or broken, a team of signallers had to repair the break, always mindful of being ambushed. It was rough country, with steep mountains, dense jungle, and seemingly incessant rain: made more difficult by the wide dispersal of units.  

Norm returned to Australia and was discharged from the Army on 11 Jan 1946 at Keswick; he returned to Elliston before acquiring work on “Yalluna” Station. He later share farmed with Scally McCallum for a couple of years and then Mr Barraud for a year, whilst still living in a small cottage on “Yalluna” Station.  He applied for a “Soldier Settlers” block in 1949 and was allocated Sect 409, Hd of Yarranyacka; this block was Norm’s third choice and was classified suitable for sheep and cereal cropping. The family moved onto the block in 1950, living in a caravan until the house was built.

When the house was being built, Norm decided that the house and shed were too far apart, so whilst the contractor (Wally Cousins) was otherwise engaged, he repositioned the house pegs closer to the shed. It is little wonder that he and Scally got on so well together!

Like all the farmers in the area they were plagued with rabbits and noxious weeds, but with perseverance and hard work they overcame these problems. As well as running sheep and cropping they also had turkeys, chooks and pigs; these latter forming the basis of a pig stud developed in 1968 and named “Larapinta”, meaning creek junction in the local aboriginal dialect.

Norm was also a well respected butcher on the West Coast and at Tumby Bay. He had the butcher shop in Tumby Bay for 2 years (1963-64) and continued to butcher on the farm after the sale of the shop.

The family increased with the birth of two daughters on the farm; Vicki in 1955 and Kaye in 1956.

The farm was sold in 1988 to Mr H.B. Ware, a neighbour; it is still worked by his son Richard Ware, today.

Norm and Dorothy bought a house and moved from the farm into Tumby Bay.

Norm died on 19 Jan 1991 and is buried in the Tumby Bay Cemetery. Dorothy died on 18 Jun 1998 and is buried beside her husband.