WELLINGTON, Norman Bruce
| Service Numbers: | 7137, 9013 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 3 May 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Driver |
| Last Unit: | 11th Field Ambulance |
| Born: | Gilberton, South Australia, 9 April 1888 |
| Home Town: | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Result of motor cycle accident, Tusmore, South Australia, 31 May 1939, aged 51 years |
| Cemetery: |
North Road Cemetery, Nailsworth, South Australia |
| Memorials: | Black Forest North Adelaide Melbourne Street Methodist Church Roll of Honor, Flinders Park Staff of the South Australian Gas Company Roll of Honour, Lower North Adelaide War Memorial WW1, North Adelaide Christ Church Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 3 May 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 7137 | |
|---|---|---|
| 26 Aug 1915: | Embarked Driver, 7137, 4th Light Horse Brigade Train, HMAT Anchises, Melbourne | |
| 26 Aug 1915: | Involvement Driver, 7137, 4th Light Horse Brigade Train, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '22' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Anchises embarkation_ship_number: A68 public_note: '' | |
| 5 Jun 1916: | Transferred 4th Light Horse Brigade Train, Temporarily attached to 27th Battalion, 7th Infantry Brigade. In June of that year, this Battalion was in Armentieres. The Battle of the Somme commenced on 8/6/1916 near Pozieres. | |
| 29 Jul 1916: | Transferred Driver, 20th Infantry Battalion, Rejoined unit | |
| 5 Feb 1917: | Transferred AIF WW1, 11th Field Ambulance | |
| 13 Jul 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, 9013, Discharged from Keswick Barracks, Adelaide, SA |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Trevor Pyatt
Biography
Norman Bruce Wellington
Born: 9 April 1888, North Adelaide, South Australia
Died: 31 May 1939, Tusmore, South Australia (aged 51)
Burial: North Road Cemetery, Nailsworth, South Australia
Norman Bruce Wellington was born on 9 April 1888 in North Adelaide, South Australia, the fifth son of Sub-Inspector Stephen Wellington of the South Australian Police Force and his wife Sarah Bray Wellington (née Bray).
Before enlisting, Norman worked as a clerk and was involved in local sporting circles. He had a particular talent for athletics and proudly held the Ballarat Open Club swinging championship for several years.
Military Service
On 3 May 1915, at the age of 27, Norman enlisted at Keswick, South Australia. He was initially assigned as a Driver with the Light Horse Brigade Train (4th Reinforcements) and embarked from Melbourne aboard the HMAT A68 Anchises on 26 August 1915.
During his overseas service he later served as Private 9018 with the 11th Field Ambulance. Norman served in France until the Armistice, demonstrating dedication in the demanding and dangerous work of battlefield medical support.
He returned to Australia aboard the Wandilla on 31 March 1919 and was discharged on 13 July 1919.
Norman is commemorated on several South Australian Rolls of Honour, including the Black Forest North Adelaide Melbourne Street Methodist Church Roll, the Staff of the South Australian Gas Company Roll at Flinders Park, the Lower North Adelaide War Memorial, and the Christ Church Honour Board in North Adelaide — a lasting tribute to his service and sacrifice during the First World War.
Decorations: 1914–15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Marriage & Later Life
After returning home, Norman married Carrie Peake of Medindie. The couple lived in Clare for a time before Norman joined the Postal Department, serving at both Parkside and Kilkenny post offices.
Norman and Carrie raised four daughters — Trixie, Margaret, Norma, and Janet — and made their home in Tusmore. He was an active member of the Tusmore Methodist Church, where he served as:
Knight Commander of the Order of Knights
Tennis club captain
Supporter of youth and church activities
Tragic Death
On 31 May 1939, Norman was critically injured when the motorcycle he was riding collided with a horse-drawn trolley on Port Road at Southwark. Suffering severe head injuries, he was rushed to Adelaide Hospital by ambulance but sadly passed away the same evening.
Newspapers across South Australia reported the tragedy, noting he was the fourth road accident victim admitted with critical head injuries that night.
His sudden passing was deeply felt by his family, church community, and many friends.
Family
He was survived by his wife and four daughters, seven brothers, and two sisters. His parents and several siblings predeceased him.
Memorials & Commemoration
Norman Bruce Wellington is honoured on several South Australian military and civic memorials recognising his service during the First World War. His name appears on:
Black Forest North Adelaide Melbourne Street Methodist Church Roll of Honour
Flinders Park – Staff of the South Australian Gas Company Roll of Honour
Lower North Adelaide War Memorial (WWI)
North Adelaide Christ Church Honour Board
These memorials reflect his connection to both his community and his workplace, and stand as lasting public testimony to his service and sacrifice.
Sources
National Archives of Australia: Service file B2455, WELLINGTON, Norman Bruce
Australian War Memorial Embarkation Roll
West Coast Sentinel, 2 June 1939 – accident report
The Advertiser, 10 June 1939 – obituary
SA BDM records
North Road Cemetery records
Notes
This biography has been compiled from official military records, cemetery records, and historical newspaper articles. Some personal details have been reconstructed from published family notices and historical sources.
News (Adelaide, SA: 1923 - 1954), Wednesday 31 May 1939, page 7
MOTOR CYCLIST BADLY HURT ON PORT ROAD Suffering from a fractured skull and leg, Norman Bruce Wellington. 51. bread carter, of Brandreth street, Tusmore, was admitted to the Adelaide Hospital early today. He was injured when a motor cycle he was riding along Port road, Southwark, came into collision with a horsedrawn trolly driven by Clarence McKenzie. fruiterer, of Light street. Croydon. Wellington, who was thrown to the roadway was taken to the Adelaide Hospital m a South Australian ambulance. His condition is critical. He was the fourth road accident victim to be admitted to the hospital with head injurIes since last night. The other three-Albert Simunsen. 50, of Stamford avenue, Parkside; Ethel Bertram, 41, married, of Clark street, Norwood, and Marjorie Grunert, 40. of Gilbert street. City-were all injured within half an hour. Their condition today was given as satisfactory.
West Coast Sentinel (Streaky Bay, SA: 1912 - 1954), Friday 2 June 1939, page 1
BREADCARTER KILLED.
ADELAIDE, Thursday.
Norman Bruce Wellington, 51, bread carter of Brandeth Street, Tuemore, died at the Adelaide Hospital at G.30 p.m. yesterday. He was admitted early yesterday morning with a fractured skull and abrasions, injuries he received when a motorcycle he was riding, collided with a horsedrawn vehicle on the Port Road, Southwark.
Advertiser (Adelaide, SA: 1931 - 1954), Saturday 10 June 1939, page 14
OBITUARY
Mr. Norman Bruce Wellington, who received fatal injuries in a motor bicycle accident, was the fifth son of the late Sub-Inspector and Mrs. 6. Wellington. He spent his early years In the North Adelaide and Walkerville districts. Keenly interested in athletics, he held for some years the Ballarat open club swinging championships. Enlisting is 1915, he was in France until the Armistice. Marrying Miss Carrie Peake. of Medindie. after some years in the Clare district, he entered the postal service, and was attached to the Parkside and Kilkenny offices. An active worker at the Tusmore Methodist church, he was Knight; Commander of the Order of Knights there and captain of the tennis dob. He is survived by a widow and four daughters (Trixie, Margaret. Norma.: and Janet), seven brothers (Messrs. H.: S., A. L, E. L., W. M., 6. L. L. H., and the Rev. Gordon Wellington), and by; two sisters I Misses M. B. and B. R.; Wellington, of linden Park Gardens).
Biography by Trevor Pyatt, updated 3/11/2025
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