Lives of the First World War

Norman Howard Private: PS/5040 "A" Company 20th Battalion Royal Fusiliers Norman Howard was born in Bolton on 2 June 1884. He was the son of Alexander and Annie Howard, who lived at times in St Petersburg/Petrograd, Russia. His father, Alexander Howard, was born in Russia (his own father was a British paper manufacturer) and his profession is given as an 'Engine Draughtsman' on the 1881 Census. Norman's brother, Alec Howard, was born in St Petersburg.. Norman - known as Norrie - lived with his uncle, Oswald Simpson, a commercial traveller in grocery and provisions, at 8 Vernon Street, Bolton. He appears on the 1911 Census, aged 26, as a civil engineer and surveyor. Norrie enlisted with his brother Alec in the 20th (Public Schools) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers and arrived in France on 14th November 1915. He was killed in action on 20th July 1916, probably in the attack on High Wood during the Battle of the Somme. He died on the same day and probably in the same action as Kingsley Brown, who was in the same battalion. Having no known grave he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. High Wood was never fully cleared after the war, and it is estimated that the remains of around 8000 soldiers, British and German, still lie there today.

Created by: , john14663