Paul Heatherington has submitted the following:-
Norman was born in Low Waskerley in the spring of 1896. His father was Robert Matthew Oswell, a labourer, born in Ponteland. His mother was Elizabeth Mary (née Judge) from Shotley Bridge. Matthew had three older brothers, Sydney, William and Maurice, and seven younger siblings – Enid (died 1901), Mabel (died 1902), Kathleen, Eva, Kenneth, Bessie and Tom.
In 1901, Norman’s father was working as a shipyard labourer. The family were living at Fairless Street in Byker.
By 1902, the family had returned to the Consett area and were living at 10 Cutlers Hall Road. Robert was a builder’s labourer and William, Maurice and Norman were coal miners.
Norman enlisted as a Private in the Northumberland Fusiliers. He died on the 1st October 1916 in France, at the age of twenty years. He is commemorated at Thiepval, Somme.
Norman Oswell is remembered at Shotley Bridge on S27.01 and S27.03
