Brenda McMahon has submitted the following:-
Norman was born at Tursdale in 1895 and was baptised at the Wesleyan Methodist Church, part of the Durham Circuit on July 29th that same year. His parents were Christopher (Kit) and Mary Jane (nee Wrightson) and he was their eldest son. The couple married at Scarborough in 1894.
In 1901 father Kit worked as a coal miner/wagon wayman below ground. The family lived in accommodation at Carnaby’s Building, Cassop cum Quarrington.
Sadly, his father was killed in an accident at Tursdale Colliery on June 13th 1907. He was aged 40. It seems whilst lowering full tubs to the set he slipped and fell in front of them and was killed. He left £78.12.6d to his widow.
By 1911 Norman aged 15 was working as an underground driver. His brothers and sisters Susan, Arnold and Frederick were all still at school. Also living with family was Kit’s mother, Eliza.
Norman enlisted at Stockton and joined the Durham Light Infantry. He embarked for France April 17th 1915. He was killed on September 17th 1916.
The only information surrounding Norman’s death is from the Battalion’s War Diary of 16/17 September:
"At 9.00am on 16/09/19165th DLI supported by coy. of 4th East Yorks was ordered to attack and hold Starfish and Prue trenches. The coys were scattered all over and with great difficulty the attack was launched to time D., B., C. (A coy in reserve).At the beginning direction was rather lost by D coy and only the western end of Starfish and Prue trenches were captured. A good proportion of casualties were suffered from machine gun fire and snipers. For some time no satisfactory information could be obtained of the situation but by 12 noon on the 17th it was decided the enemy still held most of Prue and part of Crescent. A patrol was pushed up Starfish but was bombed back. At 5.30pm a bombing attack was organised by us, supported by bombing parties of 4th and 5th Yorks. The attack was skilfully led by Lieut. E Grenville-Jones and both objectives were taken and held against a strong counter-attack.Disposition of battalions was then B and D coys in Prue, A and C in Starfish, battalion HQ in Martin Trench. "
It is likely that Norman was killed in action during this engagement.
Medals: 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal
Norman's Pension Card says that his dependent's pension for his mother Mary Jane Brown is to be payable in Canada.
Norman Wrightson Brown is remembered at Coxhoe on C103.01, C103.02, C103.04 and C103.08, at Stockton in S138.35 and at Tursdale on T62.02
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 247 as having died on the 16th September as Private N. Brown.
