Photo: Dorothy Hall
1923 Private
N. Okey
Suffolk Regiment
2nd December 1918
Peter Wise and Brenda McMahon have submitted the following:-
Norris was the son of Jeremiah Sharp Okey and Elizabeth (nee Jackson). He was born at Barnard Castle in 1892. His parents had several children together including Frank, John, Samuel, Beatrice, Marion, Gladys, Lillie and Florence (who died in 1914).
1891 census shows the parents with John, Lillie, Samuel and Florence. Father Jeremiah was a carpenter by trade. Norris was born the following year.
By 1901 more children had arrived including Norris, Beatrice, Marion and Gladys. Jeremiah had changed his job to joiner/journeyman whilst Norris as a draper’s assistant, Lillie had work as a milliner’s apprentice, John and Samuel were apprentice grocers.
Elizabeth Okey died in 1903.
1911 shows a change in the family as some had married and moved on. However the remaining siblings worked as Frank a law clerk, Norris a draper assistant, Beatrice looked after the home whilst the younger children were at school.
Norris attested at Saxmundham, Suffolk on November 12th 1914 where he is noted at being 5’6” tall with good vision but physical development was only fair. He never served overseas.
He was admitted to Boston Isolation hospital 10th September 1915 as a suspect with a rash but no temperature. He remained there for a fortnight. He was sent to Holden House Red Cross hospital about 29th “with cardiac pain, palpitations, endocarditus. The heart had hypertrophied (enlarged). There is a murmur at the apex presystolic and accumulation of aortic second sound. The debility is not attributable to military service but has been aggravated by ordinary military service. Permanent.”
His disability (ie eye sight and physical condition) was considered to be 40%.
He was issued with a Silver War Badge on November 8th 1916.
He served for 1 year 95 days before being discharged “as being no longer fit for military service“. He was discharged at Skegness on February 15th 1916 aged only 23 years. His character at that time was recorded as being exemplary.
It appears he queried his pension amount allocated to him which was increased. As from 4th April 1917 until 9th July 1917 he was awarded 8/3d then again from 10th July 1917 to 11 shillings.
He later died on December 2nd 1918.
His brother John also died in 1918.
Norris Okey is remembered at Barnard Castle on B135.02, B135.23 and B135.25
