Norman Fawcett
Charlotte Fawcett
Thomas F Fawcett
F Blenkinsop and N Fawcett
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Norman Fawcett was born at Whiten, Borough of Stockton in 1892, one of 6 children he was the 2nd born son of 4 and had 2 younger sisters as well as an adoptive brother Frank Blenkinsop born 1886. His father Thomas Farrow Fawcett born 1859 at Shipton married Charlotte Knott born 1861 at Guisborough in 1888 at Middlesbrough, Yorkshire. In 1891 they were living at 4, South Street, with their new born son Tom Jnr, Thomas Snr was employed as an iron master’s accountant at Carlton Iron Works. Ten years later living with them was Frank Blenkinsop who they later adopted as their son, at the age of 15 years he too was employed by the iron works as a clerk as were all the male members of the family by 1911, Thomas Snr as a secretary, Tom (21) a clerk, Norman as an analytic chemist.
On the outbreak of war Norman Fawcett enlisted at Hartlepool where he was assigned as Private 741 to the 18th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, a Pals Battalion. Initially as part of “D’ Company Private Fawcett was sent for training at Cocken Hall, lent to the War Office by Lord Durham and equipped in the grounds with billets and a firing range, where they were issued with khaki uniforms and rifles.
November 1914 there was a real threat that the Germans may have made naval raids on the North Sea Coast, some 500 men of the 18th Battalion were sent to Hartlepool to the main defences. It was here that early morning on December 16th 1914 a German battle-cruiser shelled the town. 5 of the Durham Pals were killed and 11 wounded, the first casualties caused by enemy action upon Kitchener’s New Army.
By the end of 1915 the Battalion was fully trained and ready for service overseas, instead of departing for the Western Front they were sent to Egypt to reinforce the defences of the Suez Canal against Turkish attacks as part of the 31st Division. March 1916 they left Egypt for France in preparation for the commencement of the Battles of the Somme.
Private Fawcett attached to his Regiment part of the 93rd Brigade, 31st Division saw action during the opening battle, July 1st, when as part of ‘D’ Company, 150 strong, they attacked the front line German trenches at Serre. Prior to the battle the German artillery bombarded the British front line killing and wounding many from ‘D’ Company before they even climbed out of the trenches, Private Fawcett himself suffered slight shell shock as the bombardments continued until July 5th. At the conclusion having gone into action some 800 strong of the Division 500 men were casualties, including 70 dead, they did not take part in any further major battles. After the Battles of the Somme they were rebuilt with fresh drafts from England and remained on the Western Front for the duration of the war.
Having risen through the ranks the now Sergeant 741 Norman Fawcett was declared as missing as of May 3rd 1917 whilst on active service in the Arras sector, his next of kin were informed. After months of investigation he was struck off and officially declared to have died on or since May 3rd 1917. His sacrifice is recorded as one of 34,765 names inscribed on the Arras Memorial to the Missing, within Faubourg d’Amiens Cemetery, Arras, France, commemorating servicemen from New Zealand, South Africa and Britain who died in the sector 1916-August 7th 1918 and who have no known grave. He was 25 years old and single.
During the same period his parents were also awaiting news of his adoptive brother 2nd Lieutenant Frank Blenkinsop15th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry who was declared missing two days after Norman, May 5th 1917 during the Arras Offensive. He too was later declared to have died and his name is also inscribed on the Arras Memorial to the Missing.
All monies due to Sergeant Fawcett from the Army were assigned to his father Thomas Farrow Fawcett as his sole executor, also his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. The effects of Norman Fawcett of 1, South Street, Carlton Iron Works, near Ferryhill, County Durham in the sum of 308 pounds 16 shillings 5 pence were given to his father Thomas Farrow Fawcett, secretary, September 1st 1917.
Thomas Farrow Fawcett J.P. died in 1923 aged 64 years at Sedgefield, County Durham, his wife Charlotte Fawcett nee Knott of 1 Henry Road, Stockton died at the home of her sister at 32, Henry Street, Redcar, Yorkshire, November 26th 1943 aged 82 years. Probate was granted to her sons Tom and Oswald Fawcett, coal merchants and her daughter Doris Callander in the sum of 5083 pounds 0 shillings 1 pence. The funeral cortege left 57, Richmond Road, Stockton at 2pm, Tuesday November 30th for St. John’s Church Stillington where her interment took place at 2.30 pm.
It should be noted that the plaque within St. John the Divine, Stillington, states that Sergeant Fawcett was buried at Grevelle, France. After his demise he may well have been buried initially on the battlefield, his grave marked with his military details and the location recorded at Grevelle, however, as in many cases during the ensuing battles until Armistice many graves were destroyed, this would account for his entry by the CWGC at Arras amongst the missing.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Norman Fawcett is remembered at Stillington on S137.01 S137.02 and with Frank Blenkinsop on S137.04
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 107 as Lance Corporal -all other records say Sergeant
