Norman Stuart was born around 1895 in Shipley the youngest of seven children of successful cloth manufacturer Harry Gilbert Stuart and his wife Elizabeth. Elizabeth died shortly after Norman’s birth and his father remarried Maria. On 12 July 1918 the Shipley Times & Express carried this report: “Military honours were accorded the funeral on Tuesday at Nab Wood Cemetery of Driver Norman Stuart, A.S.C., aged 23, who died of double pneumonia on 5th July at the Crescent War Hospital, Croydon. “Youngest son of Mr and Mrs Harry Gilbert Stuart of Bradford Road, Shipley, the deceased set a good example by enlisting, though not in the best of health, in January 1916 and since then he has been in hospital with sickness on two occasions.

“He was preparing for a draft when he became ill with influenza and pneumonia supervened. “Prior to the funeral a service was held at the Saltaire Wesleyan Church where the Rev W B Mattinson officiated and spoke in high terms of the deceased who was educated at Salt’s School and attended the Saltaire Wesleyan church and Sunday School. “The Army Service Corps at Bradford provided under bearers, gun carriage, Union Jack and a trumpeter who sounded ‘The Last Post.’ West Riding Volunteers formed the firing party. “Two of the three surviving sons of Mr and Mrs Stuart are on active service – L Cpl Clifford Stuart, Black Watch; and Pte Wm Stuart, Durham Light Infantry.”