Norman was born in Shipley on 21 August 1881 the son of Malton- born William and Esther Ann, who had been born in Esholt. According to the 1911 census the couple had eight children, five of whom were

still living when the census was taken. Norman was baptised at Saltaire Wesleyan Chapel on 20 October 1881. In 1891 he was living with his parents and siblings – George, Marian, Sarah and John – at 24 Atkinson Street. Ten years later, now aged 19 and a printer compositor, Norman is at 37 Victoria Road, with his brother-in-law Fred Halse, a foreman printer, who had married Marian. By 1911 Norman and his new wife, Lily, nee Rhodes, are back with his parents living Holbeck. The newly weds moved back to Shipley because Norman appears on the electoral register at 23 Windsor Road in 1914 and 1915. We are indebted to Norman’s great granddaughter, Catherine Parker, for the photographs and following details of his service and insights into the man and his interests:

“Norman served as a Private with the 27th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers (4th Tyneside Irish). He was a Signalman. “He died during the Battle of Arras on 28 April 1917 and he is remembered on the Arras Memorial. Norman is also remembered on the Rolls of Honour at Nab Wood, St. Pauls and Saltaire Wesleyan Chapel. “Before enlisting he worked as a journeyman printer often in Lancashire although his home with Lily was on Baildon Bridge, Shipley. “He wrote poetry (and beautiful letters), was very musical, was a pianist, church organist and singer and also was in a dance/entertainment/gypsy folk troupe with some attachment to the Wesleyan Methodist Church, Shipley. “He was a strict Methodist, as was

his wife, Lily. They were members of the Rechabites, a friendly society and temperance movement. “The family all spoke well of him. He and Lily had two children: Harry Roy (b. 1912) and Margaret, whom he called Peggy (which stuck), born in 1916.”