John Meek Norris

John Meek Norris was born in Holbeach, Lincolnshire, on February 1 1889, the first child of John Edward Norris and Sarah Jane Anderson. He joined the Lincolnshire Regiment in January 1910, and when war broke out in 1914 was a member of the regimental band in Bermuda. His first tour of duty in France started in November 1914 with the the 3rd Batallion, and his final spell there began in late 1916 with the 1st Batallion.

During the month of March 1917 the Regiment marched their way through Northern France from Mazingarde, camping at Bethune, Busnes, Westrehem, Valhoun, Nuncq, Halloy, Bienvillers, Adinfer until finally arriving at Boiry-St-Martin on the 28th.

The following extract is taken from the 1st Lincolnshire Regimental War Diary for the 30th/31st March 1917.

Battalion moved off from Boiry-St-Martin by companies between 2.0p.m. and 5.0p.m. halting for tea at Hamlincourt and moving on to take over the front held by the 13th Northumberland Fusiliers at 7.0p.m.
A special scouting party composed of 2nd Lieutenant F.M. Price, Sergeant Farmer and 4 men per company had been assembled for training on arrival at Boiry-St-Martin. The front taken over from the 13th Northumberland Fusiliers ran along the St Leger-Boiry-Becquerelle road and was held by 3 platoon posts with Battn. Headquarters and 2 companies on the railway embankment and one Company at Maison-Rouge. The instructions received were to push forward to a line in advance of the St-Leger-Henin Sur Cojeul road and if possible push on to the Croisille- Henin Sur Cojeul road.

At 11.30p.m. 2nd Lt. F.M. Price assembled his party and proceeded with his reconnaissance of the Croisille-Henin road, starting from the left of the line. 2nd Lt. F.M. Price and Sgt. Farmer proceeded with 12 men instead of 16, orders having failed to reach one group of the covering party. The road was gained without opposition and the party then advanced towards Croisille. 2nd Lt. Price and 6 men moved along the road, Sgt. Farmer and 6 men on the far side of the road. After proceeding about 300 yards a German patrol was heard approaching. Both parties halted to allow it to come on and then rushed it in front and flank. The patrol consisted of 2 men of the 99th Reserve Regiment, one was killed and the other captured and sent back under escort. The patrol then proceeded about 800 yards further towards Croisille. On nearing the saddle where the road crosses the high ground, rifle fire was opened on them from about 50 yards distance. The enemy party appeared to be entrenched and as Lieut. Price's instructions were not to attack the strong point expected about this point unless he succeeded in surprising it, he decided to return. On the return journey another enemy patrol of two men was met and chased, but escaped.

It was about 2.50 before Lieut. Price reported to the commanding officer who was with the left company the result of the reconnaissance and it was decided that it was then too late to start consolidating a more forward position, as digging in the chalk was a slow business, and more especially as it seemed probable that any such decision entailed an organised attack on the reported enemy strong point. Dispositions remained unaltered except that the platoon posts dug during the night were thinned out, and before dawn by withdrawing a portion of the garrison under company commanders to the St. Leger-Boiry Becquerel road where good cover was obtainable with little labour by digging into the bank. The digging of the platoon posts on the other hand was a slow job owing to the chalk soil being within six inches of the surface. The enemy put down a barrage of high explosive shells in the valley behind our new position and along the ridge on our right about 20 mins after Lt. Price's encounter with the strong point.

The day of the 31st passed quietly. There was some sniping at our new positions from the Croisille-Henin Road. The enemy's artillery did not fire on them. It was decided to push forward at night and consolidate on the line of the Croisille-Henin road with the right resting on the saddle. At 8p.m. one platoon was sent forward from each company to clear the Croisille-Henin road. At dusk signs of enemy movement had been noticed on the road and two machine guns and several riflemen had continued sniping at our front line. The night was fine with a clear moon. The left platoon from "C" company gained the road without opposition. The platoon detailed by the right company under 2nd Lieut. S.C. Dawe met with considerable opposition. In spite of the light night Lieut. Dawe succeeded in gaining the road. Once there he silenced the enemy fire for the moment with his Lewis gun and pushed on up the road, handling the platoon with great skill, gained his objectives, and sent back word to this effect. The remaining three platoons of each company were at once sent up to consolidate. This was done without opposition on the left. On the right the enemy sniped for a considerable time, and attempted a bombing attack. During this period the covering party was handled with great skill by Lieut. Dawe. A bombing attack that was meeting with a certain measure of local success was quickly checked by him, and, though personally wounded in the wrist, he remained for 2½ hrs. at this forward post and, by energetic use of his Lewis gun drove off the enemy who had a machine gun with them. Five enemy dead were picked up at this spot.

Our casualties were 2 officers wounded and 14 other ranks.

Lance Corporal John Meek Norris died of his wounds on April 3 1917 and is buried at Warlincourt Halte British Cemetery, Saulty, France.
His medal entitlement was 1914 Star, British War Medal
and the Victory Medal.