Private. 2/5th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment. No: 29806.
Early life:
Norman was born in 1897, the birth registered in Keighley in the first quarter of the year. Parents John and Betty Powell.
In 1901 he was three years old and living at 22, Vale Lane in Haworth with his parents, four sisters and two brothers. His father John was a General dealer on his own account.
By 1911 Norman was thirteen and living at 5, Station Road in Oakworth with his parents, two sisters and three brothers. His father was a dealer in Poultry and old iron. Norman was a labourer making accessories for textile machines.
War service:
Norman enlisted at Halifax towards the end of 1916 with the Yorkshire Regiment, service number 38164.There is no information available about how or when he ended up with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, but it’s likely this happened once he’d arrived in France. Norman was killed in action on September 5, 1917 whilst serving with the 2/5th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment.
War diary for 2/5th Royal Warwickshire Regiment, September 1917:
September 1. BANK FARM.
Battalion holding front line (SOMME – HILL 35 area). Unsuccessful attempt by 1 platoon of B Company to rush HILL 35 at 4.00 am. Unsuccessful attempt by 2 platoons of D Company to rush HILL 35, at 11.00 pm.
September 2. BANK FARM. Battalion relieved in front line by 2/6th Battalion, Warwickshire Regiment. Relief complete at 12 midnight. Battalion moved back into right support at WIELTJE.
September 3 and 4. WIELTJE. Battalion in right support.
September 5. WIELTJE. Battalion & 1 company of 2/8th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment in front system. (SOMME – HILL 35 area). Relief complete at 2.20 am on 6th.
September 6. BANK FARM. Battalion unsuccessfully attacked HILL 35 at 7.30 am. Reorganised & again attacked at 9.00 pm, unsuccessfully. 1, 1/2 companies of 2/8th Royal Warwickshire Regiment & 1 company of 2/6th Royal Warwickshire Regiment came up to hold the line during second attack.
September 7. BANK FARM. Battalion relieved in front line by 2/1st Buckinghamshire Regiment & moved to RED ROSE CAMP, BRANDHOEK. Relief complete at 12.20 am on 8th.
Keighley News October 20th 1917 Page 3:
WORTH VALLEY.
A letter has been received fom the officer commanding the company in which Private Powell, son of Mr J, Powell, Station Road, Haworth, served up to his death some weeks ago. Private Powell, with another comrade, was killed by a shell falling in the trench the men were awaiting the order to attack. Captain Baines, writing to the Rev. J. W. Raper says: “Will you please express for me my deep sympathy with his people, and tell them that I lost a cheerful and good soldier in Powell.”
Post war and Remembrance:
He was posthumously awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal for his war service.
Norman is buried in grave 30 of row B at Wieltje Farm Cemetery.
Locally, he is named on the Oakworth War Memorial.
He is also remembered on the family grave in Oakworth cemetery on Slack Lane. The memorial inscription reads:
“Our loving son Norman, who was killed in action Sep 6th 1917, aged 19 years.”
