JOHN NORRISH
1893 – 1947
John was born in Ashburton in 1893 to Charles Norrish and Mary Irish, he had five brothers, Charles, William, George, Thomas and Walter, and three sisters Selena, Susan and Celia.
On the 1901 census, John is shown as living with his family at Cator but by the 1911 census he is living at Lydford and working as a “horseman” on a farm. John moved back to Widecombe in 1914/15 and obtained the post of foreman on a farm in the village. Following the introduction of conscription in 1916 John was “called to the colours”. His service was postponed by six months following an appeal by his employer. John joined the Royal Garrison Artillery in September 1916.
In October 1917 John was sent to the Western Front with 217 Battery Royal Garrison Artillery where they remained until October 1918, followed by a time spent in Germany as part of the Army of Occupation, John was finally demobilised in October 1919.
In 1924, John married Hilda French from Poundsgate but no records have been found of any children in the marriage.
John died in 1947 and both he and wife Hilda are buried in Widecombe churchyard.
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