Private Norman Daniel Beale
Service #: 2391
Summary
BACKGROUND
Norman Daniel Beale was born in St Leonards in 1896, son of Daniel & Augusta (Baker) Beale. Norman’s birth name was registered as Daniel Norman but he used Norman for most records. He was one of 6 children with 2 sisters & 3 brothers, one of who, Herbert, also enlisted. His father came out to Australia with his wife on the steamer Dharwar in l883, and landed at Sydney, where they lived for about 20 years. He went to Piggabeen Creek, on the Tweed River, where he engaged, in farming until 1922, when he moved to Southport. One son & one daughter lived in Piggabeen
1915
Norman had enlisted some time in 1915, no records available, but while in Enoggera he had undergone 2 riding tests, and had failed in both. He wrote a letter dated 22nd March 1915 requesting he be discharged and the Camp Commandant recommended his request be approved.
ATTESTATION
Norman travelled to Brisbane on the 26th April 1916 to complete his application. He answered several questions on the document, and we find out he was a single man and gave his occupation as farmer. His next of kin was his mother, Augusta, of Piggabeen.
Item 11 asks-Do you now belong to, or have you ever served in His Majesty’s Army, the Militia, the Militia Reserve, the Territorial Forces, Royal Navy or Colonial Forces? If so, state which, and is not now serving, state cause of discharge. Norman replied- Yes. 5 months AIF 3/5TH Light horse- failure in riding test
He then signed a declaration confirming he had answered the questions correctly and was willing to voluntarily agree to service in the Military Forces of the Commonwealth of Australia
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CERTIFICATE OF ATTESTING OFFICER
On the second page of the attestation documents the attesting confirms the following; “The foregoing questions were read to the person enlisted in my presence. I have taken care that he understood each question, and his answer to each question has been duly entered as replied to by him”
OATH
He also made the following oath in the presence of the Attesting Officer: “I, Norman Daniel Beale, swear that I will well and truly serve our Sovereign Lord the King in the Australian Imperial Force until the end of the War, and a further four months thereafter unless sooner lawfully discharged, dismissed or removed therefrom: and that I will resist His Majesty’s enemies and case His Majesty’s peace to be kept and maintained; and I will in all matters appertaining to my services faithfully discharge my duty according to law
He then signed a declaration confirming he had answered the questions correctly and was willing to voluntarily agree to service in the Military Forces of the Commonwealth of Australia
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MEDICAL EXAMINATION
Norman was 19 years 5 months old. He stood 5ft 8 inches tall (1.72m) and weighed 138 lbs (62kgs). He had a medium complexion, grey eyes and dark brown hair. His eyesight was good. He had 2 vaccinations marks on is left arm and scars on both shins. Norman was Congregationalist
CERTIFICATE OF MEDICAL EXAMINER
The medical examiner certifies I have examined the abovenamed person, and find that he does not present any of the following conditions, viz: -
Scrofula; phthisis; syphilis; impaired constitution; defective intelligence; defects of vision, voice, or hearing; hernia’ haemorrhoids; varicose veins, beyond a limited extent; marked varicocele with unusually pendent testicle; inveterate cutaneous disease’ chronic ulcers; traces of corporal punishment or evidence of having been marked with the letters D. or B.C; contracted or deformed chest; abnormal curvature of spine; or any other disease or physical defect calculated to unfit him for the duties of a soldier.
He can see the required distance with either eye; his heart and lungs are healthy; he has the free use of his joints and limbs; and he declares he is not subject to fits of any description. I consider him fit for active service
CERTIFICATE OF COMMANDING OFFICER
This is completed during the recruits training. Norman was in Enoggera training camp when this was completed on 26th August 1916. The commanding officer certifies that this attestation of the abovenamed person is correct, and that the required forms have been complied with. He then states “I accordingly approve, and appoint him a private in the 5th reinforcement, 49th Battalion with service number 2391. His brother, Herbert, was also enlisted in the same unit.
TRAINING AT RIFLE RANGE CAMP, ENOGGERA
Norman’s brother, Herbert enlisted a month earlier and he entered he training camp at the same time as Norman. They also both sailed overseas on the same ship. As was the case with men from the Northern Rivers district in New South Wales, they trained at Rifle Range Camp, Enoggera near Brisbane. The Barracks Block was built as accommodation for men in two dormitories, each 36 feet by 22 feet (10.97 x 6.7 metres). Beds or bunks were not provided, instead each man slept on a palliasse with ground sheet on the floor. For many it was their first time away from home. Men from every walk of life, from clerks and teachers to factory and shop workers, were crammed together
Now training for the new recruits began. Firstly, the recruits had to be inducted into military forms of discipline, command, and order. This was partially achieved through a program of basic training carried and, in a sense, was maintained for a long as a man was in the service. It involved marching and drilling with the rifle, cleaning and caring for personal equipment and being supervised and inspected in ways quite different to ordinary civilian life. For example, no boots should be allowed to get in a bad state of wear but must be sent to the bootmaker without delay for repair. Men who were found with hair long and unshaven had to have a haircut and shave
Secondly, after basic training there followed the far more serious exercise of turning a man into a fighting soldier at least partially prepared for the kind of warfare he was about to experience overseas. The topics and exercises in the syllabus of training were a world away from their former lives and included daily physical training, entrenching, wiring, firing rifle grenades, firing the Lewis light machine gun, dealing with gas attack, using hand grenades, using the bayonet, and the routines to be followed in the trenches.
This training was then put into practice during what were called ‘Field Days,’ when men would practice using the skills they had acquired in mock attacks both by day and by night. How well men had learnt to use their weapons, in cooperation with each other in training, would be tested in the harsh reality of the front line. Training could take several months
INNOCULATIONS
All recruits were given a range of inoculations while in camp. The most important jab was to protect against smallpox and typhoid – indeed, having this was an essential precondition of enlisting.
THE UNIFORM
The recruits were issued with their uniform- service dress jacket was made of Australian wool and its loose fit gave the wearer more allowance for movement. The four large pockets were very useful. A unique feature designed for comfort was the pleated back, which provided a double thickness of cloth down the back that the pack rubbed against. Breeches were corduroy worn with wool wrap puttees. The famous khaki felt slouch hat or early service cap is probably the most distinctive part of the uniform. turned up on the left and featuring a plain khaki band, chinstrap and “rising sun” badge.
SOLDIER’S KIT
Australia's World War I soldiers went to war weighed down by almost 30 kilograms of clothes, weapons, tools and kit.
· Breeches: made from khaki woollen cord fabric, with side pockets and button flies. Soldiers were issued with two pairs of breeches, plus a pair of dungarees. The breeches ended above the ankles and the gap was filled with puttees.
· Braces: worn with breeches.
· Puttees: The men wound these strips of woollen cloth, almost three metres long, upwards from the ankle to just below the knee. Soldiers disliked the puttees, probably with good reason: the tight binding restricted circulation and might even have contributed to the high incidence of trench foot. Mounted troops wore leather leggings.
· Shirt: Soldiers were given two grey, collarless, flannel shirt, plus a military shirt.
· Ankle boots: brown and lace-up.
· Socks: Made from wool or cotton. Soldiers were issued with three pairs.
· Greatcoat: the khaki woollen coat (which weighed about 3kg) often doubled as a soldier's bedding and was his chief protection against the cold and wet. The coat came into its own when snow hit Gallipoli in November 1915 and also on the Western Front.
· Jersey
· Singlets: Soldiers were issued with 2 woollen singlets.
· Cotton "drawers" (underpants): Soldiers were issued with two pairs.
· Abdominal belts: a sort of cummerbund that was issued to keep soldiers warm and supposedly ward off disease.
· Backpacks and webbing: The main backpack was a rectangular sack measuring about 15 inches x 13 inches, closed at the top by a folding cover secured by two straps. The webbing included a web belt, cartridge pouches, small haversack, bayonet frog, an entrenching tool holder (plus another holder for its handle), and a water-bottle holder.
· Identity disc: Soldiers were initially issued with one medal "dog tag" on a cord, but later in the war they were given two tags, made of compressed fibre.
· Soldiers were also issued with a "housewife" - a sewing kit containing such items as needles, thimble, thread, wool and button so they could carry out running repairs.
· Also in their kit were a short-magazine Lee-Enfield (SMLE) rifle, a rifle sling, a bayonet and scabbard, and an "entrenching tool" (they were "diggers" after all). This came in two parts, with the helve (handle) separate from the spade part.
· Soldiers were issued with eating equipment (knife, fork, spoon, an enamel mug, water bottle (with two-point capacity), and a mess tin with carrier.
· They also had a clasp knife (with marlin spike, tin-opener and lanyard), razor, shaving kit, soap, comb, two towels, field dressing (carried in the tunic's inside pocket), and a hold-all, in which they could pack their private possessions.
· No item was probably looked after more carefully than their service pay book: privates were paid five shillings a day.
VOYAGE OVERSEAS BRISBANE TO ENGLAND SEPTEMBER 1916
His unit embarked from Brisbane, Queensland, on board HMAT A49 Seang Choon on 19 September 1916. Alongside his comrades, Norman, and his brother, Herbert, marched aboard, their boots ringing on the gangway. As the ship’s lines were cast off and the quay began to slip away, the reality of war lay ahead, but for now, the sea breeze carried only the sound of voices and the excitement of men bound for adventure, duty, and the unknown.
SLEEPING & LIVING ARRANGEMENTS
Recruits likely slept in a crowded troop deck below, where rows of hammocks or three-tier wooden bunks were crammed close together.
Air below decks could be stuffy, especially in warmer climates, and seasickness was common during the first few days.
DAILY ROUTINE
Reveille early each morning, followed by physical exercises on the open decks (weather permitting). There were parades and inspections—officers ensured uniforms, rifles, and kit were clean and in order. Training was a little problematic—drill without much space, rifle maintenance, lectures on military discipline, signalling, and trench warfare theory. The ship’s decks were used for marching in tight circles or practising bayonet thrusts into stuffed sacks. Rifle shooting was impossible at sea, so soldiers learned to strip and clean their weapons until it was second nature.
MEALS
Three hearty meals a day were served; breakfast usually consisted of porridge, stew, and tea. Lunch included soup, meat, vegetables, and pudding. Meat, bread with jam and tea was served for dinner. The meals were served in shifts from the ship’s galley. Queues were long, and eating on a rolling ship meant many tried to eat quickly before nausea set in.
HEALTH & SANITATION
Shipboard hygiene was critical—every man was ordered to scrub his section daily to prevent disease. Saltwater baths were the norm, with freshwater rationed for drinking.
THE VOYAGE EXPERIENCE
Entertainment included church drill, concerts, singalongs, card games, and makeshift cricket matches on deck when the weather allowed. In an attempt to keep up morale, an area of the ship was roped off where regular boxing and wrestling tournaments were held. This became commonly known as the Stoush Stadium. No letters could be sent until they reached port, but men often wrote diaries or unsent letters to be posted later.
The troops engaged in lifebelt drill; a cookhouse on deck; soldiers on fatigues peeling potatoes 'spud bashing'; going to the dentist; barber, pay day; soldiers cleaning personal equipment; medical inspection
CROSSING THE EQUATOR CEREMONY
The crossing the Equator ceremony, ‘Neptune’s Journey,’ was played-out on each troopship.
SIGHTS AT SEA
On the way to Egypt, where the ship would refuel & take on supplies, the ship would pass through the Great Australian Bight, cross the Indian Ocean, and stop at Colombo (Ceylon now Sri Lanka) for coal and supplies.
SECURITY
By late 1914, German raiders were active, so lifeboat drills were frequent, and lookouts kept watch for suspicious ships. Troopships generally sailed in convoys or at least took zig-zag courses to make torpedo attacks harder. Ships often travelled under blackout conditions at night, with lookouts specifically watching for periscopes or torpedo wakes. The danger was greatest in the Western Approaches near Britain, where U-boats patrolled choke points like the English Channel and Irish Sea.
EGYPT
After several weeks at sea, the men finally saw the dusty shoreline of Port Said or Alexandria. They could only wonder at the sights and sounds they could see as they watched the ship being refuelled and goods taken on board
ENGLAND
About a fortnight later the men finally saw the green shoreline of England. The reality of leaving home truly sank in. The recruits would soon exchange the ship’s cramped decks for the training grounds of England, preparing for what lay ahead.
LONG JOURNEY
However, this ship took 81 days to reach England. The length of this specific voyage can be attributed to several factors:
SHIP SPECIFICATIONS & CAPABILITIES
Low Service Speed: Built originally in 1891, the Seang Choon was an older commercial passenger-cargo ship. It possessed a very modest cruising speed of only 12 knots (roughly 22 km/h).
FREQUENT COAL REFUELLING STOPS
Because of its age and smaller capacity compared to massive ocean liners, it had to make multiple intermediate stops across the hemisphere to restock its coal bunkers.
GEOPOLITICAL AND MARITIME FACTORS- THE LONG SEA ROUTE
By late 1916, the Mediterranean was increasingly dangerous due to intense German U-boat activity. To safeguard troops, many transports coming from Australia were routed south around the Cape of Good Hope (Africa) and up through the Atlantic, greatly extending the physical distance.
ZIG-ZAG MANOEUVRING
As a defensive tactic against submarine torpedoes, troopships did not travel in a straight line. They continuously altered course in predefined zig-zag patterns, which added significant mileage and days to the overall journey.
CODFORD TRAINING CAMP DECEMBER 1916
Thus, the ship finally reached Plymouth, England on 9 December 1916. When the recruits arrived in England, they boarded the troop train for one of the training camps on the Salisbury Plains. Norman and Herbert and their comrades were heading for Codford.
During an interim period, soldiers typically:
· Recovered from the voyage: After long sea travel from Australia, troops needed time to rest and regain strength.
· Underwent medical inspections: To check for illnesses, infections, or conditions like venereal disease that might delay their training.
· Received equipment and uniforms: This included British-issued gear better suited to the Western Front.
· Were assigned to training battalions: Administrative processing sorted soldiers into reinforcement drafts for specific front-line battalions.
· Drilled lightly: They performed light drills, parades, and familiarisation routines while waiting for formal training slots to open.
When the recruits entered the camp, they joined one of the Australian training establishments on the Salisbury Plain in southern England. By this stage of the war, the Australian Imperial Force had developed a highly organised training system designed to ensure that every reinforcement arriving in France possessed the skills needed to survive on the Western Front.
The time they spent at the camp were among the most important of their military career. Rather than being sent directly to the front, they underwent intensive preparation under instructors who were often veterans recently returned from France. These men had firsthand knowledge of trench warfare and passed on lessons learned through hard experience.
Life in the camp followed a demanding routine. Reveille sounded early each morning, followed by physical training designed to build strength and endurance. After breakfast, the men spent long hours on the training grounds learning and practising the skills they would soon need in battle. Rifle shooting remained a fundamental part of instruction, and the men would have spent considerable time on the ranges improving his marksmanship and learning to care for his weapon under all conditions.
Much of the training focused on trench warfare. Practice trench systems had been constructed across Salisbury Plain, allowing recruits to experience conditions similar to those they would encounter in France. They learned how to move through communication trenches, occupy front-line positions, stand sentry duty and maintain defensive works. They practised digging trenches, constructing parapets and revetments, and laying barbed wire obstacles.
Bombing instruction was another important part of the syllabus. Recruits learned how to throw and handle grenades safely, a skill that had become essential on the Western Front. They were also taught how to react during enemy bombardments, how to seek cover and how to move forward under artillery fire.
Field exercises frequently involved entire companies and battalions. During these manoeuvres, the recruits practised attacks on mock enemy positions, advancing behind simulated artillery barrages and coordinating movements with neighbouring units. Such exercises often lasted for many hours and could continue regardless of rain, cold or mud. The instructors were determined that recruits experience something of the hardships they would face in France.
Route marches formed a regular feature of camp life. Carrying rifles, ammunition, packs and equipment, the men marched many miles across the rolling countryside of Salisbury Plain. These marches built stamina and accustomed soldiers to carrying heavy loads over long distances. By the end of his training, the men would have been capable of marching for hours while carrying the equipment required in active service.
If applicable
winter made conditions increasingly difficult. The cold months of November and December, the winds sweeping across Salisbury Plain became bitter, and training often continued in rain, frost and mud. For Australian soldiers accustomed to warmer climates, the English winter could be an uncomfortable introduction to European conditions. Nevertheless, the harsh weather provided valuable preparation for service on the Western Front.
Beyond the formal training, the also gave the recruits the opportunity to form friendships with fellow Australians who shared anticipation and uncertainty about their future. In the evenings, men wrote letters home, attended educational lectures or spent what little leisure time was available discussing rumours from the front and wondering what lay ahead.
After many months of continuous preparation in England, the men were judged ready for active service. The recruits had been transformed from a newly arrived reinforcement into a fully trained infantryman, accustomed to discipline, hardship, and the mechanics of modern war. When the battalion finally crossed to France, it did so as a cohesive and well-drilled unit, prepared—so far as training could allow—for the brutal realities of the Western Front.
FRANCE APRIL 1917
The recruits left Codford on the 9th April 1917 as well prepared as they could be. After crossing the English Channel, the reinforcements landed at the great base port of Étaples on the 13th April 1917. From there they were not sent directly to their battalion. Instead, they entered the Australian Base Depots, where records were checked, equipment inspected and final preparations made before they moved forward. At the base depot they were
· Accommodated temporarily in tent lines or huts.
· Underwent further medical checks and physical conditioning.
· Received final kit issue or replacements, like steel helmets or trench gear.
· Participated in more training, especially focused on trench warfare, gas drills, musketry, and battlefield discipline.
· Waited for transport orders to go “up the line” to join their assigned battalion.
The base depot system was designed to ensure new arrivals were combat-ready after the journey and to regulate the flow of reinforcements to the front, only sending them when the unit was ready to receive them or when replacements were needed. The journey to the battalion was often made in stages. Reinforcements travelled by train, lorry and sometimes on foot through the rear areas, gradually moving closer to the sound of the guns. Along the way they would encounter the immense logistical system that supported the armies in France—supply depots, ammunition dumps, field hospitals and transport columns stretching across the countryside.
TAKEN ON STRENGTH APRIL 1917
Norman & Herbert were taken on strength with the 49th Battalion on 21st April 1917. This means a soldier was officially assigned to and accounted for in a specific military unit's nominal roll. It meant they were integrated into the unit for daily operations, including food, discipline, equipment, and frontline duties.
Norman & Herbert joined the 49th Battalion during a period of intense activity on the Western Front. The battalion had recently been involved in operations around the Somme and was now preparing for the major offensive planned in the Ypres sector of Belgium. During the weeks following his arrival, Norman & Herbert underwent the final stage of acclimatisation to front-line service. They would have participated in trench rotations, working parties, route marches and training exercises while becoming familiar with the conditions of trench warfare. Much of the battalion's time was spent repairing trenches and dugouts, strengthening barbed-wire defences, carrying ammunition and supplies forward, and conducting patrols into No Man's Land. Although major attacks had not yet commenced, enemy shelling and sniping were constant dangers and casualties occurred regularly.
WOUNDED IN ACTION JUNE 1917
On 7 June 1917 Norman was wounded in action during the opening day of the Battle of Messines. The battle began with the detonation of enormous mines beneath German positions along Messines Ridge in Belgium, creating one of the largest man-made explosions in history. Herbert was also wounded ono the same day
The battle for Messines was initiated by the detonation of five-hundred tonnes of high explosives placed in 19 tunnels dug by the British, including Australian, tunnellers under the German fortifications along the Messines Ridge.
The resultant explosion, the largest ever in the world to that date, was clearly felt and heard in London. The Battle for Messines was the first time the new reinforcements were subjected to Phosgene Gas. This gas had previously been delivered by hand grenade and being subject to wind and how far it could be thrown was not all that popular with the enemy. Later the Germans perfected artillery and mortar shells which delivered the gas into the back of the enemy lines.
This gas had previously been delivered by hand grenade and being subject to wind and how far it could be thrown was not all that popular with the enemy. Later the Germans perfected artillery and mortar shells which delivered the gas into the back of the enemy lines
The primary objective of this battle was to secure the strategically important Wytschaete Messines Ridge, the high ground south of Ypres which in turn would benefit the allies to launch a larger campaign east of Ypres. The Australian involvement came under Lieutenant General Sir. Alexander Godley’s II Anzac Corps, which included the 3rd Australian Division. This Battle was launched on 7 Jun 1917 and exemplified tactical success through careful planning and firepower. The Battle of Messines was a meticulously planned operation aimed at capturing the Messines Ridge in Belgium.
On the June 17, 1917, the Australians were withdrawn from the Battle of the Somme to the battle for Messines which was initiated by the detonation of five-hundred tonnes of high explosives placed in 19 tunnels dug by the British, including Australian, tunnellers under the German fortifications along the Messines Ridge.
The 49th Battalion participated in the attack and subsequent consolidation of captured ground. During these operations Norman was wounded in action with shell shock.
MEDICAL CHAIN
Unlike Herbert, however, Norman had no obvious gunshot or shrapnel wound. During the intense artillery bombardment that preceded and accompanied the attack, he was almost certainly exposed to repeated high explosive shell bursts. Men suffering from what was then called shell shock frequently had no visible injury. They might appear dazed, confused, unable to speak, shaking uncontrollably, deaf without physical damage to the ears, or simply unable to carry on. Many collapsed hours after the actual bombardment, which explains why Norman was not formally diagnosed until 11 June.
By 11 June 1917, Norman had reached a Casualty Clearing Station (CCS) where medical officers diagnosed him with shell shock. The diagnosis was entirely clinical, as there were no laboratory tests. Doctors observed symptoms such as tremors, exhaustion, confusion, poor memory, emotional distress, disturbed sleep, headaches and an inability to function as a soldier. They also ruled out obvious physical injuries. Treatment at this stage was based on rest, warmth, nourishing food, reassurance and removal from the noise and danger of the front line. Sedatives were sometimes given to help patients sleep, while those unable to walk or suffering severe tremors were kept under close observation.
Three days later, on 14 June, Norman was transferred to No. 4 Stationary Hospital at Arques, near Saint-Omer. Stationary hospitals occupied the middle ground between the Casualty Clearing Stations and the large General Hospitals farther behind the lines. Here doctors continued to monitor his condition in quieter surroundings, hoping that several weeks away from combat would allow his nervous system to recover. Instead of surgery, his treatment consisted of prolonged bed rest, good nutrition, fresh air, gentle exercise when able, and careful medical supervision.
On 1 July 1917, Norman was transferred to the 58th General Hospital at Saint-Omer, where his diagnosis changed from shell shock to neurasthenia. During the First World War the two terms often overlapped. Shell shock described the immediate effects of exposure to battle, while neurasthenia referred to what doctors believed was an exhaustion of the nervous system after prolonged strain. Medical officers recognised the condition through continuing symptoms such as persistent fatigue, headaches, poor concentration, anxiety, insomnia, irritability and an inability to cope with military duties. There was no specific cure. The accepted treatment was lengthy rest, regular meals, exercise as strength returned, occupational therapy, encouragement from medical staff and complete removal from the stress of the battlefield. As Norman showed little improvement over the following weeks, doctors concluded that he required treatment in England, where specialist neurological hospitals were better equipped to care for these cases.
On 17 July 1917, Norman crossed the English Channel aboard a hospital ship and the following day was admitted to Fort Pitt Military Hospital at Chatham, one of Britain's principal military hospitals for neurological and psychiatric casualties. Here his diagnosis again appeared as shell shock. Treatment remained centred on rest, routine and gradual rehabilitation. Patients were encouraged to regain confidence through light work, exercise, organised recreation and counselling from medical officers. Electrical treatments, hypnosis and psychotherapy were occasionally used elsewhere, but by mid-1917 British military doctors increasingly favoured sympathetic care combined with structured rehabilitation rather than punitive measures.
By 1 September 1917, Norman's condition had improved sufficiently for transfer to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford, a convalescent hospital reserved for Australian troops. The atmosphere was considerably less clinical than a military hospital. Here he continued his recovery with gentle physical training, occupational activities, recreation and preparation for either a return to duty or eventual repatriation.
On 16 September 1917, Norman was discharged from hospital and taken on strength at the Australian depot at Weymouth. Although medically improved, he was not considered fit enough to return to France. Like many Australians recovering from shell shock, he remained in England performing light duties while medical authorities continued to assess his progress.
On 23 September, he was transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford for further medical inspection and review. These repeated transfers between depots and hospitals were common for soldiers with nervous disorders, as doctors carefully monitored whether they could withstand military life again before making a final decision.
GOING HOME JANUARY 1918
On the 3rd January 1918 Norman embarked for Australia on the HMAT Anchises A68. Like many wounded and medically unfit soldiers, he travelled home aboard a troop transport carrying men whose war service had ended because of wounds or illness. The voyage offered time to recover, reflect upon his experiences and look forward to civilian life after many months of military service.
DISCHARGED FEBRUARY 1918
After arriving home, Norman was formally discharged from the AIF on 8 February 1918 as medically unfit for further military service. Although he bore no obvious physical wounds like his brother Herbert, the relentless bombardment at Messines had left lasting invisible injuries. Today his condition would most likely be recognised as a severe combat stress reaction or post-traumatic stress disorder, but in 1917 doctors could only describe it as shell shock and neurasthenia. His experience serves as a reminder that the psychological effects of war could be just as disabling as any bullet or shell fragment.
For his service Norman was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal
DEATH AND BURIAL
Norman died on the 3rd May 1962 (aged 64–65) in Queensland and is buried Southport Lawn Cemetery
If you have any additional information about this individual, we invite you to email us at rsl@msmc.org.au.
Memorial Location
We do not know the memorial location of this individual
Buried Location
Southport Lawn Cemetery
