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7th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment
7th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment was raised at Norwich in August 1914 as part of Kitchener's First New Army and joined 35th Brigade, 12th (Eastern) Division. 35th Brigade and Divisional artillery concentrated near Shorncliffe, in late August. Final training was undertaken near Aldershot from the 20th of February 1915, with the cavalry, motor machine gun battery, sanitary and veterinary sections joining. They proceeded to France on the 31st of May landing at Boulogne, the Division concentrated near St Omer and by 6th of June were in the Meteren-Steenwerck area with Divisional HQ being established at Nieppe. They underwent instruction from the more experienced 48th (South Midland) Division and took over a section of the front line at Ploegsteert Wood on the 23rd of June 1915. They were in action in The Battle of Loos from the 30th of September, taking over the sector from Gun Trench to Hulluch Quarries consolidating the position, under heavy artillery fire. On the 8th they repelled a heavy German infantry attack and on the 13th took part in the Action of the Hohenzollern Redoubt, capturing Gun Trench and the south western face of the Hulluch Quarries. During this period at Loos, 117 officers and 3237 men of the Division were killed or wounded.By the 21st they moved to Fouquieres-les-Bethune for a short rest then returned to the front line at the Hohenzollern Redoubt until the 15th of November, when they went into reserve at Lillers. On the 9th of December, 9th Royal Fusiliers assisted in a round-up of spies and other suspicious characters in the streets of Bethune. On the 10th the Division took over the front line north of La Bassee canal at Givenchy. On the 19th of January they began a period of training in Open Warfare at Busnes, then moved back into into the front line at Loos on the 12th of February 1916. In June they moved to Flesselles and carried out a training exercise. They moved to Baizieux on the 30th June and went into the reserve at Hencourt and Millencourt by mid morning on the 1st of July. They relieved the 8th Division at Ovillers-la-Boisselle that night and attacked at 3.15 the following morning with mixed success. On the 7th they attacked again and despite suffering heavy casualties in the area of Mash Valley, they succeeded in capturing and holding the first and second lines close to Ovillers. They were withdrawn to Contay on the 9th July. They were in action in The Battle of Pozieres on the 3rd of August with a successful attack capturing 4th Avenue Trench and were engaged in heavy fighting until they were withdrawn on the 9th. They moved north and in 1917 were in action at Arras in The First Battle of the Scarpe, The Battle of Arleux and The Third Battle of the Scarpe. They remained in the Arras sector until the 30th of October when they moved to Hesdin for the Cambrai offensive in which the Division suffered heavy losses. In March 1918 they moved by motor lorry from Busnes to Albert and were in action in The Battle of Bapaume and spent the spring engaged in heavy fighting a the enemy advanced across the old Somme battlefields. On the 1st of July 1918, they attacked Bouzincourt. but were repelled by the enemy. They were relieved on the 10th and moved to the area south of Amiens. They were in action in The Battle of Amiens and were engaged in heavy fighting from the 22nd pushing the enemy back and capturing Meaulte, Mametz, Carnoy, Hardecourt and Faviere Wood with in a week. In September they were in action in a successful attack on Nurlu and pursued the enemy back to Sorel Wood. They were in action during The battles of the Hindenburg Line, including The Battle of Epehy and The Battle of the St Quentin canal. In October they fought in The Final Advance in Artois reaching the Scheldt Canal by the 27th. They were withdrawn for rest on the 30th and after the Armistice moved to the area east of Douai and were engaged in battlefield salvage and sports until demobilisation began.
6th Dec 1914 Football Players in the Forces
16th Jun 1915 All Quiet
19th Jun 1915 Reliefs
19th Jun 1915 Reliefs
27th September 1915 Orders
31st October 1917 Arrivals and Departures for October 1917.
1st Jan 1918 Training
2nd Jan 1918 Training
3rd Jan 1918 Training
4th Jan 1918 Training
5th Jan 1918 Moves 
6th Jan 1918 Moves
7th Jan 1918 Training
21st Mar 1918 Reliefs
22nd Aug 1918 Attack Made
25th Sep 1918 Medals Awarded
If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.
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| Want to know more about 7th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment? There are:5246 items tagged 7th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.
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Those known to have served with7th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment during the Great War 1914-1918. - Bache Thomas. Pte. (d.30th Nov 1917)
- Bowes Matthew Elijah. Pte. (d.23rd February 1918)
- Brown Matthew. Cpl. (d.28th April 1917)
- Clark William George. Pte.
- Cory Ernest Albert. Pte. (d.11th Aug 1916)
- Crick George Gregory. Pte. (d.9th April 1917)
- Earl Arthur Edward. Pte.
- Edwards Jabez. Pte. (d.18th Sep 1918)
- Farmer Arthur. Pte. (d.28th Apr 1917)
- Goreham Arthur. Pte. (d.28th April 1917)
- Hare Bertie Edward. (d.14th Oct 1915)
- Lockwood Louis John. L/Cpl. (d.13th October 1915)
- Machin John. (d.19th Sep 1915)
- Manners Henry Fairholm. 2nd Lt. (d.28th Apr 1917)
- Martin Leonard Eve. A/Cpl. (d.13th Oct 1915)
- Martins S Alfred. Pte (d.12th August 1916)
- Matheson MC. James Frederick. Capt.
- Mayer Samuel. Pte.
- Morrison Thomas David. Cpl. (d.22nd August 1918 )
- Norfolk William Arthur. A/Cpl.
- Parnell Charles Sidney. Pte (d.12th October 1916)
- Quinsee Ernest Charles. Pte. (d.19th July 1917)
- Rix George. Pte. (d.3rd Jul 1916)
- Scott John Robert. Pte. (d.17th Oct 1917)
- Tooley Clifford William. Pte. (d.30th Nov 1917)
All names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed,
please Add a Name to this List
Records of 7th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment from other sources.
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Capt. James Frederick Matheson MC. Royal Army Medical Corps James Matheson served with the RAMC attached to 7th Norfolk Regiment.
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Pte. Clifford William Tooley 7th Btn, Norfolk Regiment (d.30th Nov 1917) Clifford Tooley served with 7th Norfolk Regiment
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Pte. George Rix 7th Btn. Norfolk Regiment (d.3rd Jul 1916) George Rix lost his life on the 3rd of July 1916, age 30.
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Pte. Ernest Albert Cory 7th Btn. Norfolk Regiment (d.11th Aug 1916) Ernest Albert Cory was born on 12th of November 1895 at Aylsham. He was the son of Robert Hardiment Cory and Anna Elizabeth nee Woods and was the first son in a family of twelve children born between 1892-1912.
Before enlisting he lived at 1, Foundry Bridge Buildings in Prince of Wales Road, Norwich.
His father was employed as a porter, unloading ships at the nearby river.
He joined the 7th Battalion which was formed at Norwich in August 1914 as part of Kitchener's First New Army, the 35th Brigade, 12th Division. Training began later that month at Shorncliffe and was finalised in February 1915 at Aldershot.
The Battalion landed in France at Boulogne on 31st May and on 23rd of June 1915 took over a section of the front line at Ploegsteert Wood. They were in action at the Battle of Loos,and in the action of the Hohernzollern Redoubt capturing Gun Trench and the south western face of Hulloch Quarries. During this period at Loos, 117 officers and 3,237 men of the Division were killed or wounded.
The Battalion continued to be employed with various attacks and sorties until on the 3rd August they went into action at the Battle of Pozieres with a successful attack capturing 4th Avenue Trench. They were engaged in heavy fighting here until they were withdrawn on the 9th. Ernest Albert Cory's death is recorded as occurring on 11th of August 1916, presumably not from wounds as he has no known grave. His name is recorded on the Thiepval Memorial.
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L/Cpl. Louis John Lockwood 7th Battalion Norfolk Regiment (d.13th October 1915) John Lockwood would be my mother's uncle.
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A/Cpl. William Arthur Norfolk 7th Btn. Norfolk Regiment William Norfolk attested at Richmond on the 6th of June 1916 under the Derby Scheme. His initial attachment was to the 6th Norfolk Regiment, he then transferred to the 7th Battalion.
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Pte. Ernest Charles Quinsee 7th Btn. Norfolk Regiment (d.19th July 1917) I only found out about my Uncle, Ernest Quinsee, whilst researching my family recently and found he had died on the 19th of July 1917 and had been buried in Monchy British Cemetery in France, near to another member of the regiment Pte B Harvey 15690 who had died on the 16th.
Amongst some family documents I came across, was a bundle of beautifully written letters he had sent to his sister from the front line in France. One letter, the only uncensored one, told of a remarkable story, about when his unit had gone over the top at first light and he had become trapped in no-man's land, spending the whole day crawling back from shell hole to shell hole holding an ammo box behind his head which was repeatedly struck by German sniper fire. He was killed only a few days later. I wish I had known this brave man.
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Cpl. Thomas David Morrison 7th Battalion Norfolk Regiment (d.22nd August 1918 ) Thomas Morrison of 7th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment went missing in action on the 22nd of August 1918.
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Pte. Arthur Goreham 7th Btn. Norfolk Regiment (d.28th April 1917) Arthur Goreham was killed during the Monchy Wood attacks. He was an ex-employee of Colmans Mustard. Arthur is one of 66 on the Memorial Wall at Arras.
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John Machin 7th Btn. Norfolk Regiment (d.19th Sep 1915) My great uncle Jack Machin was with the 7th Btn. Norfolk Regiment. His hat badge was sent home when he died. He was shot through the head and the badge has the damage caused by the bullet. My aunty still has the badge in the family and I have photos of it. My grandma is a Machin. She married a Fillingham.
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Pte. Arthur Farmer 7th Btn. Norfolk Regiment (d.28th Apr 1917) Arthur Farmer was born in 1885 near Ludlow. He moved with the family to Wednesfield about 1900 and worked on a farm. He married in 1908 and moved to Brewood working as a wagoner on a farm. He had a young son and daughter when he went off to the Somme in summer 1916. He fought at Arras in April 1917. He died from his injuries at Etaples Military Hospital and is buried at Etaples Military Cemetery.
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Pte. William George Clark 1/8th Btn. Worcestershire Regiment William George Clark was born on 5th January 1889 in Reading, Berkshire. In the 1911 Census, he was living with his parents, brothers and sisters in Willesden, London NW. His date of attestation is 13th February 1916 at just one month before his 27th birthday. His first regimental number was 24144 with the 7th Norfolk Regiment and then he was transferred to the Worcestershire Regiment, 1/8 Battalion and his regimental number was changed to 260029.
The book that I have is a record of his pay dating from 16th June 1917. The first pays are 5 or 10 shillings per week and the place given is “in the field†and then on 5th December 1917 they change to lire in varying amounts, still “in the fieldâ€. This continues until the last two payments in the book, which are 15 francs on 24th September 1918 and 10 francs on 14th October 1918 when the book is full. Pencilled in the back of the book is Date of Embarkation June 15, 1917 and “Leave – Nov 3, 1918. From the UK, WW1 War Diaries (France, Belgium and Germany), 1914-1920, the typed note at the top of the front page is: 25th Division, 75th INFY BDE, the centre of the page shows 1/8th BN Worcestershire Regt, Sep 1918 – Feb 1919. Also, there is a pencilled notation on the front page (from 48 Div. 144 Bde, Italy) and (1915 Apr – 1717 Oct France, same Div and Bde). There are very detailed day-to-day descriptions of the activities including “improving trenches, programme of training, tactical exercises as well as Battalion movements, tactical plans, operation orders in detail, secret orders and reports of the operations, including lists of dead, wounded, prisoners.
After the war, he continued to live with his parents in Willesden and worked with his father as a master plumber until he married Elsie Millicent Breed on 30th April 1922, when they lived in Paddington. Soon after the birth of their daughter, Will went to stay at the Douglas House Convalescent and Holiday Home for Ex-Service Men in Southbourne. He continued to stay there on and off, especially during the winters and the damp days of spring, until shortly after the birth of his son in 1933, he passed away from tuberculosis, contracted as a result of the poor sanitary conditions in the trenches in WW1.
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Bertie Edward Hare 7th Btn. Norfolk Regiment (d.14th Oct 1915) Bertie Hare is my first cousin twice removed, if you have any other info on him it would be gratefully received.
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Cpl. Matthew Brown 7th Battalion Norfolk Regiment (d.28th April 1917) I found out that Matthew Brown is my paternal great, great grandfather. He died in Arras aged 21, but as far as I know his body was never found.
I don't know a lot about him but would love to find out more.
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Pte. John Robert Scott 7th Battalion Norfolk Regiment (d.17th Oct 1917) John Scott, Private. 43039. 7th Norfolk Regiment was killed in action in France on the 17th of October 1917. He is remembered on the Arras Memorial.
John was born in King's Lynn 6/12/1896, and baptised at All Saints' church. He was the son of John Henry and Martha Mary Scott, of 2, The Terrace, Hunstanton, late of King's Lynn. Before the war he was employed by Mr. Kirby, hairdresser, London Road, King's Lynn.
John enlisted at King's Lynn November 1915. Went overseas in July, 1916. He was posted as missing and in August 1918 was presumed dead. In March 1919 his parents received, from the War Office, John's wallet, but no trace of John's body was found.
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2nd Lt. Henry Fairholm Manners 7th Btn Norfolk Regiment (d.28th Apr 1917) I found Henry Fairholm Manners in my family tree, I know nothing of him other than that he left a mother who died alone and 3 sisters who never married.
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Pte. Arthur Edward Earl 2nd Btn, 'A' Company Norfolk Regiment My father, Arthur Earl, enlisted aged 18 with the Norfolks in 1915, serving with the 7th & 2nd Btns, in France until the end of the WW1 war. Being wounded by gunshot on two separate occasions and then went on to serve in Waziristan and Pakistan and was discharged in 1927.
He vary rarely mentioned the war to me, only saying that he served in the Indian region and how he played football against the locals, who did not wear boots and when the football bladder burst how they used to play on with the ball stuffed with straw. It is only this week that I have found out that he served in France, although he did say once that he used a machine gun during the war. Dad died at the age of 72 in 1969.
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Recomended Reading.Available at discounted prices.
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History of the 12th (Eastern) Division in the Great War Arthur B. Scott
12th (Eastern) Division was a New Army division formed in August 1914, they arrived in France in June 1915 and fought at Loos, Somme, Arras and Cambrai; Contains a detailed order of battle and succession of commanders and staff.
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