Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Alfred Burrell, born in the 2nd quarter of 1862 in Sneinton, Nottinghamshire and his wife Mary Ann Elizabeth Burrell (nee Bausor, married on the 4th January 1885 in St. Luke’s Church, Sneinton, Nottinghamshire), born in the 4th quarter of 1854 in Newark, Nottinghamshire. Norman was born on the 5th August 1889 in St. Peter’s, Nottingham, he had one sibling, Mabel Annie, born in the 2nd quarter of 1887 in Nottingham. In March 1901 Norman was residing as a boarder at Cademan Street, Whitwick, Leicestershire, together with his sister Mabel. In April 1911 Norman was employed as a driller and quarry man and was residing as a boarder at Leicester Road, Whitwick.
NOTE: Little is known of Norman’s early family background as there is no present evidence to confirm his ever having lived with his parents, although as the 1891 census return for the family seems not to exist this cannot be confirmed. In 1901 Norman’s widowed father was employed as a plumber and was residing alone at 1, Roscoe Place, Nottingham. In the 3rd quarter of 1909 in Nottingham, his father married, Edith Cooke. In April 1911 Norman’s father was employed as a plumber and was residing alone at 29, Canal Street, Nottingham. The Army Form W.5080 completed by Norman’s married sister Mabel Briers in May 1919, recorded that their father, Alfred was alive and residing at 29, Canal Street, Nottingham and that they had the following half blood siblings, Lucy Burrell, born 1910, Edna May Burrell, born 1912, Doris Burrell, born 1915, George Burrell, born 1916 and Alfred Burrell, born 1918, they were all residing at 29, Canal Street, Nottingham, however their mother’s name had not been included.
Norman enlisted/attested into the Regular Army on the 26th October 1914 in Coalville, and was allotted the service number 15718. He gave his place of birth as St. Peter’s, Nottingham and age as 25 years 82 days. His marital status was given as unmarried and his trade or calling as collier. He gave his present address as 62, Hermitage Road, Whitwick, Leicestershire.
His medical examination took place in Coalville on the 24th October 1914 and recorded his apparent age as 25 years 82 days, that he was 5 feet 5 inches in height, weighed 120 lbs, had a chest measurement of between 32½ and 34½ inches, his complexion was described as fair, he had brown eyes and his hair colour was brown, his physical development was described as fair. He gave his religion as Church of England.
He gave his next of kin as his father, Alfred Burrell, Canal Street, Nottingham and sister, Mabel Briers, Hermitage Road, Whitwick, Leicestershire.
During his period of military service the following events of note occurred:-
Joined. At Coalville. 26/10/14.
Posted. Depot Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 27/10/14.
Posted. 7th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Aldershot. Pte. 31/10/14.
Admitted. Military Hospital, Bulford. 20/7/15 – 26/7/15.
Embarked. 29/7/15.
Missing believed wounded. In the Field. 14/7/16.
Killed in action. In the Field. 14/7/16.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 26/10/14 – 28/7/15. 277 days.
Expeditionary Force, France. 29/7/15 – 14/7/16. 351 days.
Total Service. 1 year 262 days.
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Norman’s surviving service record amounts to a total of fourteen pages, of which only eight pages relate directly to his military service, and these are in extremely poor condition with much of the hand written information in some cases barely legible, damaged or missing entirely, however the content does offer at least a little descriptive insight into some of the events that took place during his period of military service.
The War Diary records: 14 Jul-16 - MAMETZ WOOD. ATTACK ON BAZENTIN LE PETIT WOOD and village by the 110th Brigade. The Battalion was drawn up for the assault in four lines. The first three lines were in front of MAMETZ WOOD and were to move forward in succession at ZERO, the first line to take, clear and hold the German first line, the remainder to push on to capture and consolidate the FOREST TRENCH (enemy support line). The fourth line were drawn up behind the north edge of MAMETZ WOOD to move forward half an hour after ZERO, and push forward through FOREST TRENCH ready to assault the German third line. By 2.55 am all dispositions were made, each platoon being on its correct adjustment. A number of casualties were suffered during this operation, one platoon of “C” Company losing almost half its number. The men behaved admirably under trying conditions. At ZERO 3.25 am when the barrage lifted our first line trench was hardly close enough to it to rush the first line before the enemy could man it, as a result the advance was rather ragged. The right (“A”) Company in conjunction with the 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT had little difficulty in entering the trench. The left (“D”) Company were momentarily held up by machine gun fire but managed to keep up close to the parapet and rush the line. The two centre (“B” and “C”) Companies were held up for about 20 minutes by machine guns. The pressure was relieved by parties from the right working down a flank. The centre Companies were then able to rush the trench. The second and third lines coming on, swept the remainder of the first line then, and made for the second line (FOREST TRENCH). By this time of the officers of “B” Company only 2nd Lieutenant EVANS was left, in “C” Company only 2nd Lieutenant REED, while in “D” Company all the officers were out of action. The enemy in the first line trench at first made some resistance but many were caught in their dug outs, and the rest seeing that they could not stop our rush retreated into the WOOD and made no resistance in the FOREST TRENCH. By 4.00 am our whole line was in occupation of FOREST TRENCH and the work of consolidation was begun. Captain A. A. CLARKE taking command. 2nd Lieutenant EVANS then sent back Company Sergeant Major GEARY to ensure that the German first line was cleared of the enemy. This N.C.O. with his party found a number of the enemy who had been passed over in the rush. In the meantime the left Company (“D”) after pushing on too eagerly under our barrage and being forced to retire, turned towards the flank and established connection with the 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT At 4.25 am Captain A. A. CLARKE, leaving 2nd Lieutenant EVANS in charge of the first trench, went forward in charge of the party to capture the third objective. No resistance was met with on the right, but on the left considerable trouble was caused by a machine gun and by snipers and close by the observation post in the tree both Captain CLARKE and Lieutenant WAKEFORD were hit. This left the assaulting line without an officer, but Sergeant WALKER (“A” Company) and Lance Sergeant SHERLOCK (“C” Company) rallied their men and made good this line. There was no German trench in this position and in some cases the men again pressed forward and came under fire from our own barrage. Meanwhile the left (“D” Company) being checked by the machine gun on the crest of the wood and being unable to make headway were rallied by Lance Corporal BUSH, and an attempt was made to get round the position on the right, with the result that this party lost direction in the wood and finally found itself among the 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT Lance Corporal BUSH then placed himself under the orders of an officer of that Battalion. Almost before the barrage lifted, the party under Sergeant WALKER rushed the German trench on the north side of the wood. The enemy made no resistance here and being caught between the barrage of shell fire and our advancing line gave themselves up. By 6.45 am we were established in the line on North edge of the wood. Subsequently officers of the 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT bringing up supports took over command of this sector. About 7.15 am Captain GWYTHER was commanding the Battalion, ordered 2nd Lieutenant EVANS to push forward from FOREST TRENCH in support of the front line, on reaching the position selected for the strong point on the RAILWAY, this party came under machine gun fire from the north west corner of the wood, 2nd Lieutenant EVANS took up the line covering the strong point and prepared for reconnaissance. The position therefore at 8.00 am was:- Northern edge of the wood held by us. Possession of the North West corner doubtful. Line of RAILWAY and strong point secured by us. Throughout the morning the enemy kept up an intermittent bombardment with 150mm Howitzers and a few 77mm’s, which grew in intensity about midday and during the afternoon. About 1.00 pm it was believed that the Germans were still holding the entire edge of the wood at the North Western corner and an assaulting party of the 7th and 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT was organised to clear them out. The bushes and trees were very thick round this point which necessarily made progress slow, the enemy evacuating and manning a trench about 30 yards from the wood, before our men could get through we suffered several casualties from a machine gun in the above mentioned trench. An attempt was made about 9 o clock to reorganise the Battalion, as they were considerably mixed up, most of the officers becoming casualties. Lieutenant Colonel DRYSDALE was wounded whilst the Battalion was marching to its position in front of MAMETZ WOOD, Captain and Adjutant A. A. ALDWORTH taking command. Captain’s WRIGHT, GIFFORD, Lieutenant’s. BURNETT, HOLLIS, ABBOTT and 2nd Lieutenant’s NEWTON, GUTTERIDGE and BAIN being all killed before our troops reached the first line. 2nd Lieutenant PICKERING-CLARKE, SIMPSON and REID also Lieutenant WAKEFORD were killed in the wood. The wounded officers were Captain A. A. CLARKE, Lieutenant HOUGHTON and 2nd Lieutenant’s THOMPSON, WEBB and ORRIT-NICHOL. Our total casualties were 18 officers and 535 men killed and wounded. Our men along with the 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT manned the trenches at the edge of the wood and remained there until next morning. The night was quick.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday April 6th, 1917

BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS

Private Norman Burrell, Hermitage Road, Whitwick, reported missing July 14, 1916, now officially reported killed on that date.

From his sister and brother-in-law, and sweetheart.

Coalville Times article - Friday April 27th, 1917

Mr and Mrs Ed. Briers, of Hermitage Road, Whitwick, and the fiancée of the late Private Norman Burrell, of the Leicestershire Regiment, desire to thank most sincerely, all friends for the kind sympathy shown to them in their sad bereavement.

LOCAL CASUALTIES

Reported missing on July 14th, 1916, Pte. Norman Burrell, of the Leicestershire Regiment is now concluded to have been killed on that date. He formerly resided with his sister, Mrs Edward Briers, of 62, Hermitage Road. He went to France on July 29th, 1915, and in May last was at Whitwick on leave. As far as is known, this is the 25th Whitwick man to be killed in the war. A memorial service for Private Burrell was held in the Whitwick P.M. Chapel on Sunday, when the members of the Whitwick V.T.C. attended, and the preacher was the Rev. T. J. Martin, of Coalville.

Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby 19/10/2017