

Aongatete farmer Sidney Norris was wounded in action at Armentières in France on 22 May 1916. He died of his multiple wounds at the Bailleul Casualty Clearing Station on 24 May 1916, aged 32. Story researched and written by Debbie McCauley.
Sidney Norris was born in Taranaki on 27 November 1883. He was the son of George and Betsy Norris who married in Lincoln, England, and emigrated to Otakeha in Taranaki, New Zealand in 1883. The family moved to the Bay of Plenty in c1908.
Sidney worked as a farmer with his father at Aongatete and was a member of the 4th Waikato Mounted Rifles, D Squadron.
He enlisted to fight in World War I on 28 June 1915 and served with the Canterbury Infantry Battalion (Service No. 6/3415).
Sidney was wounded in action at Armentières in France on 22 May 1916. He was moved to the Bailleul Casualty Clearing Station the following day. He died there of his multiple wounds on 24 May 1916, aged 32.
Sidney was buried in Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension, Nord, France. He is also remembered on the Katikati Roll of Honour and Katikati Memorial Gates.
In 1920 George and Betsy Norris retired to 'Topcroft' in Tauranga. Sidney is listed on his parents headstone at Tauranga Anglican Cemetery.
References:
Archives New Zealand: Military Personnel File.
Auckland War Memorial Museum: Cenotaph Record.
Bay of Plenty Times (1936, May 23): Obituary, Mrs G Norris.
Bay of Plenty Times (1937, September 6): Obituary, Mr George Norris.
Births, Deaths and Marriages Online (New Zealand).
Year: | 1916 |
Note: | Service Number: 6/3415 |
First Names: | Sidney |
Last Name: | Norris |
Date of Birth: | 27 November 1883 |
Place of Birth: | Taranaki |
Country of birth: | New Zealand |
Date of death: | 24 May 1916 |
Place of death: | Bailleul, France |
Place of burial: | Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension, Nord, France |
Occupation: | farmer |
Fathers name: | George Norris |
Fathers date of birth: | c1862 |
Fathers place of birth: | Lincoln, England |
Fathers date of death: | 4 September 1937 |
Fathers place of death: | Tauranga, New Zealand |
Mothers name: | Betsy |
Mothers date of birth: | c1862 |
Mothers place of birth: | Nettleham, England |
Mothers date of death: | 21 May 1936 |
Mothers place of death: | Christopher Street, Tauranga, New Zealand |
Military Service: | World War I (1914-1918) |