Corporal John de la Mare NORRIS
4th Hertfordshire Battalion, Home Guard (Welwyn)

Date of birth: 13th November 1921
Date of death: 11th May 1943

Killed on active service aged 21
Buried at St Alban's Cemetery Section L Row A Grave 32
He was born in Kuala Lumpur on the 13th of November 1921, the son of Frederick de la Mare Norris, civil servant, Assistant to the Director of Agriculture for the Malay States, and Muriel (nee Horley) later of 1 Gosford Mansions, Paragon Road, Weston-Super-Mare.

He was educated at the Junior King’s School for a few weeks in June and July 1935 before continuing his education at the King's School Canterbury from September 1935 to March 1940, where he was in Holme House which became Meister Omers. He was a scholar, a monitor and was Captain of Fencing in December 1939.

He went on to study aeronautics and was a student apprentice at the De Havilland Works. He joined the 4th Hertfordshire Battalion, Home Guard based at Welwyn, where he rose to the rank of Corporal.

He was killed in a shooting accident while engaged in a Home Guard training exercise.

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