Trafford

Born 18th May 1893 (registered June Qtr 1893 - Prestwich R.D. - ref:
8d/465), the eldest son of Ernest & Clara Antrobus.

1901 Census - Polefield House, Blackley, Manchester.   Son - aged: 7 -
born: Blackley, Manchester.   Head of Household - Ernest Antrobus (father)
- Married - aged: 35 - occ: Oil Merchant - born: Manchester.    Clara
Antrobus (mother) - aged: 37 - born: Accrington, Lancashire.  Plus his
younger brother - Lionel aged: 4 months and 2 servants.

1911 Census - "Norleon", Park Road, Hale, Cheshire.   Son - aged: 17 -
Student - born: Blackley, Manchester.    Head of Household - Ernest
Antrobus (father) - Married - aged: 45 - occ: Oil Merchant Manufacturer -
born: Blackley, Manchester.    Clara Antrobus (mother) - Wife - aged: 47 -
born: Accrington, Lancashire.  Plus his younger brother - Lionel aged: 100
and 1 servant.

Educated at St. Anselm's, Bakewell for five years, then Sedbergh School
(Hart House) for two years - No.1636 on the School Register, attending from
1907 to December 1909. He was then a student at Manchester University for
two years where he was studying electro-metallurgy, with a view to taking
up a post in Charles Moor & Co. Salt Works, Lymm, Cheshire.   He joined the
University OTC in October 1911 and was promoted to the rank of Lance
Corporal.    He was a member of the Rifle Club and in 1913/14 was a member
of the Shooting Eight: he was also the Club Secretary.

He was Commissioned in September 1914 and went to Tunbridge Wells for
training.    On the 12/02/1915 he was drafted to France and within two
weeks, he was serving in the trenches on the Yprs salient.    He was
wounded south of St. Eloi during the fighting at Hill 60 and was invalided
home.     On his return to the front, he acted as second in command of his
Company and was the Battalion Sniping Officer.   In August 1915, he
obtained the rank of Lieutenant and on the 15/09/1915 took over command of
'B' Company.

MIC - Drafted to France in 1915.  Awarded the BWM, 15 Star & Victory.

Ref: "British Regiments 1914 1918". By a process of elimination, I believe
that he served in the 1/4th Bn of the South Lancashire Regiment. The 4th
Bn, had 3 units - 1/4th -2/4th -3/4th the latter (2nd reserve) were
absorbed into the 5th Bn and served in England and Ireland, so can be
discounted.  The 2/4th Bn (formed at Warrington in September 1914) did not
go to France until the 16th February 1917 - too late for Norman.   However,
the 1/4th Bn that were formed at the Drill Hall, Warrington on the 4th
August 1914, in the South Lancashire Brigade, West Lancashire Division did
go to France in time for him to be involved.  After formation, the Bn moved
to Dunfermline on the 13th August 1914 - to Tunbridge Wells in October
1915.   In February 1915, after their training period, they left the West
Lancashire Division and landed at Le Havre, France on the 13th February
1915 and went into the 7th Brigade, 3rd Division.

Ref: "British Battalions on the Western Front  January - June 1915". The
1/4th Bn South Lancashire Regiment left Tunbridge Wells, Kent on the 12th
February 1915 travelling to Southampton, where they embarked on the S.S.
"Queen Alexandra" and the S.S. "Trafford Hall".   They landed at Le Havre
the following day and marched to the No.2 Rest Camp. Later entrained for
Bailleul and took over billets at The Graperies. They next moved to La
Clytte on the 21st February, attached to the 7th Brigade, 3rd Division,
where they began front line trench warfare training under the 2nd Bn. South
Lancashire Rgt, during which time they were billeted at Westoutre.  They
commenced their first tour in the 'F' & 'G' Trenches in front of Kemmel on
the 26th February.  On the 25th march, they moved to Dickebush and the next
day began tours in the St. EIoi sector trenches.  The Regimental war diary
notes that many dead from both sides still lay unburied and that local
farms still contain the bodies of civilians.   During their next rest
period, they billeted. at Dickebush.

On the 5th June 1915 they moved into Sanctuary Wood and on the 16th, they
took part in the attack on the Bellewaarde Ridge. The enemy's front line
trenches were taken, despite the confused fighting with bombs and
bayonet's. Then the second line trenches, south of Bellewaarde Farm, were
also occupied.  'B' Company was sent forward to reinforce the forward
troops and were almost wiped out by shell fire.  Lieutenant E.L. Frost and
20 other ranks were killed - 9. officers and 237 other ranks were wounded. 
They later rested at Ypres and on the 24th June 1915 they moved to Hooge in
support of troops holding Zouave Woed.

Until the "British Battalions on the Western Front ~ July to December 1915"
book is released, I now have to rely on "Regimental Battle Honours" and
"Battles & Engagements", to continue the story.   There were three actions
at Hooge - I9th & 30th July together with the 9th August 1915. The 3rd
Division only took part in the action of the l9th July 1915.  Their next
involvement in set battles was at the "Second Attack on Bellewaarde Ridge
25th & 26th September 1915.

The Dickebush New Cemetery was in use by the Units and Field Ambulances in
the area between February 1915 and May 1917.   The Manchester University's
War Record states that he was killed in a German counter-attack at Hooge.

To confirm this assessment, his father received a letter from Major G.R.
Crosfield stating that his son's Company had the task of completing a new
trench in a 'certain' wood (censored ?) when a sniper's bullet entered his
chest, penetrating his lung.

The 28/11/1916 edition of the local newspaper reports that a window in the
south aisle of St. John's Church, Altrincham has been installed in his
memory.

Flemish M.I. - "The battle is O'er, the victory won".

Listed in the Guardian Year Book - Roll of Honour for 1916.

Death reported in the 15/10/1915 edition of the Altrincham Guardian.