Norman, Robert Charles Francis

Ordinary Seaman Robert Charles Francis Norman, Royal Navy

Died from wounds, 11th September 1942

Robert was born in Kensington in 1923 to Roland Frank Holdway and Victoria Alexandrina Stella Norman (née Legge).  His mother was a goddaughter of Queen Victoria, and his grandmother had been a Maid of Honour to Queen Victoria.  His mother had three older children from her first marriage to Major Richard Gerald Wellesley Williams-Bulkeley who died in 1918.  He had been wounded at the Battle of Loos in December 1915 and received the Military Cross.   Robert’s own father Roland (see photo below) had been a Captain in the army, serving with the Leicestershire Regiment later transferring to the RAF where he became a Wing Commander.  The family lived at Mill Land Cottage, Clayton.

Robert was educated at Sandroyd Prep School in Wiltshire before going on to Eton.

Eton College

By the age of 18 he was an Ordinary Seaman on Motor Gun Boat (MGB) 335., part of the 16th MGB Flotilla, based at Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.  On 10th September 1942 his boat MGB 335 plus MGB 327 and MGB 334 were all in action off the Dutch Coast.

MGB 335 (IWM)

An article from the Daily Telegraph dated 12th September 1942 gave more details of what happened:

The daring interception of an enemy convoy off the north coast of Holland early yesterday was followed by a series of brisk, close-range engagements between British and German light naval forces, in which the enemy were severely mauled. … We lost one motor gun boat and suffered a few casualties.  the next of kin are being informed as soon as possible.

It went on to describe more:

This series of actions started when one of our offensive patrols, under the command of Lt P G C Dickens MBE RN intercepted and attacked the enemy convoy off the island of Texel. … The attack on the convoy was followed by a brisk action at close range between our light coastal cover craft and the enemy escorts. …

The report states that damage was inflicted on several of the enemy boats even though reinforcements arrived to assist them:

At least three more of the enemy vessels received serious damage in the subsequent engagement.  It was during this action that one of our motor gunboats was set badly on fire.  Since there was no chance of being able to save the boat, Lt Thorpe ran his motor gunboat alongside the burning vessel, took off survivors, and made sure that she would be a total loss and could not fall into the hands of the enemy.

An intriguing insight, from the point of view of a German Midshipman Leutnant Johannes Glaser, fighting on one of the enemy boats, was re-told on a web site: http://www.worldnavalships.com/forums.

All guns ablaze from both sides and in the melee one of the MGB’s was seriously hit and brought to a standstill.  It was then surrounded in a semi-circle burning furiously but still firing its guns.  The flotilla was amazed to see the other MGB, which had out-run his mate, not being hit at that time, return to the fray.

The MGB lay along-side his mate taking off the crew and engaging fire with the S Boats.  … The MGB loaded on the crew of the burning boat, and started to turn away.  Strangely all firing stopped from the S boats for a while.  Later they all explained that they were so amazed at the action of the MGB in returning to take on their fellow ship-comrades that they ceased fire.

Lt. Thorpe was awarded the DSO for his part in the action.

Robert was brought ashore in Norfolk but died the next day from his wounds.  He was buried in Caister Cemetery.

His death was announced in the newspaper and probate was granted to his father.

Robert is commemorated at the church of St John the Baptist, Clayton where the war memorial takes the form of a lych gate and the names of the dead are inscribed on a plaque.

The Lych Gate at St John the Baptist Church, Clayton

Clayton War Memorial

Robert is also remembered at his old boarding school Sandroyd, where his name is inscribed along with 64 others in a Roll of Honour for those Old Sandroydians who fell during World War II.  A brass plaque is also dedicated to them.  (Thanks to Sandroyd School for the photographs)

Roll of Honour