MS 951
Reference code
MS 951
Title
Papers of James Frederick Norris and Graham Walter Norris
Level
Sub-fonds
Administrative / Biographical history
James Frederick (Bobby) Norris (1898-1988) and Graham Walter (Bay) Norris (1905-1933) were the sons of Walter Henry (Harry) Norris and Helen Mary (May) White.
James Frederick Norris served as a British Army cavalry officer in France in the 1st World War with the 19th Royal Hussars, attached to the 9th Cavalry Brigade in the 1st Cavalry Division. As a Gentleman Cadet at the Royal Military College he was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant in October 1916. He joined the regiment in France on 26 October 1917. He was promoted to Lieutenant in April 1918. Norris saw action on the Western Front at Cambrai (1917) and Amiens and in the pursuit to Mons (1918). After the Armistice, his regiment marched eastwards through France and into Germany. Norris was admitted to hospital (?influenza) for 10 days at Evinghoven, near Cologne in December 1919. Early in 1919 he was based at Königshoven and on 9 February Norris was sent back to England for two months’ leave and ordered to return to the Depot at Ewshott in Hampshire, to help form the regiment for further duties overseas.
His younger brother, Graham Walter (Bay) Norris (1905-1933) was educated at Eton College (1919- ?) and Hertford College, Oxford. He was a successful county cricketer, huntsman and point-to-point rider. Both sons joined their father as directors of the family firm, Hopcraft and Norris Brewery in Brackley, Northamptonshire. Their family home was Steane Park, Brackley where they also trained racehorses on the estate's private gallops. Graham Norris died as the result of injuries received when his horse fell at a Birmingham steeplechase in December 1933.
James Frederick Norris served as a British Army cavalry officer in France in the 1st World War with the 19th Royal Hussars, attached to the 9th Cavalry Brigade in the 1st Cavalry Division. As a Gentleman Cadet at the Royal Military College he was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant in October 1916. He joined the regiment in France on 26 October 1917. He was promoted to Lieutenant in April 1918. Norris saw action on the Western Front at Cambrai (1917) and Amiens and in the pursuit to Mons (1918). After the Armistice, his regiment marched eastwards through France and into Germany. Norris was admitted to hospital (?influenza) for 10 days at Evinghoven, near Cologne in December 1919. Early in 1919 he was based at Königshoven and on 9 February Norris was sent back to England for two months’ leave and ordered to return to the Depot at Ewshott in Hampshire, to help form the regiment for further duties overseas.
His younger brother, Graham Walter (Bay) Norris (1905-1933) was educated at Eton College (1919- ?) and Hertford College, Oxford. He was a successful county cricketer, huntsman and point-to-point rider. Both sons joined their father as directors of the family firm, Hopcraft and Norris Brewery in Brackley, Northamptonshire. Their family home was Steane Park, Brackley where they also trained racehorses on the estate's private gallops. Graham Norris died as the result of injuries received when his horse fell at a Birmingham steeplechase in December 1933.
Date
c.1900 - 1933
Extent & medium
3 files
Content description
A collection of letters, postcards, news-cuttings and photographs relating to James Frederick (Bobby) Norris (1898-1988) and his brother Graham Walter (Bay) Norris (1905-1933).
Arrangement
The original order was disturbed, but the papers had initially been sorted into folders. The World War 1 letters had been placed into folders marked A-G, but were not sorted into chronological order. An artificial arrangement has been imposed: the papers have been arranged into 3 files: letters, in chronological order, photographs and news-cuttings.
Associated material
The National Archives (UK) holds the War Diary for the 19th Royal Hussars at WO 95/1115/2. J F Norris is mentioned a number of times from 26 October 1917 to 9 February 1919.
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