Choules, Norman William
No.4470 – Private Norman William Choules – 11th Battalion AIF
Norman William Choules was born in Adelaide South Australia on the 25th March 1888 to Elizabeth Choules and Mallard Hart. He was born out of wedlock and his mother required hospitalisation in an asylum so Norman was brought up in his early years by his Grandparents.
The family soon moved to WA and Norm attended school at Kanowna and later moved to Fremantle where he worked as a wharf labourer. In 1910 he was residing at 56 Cantonment St Fremantle. In 1911 he married Myrtle Smith in Perth and they set up residence, firstly at DeLisle St North Fremantle and then in Zenobia Street in Palmyra. Two sons were born, Frank in 1911 and Harry in 1913.
On the 23rd October 1915 Norm went to the Perth recruitment office and offered his services to the AIF. He was accepted as fit and the medical examiner found him to be 5 feet 8 inches in height; weight of 133 lbs; chest measurement of 34-37 inches; fresh complexion; grey eyes and dark brown hair. His religious denomination was Church of England.
Norm was initially assigned to No.34 Depot and then D Company 4th Depot. On the 16th December 1915 he was attached to the 14th Reinforcements to the 11th Battalion AIF. He trained with this group until their departure from Fremantle on the 12th February 1916 aboard the H.M.A.T. “Miltiades”.
After their arrival in Egypt they joined the 3rd Training Battalion and left with them a few weeks later when the training battalion left for France. After arriving at Marseilles on the 4th April 1916, Norm and his reinforcement group were sent to Etaples where they joined the 1st Australian Division Base Depot.
On the 23rd May 1916 Norm was admitted to hospital with mumps and only returned to the 1st Australian Division Base Depot on the 22nd June 1916. Norm would spend another month at the Base Depot before he was struck off strength. He officially joined the 11th Battalion on the 29th July 1916. The 11th Battalion had just been through their ordeal at Pozieres and so numbers were very low. Norm was posted to “A” Company.
The 11th Battalion took part in the advance towards Mouquet Farm in August, though were again relieved and sent to Belgium to recover. After a month near Ypres, the 1st Division were sent back to the Somme battlefield where they would spend the French winter. On the 31st January 1917 Norm was admitted sick to hospital. He was diagnosed with VD and was evacuated back to the 51st General Hospital at Etaples where he stayed till the 23rd February 1917. Norm was then sent to the 1st Australian Division Base Depot and only rejoined the 11th battalion on the 17th April 1917. Two days earlier the 11th had been involved in the battle at Lagnicourt with heavy casualties.
In early May 1917 the 2nd Battle of Bullecourt commenced and the 11th Battalion were soon drawn in to replace 2nd Division units. On the 5th May 1917 Norm was wounded in the shoulder and was evacuated back to the 3rd Casualty Clearing Station. Norm’s condition continued to deteriorate and on the 10th May 1917 he died from his wounds. He was buried at Grevillers Military Cemetery by Reverend T.C. Walters in plot IV.E.3. His wife and sons would receive a pension after his death.
(Choules Family photo - courtesy of Ancestry)



