Choules, Norman William

No.4470 – Private Norman William Choules – 11^th Battalion AIF

Norman William Choules was born in Adelaide South Australia on the 25^th 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 23^rd 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 4^th Depot. On the 16^th December 1915 he was attached to the 14^th Reinforcements to the 11^th Battalion AIF. He trained with this group until their departure from Fremantle on the 12^th February 1916 aboard the H.M.A.T. “Miltiades”.

After their arrival in Egypt they joined the 3^rd Training Battalion and left with them a few weeks later when the training battalion left for France. After arriving at Marseilles on the 4^th April 1916, Norm and his reinforcement group were sent to Etaples where they joined the 1^st Australian Division Base Depot.

On the 23^rd May 1916 Norm was admitted to hospital with mumps and only returned to the 1^st Australian Division Base Depot on the 22^nd June 1916. Norm would spend another month at the Base Depot before he was struck off strength. He officially joined the 11^th Battalion on the 29^th July 1916. The 11^th Battalion had just been through their ordeal at Pozieres and so numbers were very low. Norm was posted to “A” Company.

The 11^th 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 1^st Division were sent back to the Somme battlefield where they would spend the French winter. On the 31^st January 1917 Norm was admitted sick to hospital. He was diagnosed with VD and was evacuated back to the 51^st General Hospital at Etaples where he stayed till the 23^rd February 1917. Norm was then sent to the 1^st Australian Division Base Depot and only rejoined the 11^th battalion on the 17^th April 1917. Two days earlier the 11^th had been involved in the battle at Lagnicourt with heavy casualties.

In early May 1917 the 2^nd Battle of Bullecourt commenced and the 11^th Battalion were soon drawn in to replace 2^nd Division units. On the 5^th May 1917 Norm was wounded in the shoulder and was evacuated back to the 3^rd Casualty Clearing Station. Norm’s condition continued to deteriorate and on the 10^th 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)