Caroline Mary Norman
A Civilian, Caroline died on 9th of April 1941 at the age of 47.
Caroline was born at Haughley, near Stowmarket, on 25 December 1893, a daughter of George and Alice Sore. In 1901 she lived with her family at Haughley, and at some point her parents lived at 16 Duke Street, Haughley. Caroline married Henry Francis Norman in 1918.
By 1939 Caroline, Henry, and their children, were living at 2 Whitehouse Cottages, Flixton.
Caroline was a member of the Civilian Nursing Reserve (C.N.R) and an Ambulance Sister with the Saint John's Ambulance Brigade (S.J.A.B.). Caroline was killed during an air raid. She died at the First Aid Post, Till Road
At some point Henry lived at Park Hill Cottage Gorleston Road, Lowestoft.
Caroline was born to Alice Carlena Sutton on 25th December 1893 in Haughley, Suffolk, she was named Caroline Mary Sore Sutton. Alice and George married in January 1895.
Caroline married Henry Norman from Brockford, Suffolk in 1918. Caroline and Henry had four daughters, Iris, Joyce, Lorna and Jacqueline, followed by two boys Ian and Douglas.
I’m not sure when they moved to the Lowestoft area but it was in the early 1920’s as her three youngest children’s baptism records are held at Blundeston church, Jacqueline was baptised at Blundeston church in 1924. The family were living at Rose Cottage in Flixton near Blundeston in 1936, there is a photograph of the young Ian and Douglas Norman standing outside the house which is decorated with a Union Jack and bunting..
Sadly Jacqueline contracted TB and died in 1937 at the age of 14, she was nursed in a hospital in Alton in Hampshire, this must’ve been a very difficult time for the family. I have attached a photo of the bedridden Jacqueline surrounded by her siblings.
Attached is a copy of the original photo taken outside of the Red Shield House in Lowestoft, Caroline Norman is the first person on the far left of the photo. I’m afraid I don’t know any other others in the picture.
The photo with the car shows Caroline Norman seated in front of the car and to her right are her mother Alice and George Sore, seated on the bonnet of the car are Caroline’s sons Ian Norman (my father) and Douglas Norman, seated in the rear of the car is Caroline’s eldest daughter Iris Norman. I would estimate this photo was taken 1935/6. I’m afraid I don’t know who is seated in the front of the car.
My dad used to speak very fondly of days spent on Lowestoft beach as a family, we are lucky to have several photos of Caroline on the beach with her young sons.
Caroline’s death certificate (attached) speaks volumes of the cruelty of war, here was a woman working to save lives struck down by shrapnel who died alone in the street, her body being found in the early hours of the morning. We will never know whether she had anyone by her side to comfort her during her final moments.
Lastly I have attached a very well worn copy of the newspaper cutting of Caroline’s funeral report, it is just about legible. CREDIT:Ros Hill granddaughter of Caroline Norman
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Caroline Norman
Park Hill Cottage
Gorleston Road
Lowestoft
United Kingdom
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