John Norwood
Second Lieutenant, 5th Dragoon Guards
- Register No.
- 935 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Second Lieutenant all Second Lieutenants →
- Unit
- 5th Dragoon Guards all 5th Dragoon Guards VCs →
- Date of action
- 30 October 1899 on this day → all of 1899 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second Boer War
- London Gazette
- 20th July 1900 on this day → all of 1900 →
- Born
- 8th September 1876 at Beckenham, Kent
- Died
- in action on 8th September 1914 at Sablonnieres, France
- Memorial / grave
- at Sablonnieres New Communal Cemetery, France, also in St Wilfred's Church, Haywards Heath Sussex; On the War Memorial at Frinton-on-Sea, Essex and on the 5th Dragoon Guards Memorial at Aldershot
Digest of citation
on 30th October 1899 Lieutenant Norwood left Ladysmith in charge of a small Patrol of the 5th Dragoon Guards. The Patrol came under heavy fire from a ridge where the enemy was situated in great force. The Patrol which had arrived were only 600 yards away when the firing started. They retired at full speed. One of the Patrol had fallen and Lieutenant Norwood galloped back approximately 300 yards, all the time under heavy fire, dismounted and taking up the trooper, he carried him on his back , leading his horse with one hand. The enemy were firing continuously during the whole of his rescue of the Trooper, not stopping until he was out their range
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
NORWOOD, John. (reg No. 935).
Second Lieutenant. 5th Dragoon Guards * London Gazetted on 20th July 1900.
Born on 8th September 1876 at Beckenham, Kent.
Killed in action on 8th September 1914 at Sablonnieres, France.
Memorial on grave at Sablonnieres New Communal Cemetery, France, also in St Wilfred's Church, Haywards Heath Sussex; On the War Memorial at Frinton-on-Sea, Essex and on the 5th Dragoon Guards Memorial at Aldershot.
Digest of Citation reads: on 30th October 1899 Lieutenant Norwood left Ladysmith in charge of a small Patrol of the 5th Dragoon Guards. The Patrol came under heavy fire from a ridge where the enemy was situated in great force. The Patrol which had arrived were only 600 yards away when the firing started. They retired at full speed. One of the Patrol had fallen and Lieutenant Norwood galloped back approximately 300 yards, all the time under heavy fire, dismounted and taking up the trooper, he carried him on his back , leading his horse with one hand. The enemy were firing continuously during the whole of his rescue of the Trooper, not stopping until he was out their range.
* Princess Charlotte of Wales' Dragoon Guards.
Additional information:. Captain Norwood was the son of J. Norwood Esquire of Pembrey Lodge, Beckenham. He was educated at Abbey School, Beckenham then Rugby and at Oxford. He entered his regiment 8th February 1899, serving with them in the Boer War until 1900. On the 1st February 1911 he joined the Reserve of Officers. As Captain of the 2nd County of London Yeomanry, attached to the 5th Dragoon Guards, he served in the European War. (WWI). He was killed in action on 8th September 1914.
Additional information
Captain Norwood was the son of J. Norwood Esquire of Pembrey Lodge, Beckenham. He was educated at Abbey School, Beckenham then Rugby and at Oxford. He entered his regiment 8th February 1899, serving with them in the Boer War until 1900. On the 1st February 1911 he joined the Reserve of Officers. As Captain of the 2nd County of London Yeomanry, attached to the 5th Dragoon Guards, he served in the European War. (WWI). He was killed in action on 8th September 1914.
* Princess Charlotte of Wales' Dragoon Guards.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Sablonnieres New Communal Cemetery, France, also in St Wilfred's Church, Haywards Heath Sussex; On the War Memorial at Frinton-on-Sea, Essex and on the 5th Dragoon Guards Memorial at Aldershot
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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