GUNNER 781224 EDWIN NORMAN GLOVER, 'D' BATTERY 311th. BRIGADE ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY.


GUNNER 781224 EDWIN NORMAN GLOVER, 'D' BATTERY 311th. BRIGADE ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY. KILLED IN ACTION 9th APRIL 1917.


Norman Glover was just 16 years old when he went to the recruiting office in Otley to try and enlist in the army. Physically well developed for his age the recruiting officer appears to have had few qualms in accepting him into the Royal Field Artillery. Norman was posted to the 311th Brigade a territorial unit largely recruited in the West Riding of Yorkshire where he began training for war. In January 1917 the 311th were posted to the Western Front and by the beginning of April were at the Front just north of the town of Arras. 


Attached to the 34th Division Normans unit was heavily involved in the barrage which immediately preceded the Battle of The Scarpe, part of the larger Arras offensive. The battle commenced on the 9th April when the 311th were located near to the small villages of St Catherine's and St. Nicholas from where they would support the attacking infantry. At some stage that day it is reported that a German shell landed near to the gun-pit where Norman was working. The explosion set of nearby charges and in the ensuing inferno he was badly burned. Alive but seriously wounded, Norman, was evacuated to the 102nd Field Ambulance, but it was to no avail and he died a few hours later.

Norman Glover was born in the Manningham area of Bradford but moved with his family to Ilkley where his father Edwin was employed as an engine driver. The family lived in a small terraced house on Nile Road and before enlisting young Norman had worked at stuff merchants Law, Russell and Co. in Bradford.

Today, Gunner Edwin Norman Glover lies in the British Military Cemetery at St. Catherine's and is remembered on our war memorial in Ilkley. On the bottom of his headstone his grieving parents had engraved 'sleep on beloved'.


Letter to the parents of Edwin Glover.

It is with great regret that I am writing to tell you of the sad news. As you will know he was seriously wounded on the 9th being wounded by a shell which burst in the gun pit whilst he was doing his duty by his gun. Unfortunately, the Bosch shell set fire to a lot of charges with the result that your son was badly burned. I am awfully sorry to have to tell you that he died the same day in hospital.
It is a very great grief to me as he was one of the best gunners I had in my section and I have always relied upon him with absolute confidence. He always did a job however trying and arduous conscientiously and never groused about it.
I am deeply sorry to write such news and wish I could say something which could be of comfort to you.



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