Pte 52217 Norman Samuel Rowe

• Age: 19
• From: Chorlton-on-Medlock
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Friday 20th October 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Norman Samuel Rowe was born on 12th December, 1896 in Manchester and was baptised on the 06^th January, 1897 at St Thomas Church, Ardwick, Manchester. He was the son of James Rowe and his wife Elizabeth (nee Davies) of 36 Daisy Bank Rd, Victoria Park, Manchester. His parents married at St Thomas' Church, Ardwick, Manchester in 1890.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 28 Upper West Grove, Chorlton Upon Medlock. Norman is 4 years of age. His father, James, is aged 35, born 1866 in Ireland is a pattern card maker, whilst his mother, Elizabeth is aged 34, born 1867 in Manchester. His siblings are recorded as Margaret aged 9, Elizabeth aged 7 and William aged 2.

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 24 February Street, Chorlton Upon Medlock. His father, James, is aged 45, and is still employed as a pattern card maker, whilst his mother, Elizabeth is aged 44. They have been married for 21 years and have had five children of which four have survived. The children were all born in Manchester. Margaret aged 19, born 1892 and is a student, Elizabeth aged 17, born 1894 is a typist, Samuel Norman aged 14, and William aged 12, born 1899 are both at school.

He enlisted in Manchester and served originally as Private 3418, in the Manchester Regiment. 

Following a transfer he was serving in the 19th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 52217 when he was killed in action on the 20th October 1916 aged 19 during the Battle of the Transloy Ridges which was part of the ongoing Somme Offensive

Norman has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Misisng of the Somme.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916.

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

His death was reported in the Manchester Evening News on 01st November 1916

ROWE - Private S. NORMAN ROWE, King's Liverpool Regiment (late Manchesters), killed in action, October 20, 1916, age 19, beloved son of Mr and Mrs Rowe, February Street, C-on-M.

Anniversary notices were placed in the Manchester Evening News on 20th October 1917

ROWE - In loving memory of NORMAN ROWE, beloved son of Mr and Mrs Rowe, killed in action, October 20, 1916, late 24 February Street. - Sadly missed.

ROWE - In affectionate remembrance of my dear friend NORMAN ROWE, killed in action, October 20, 1916. S. D. C.

Soldiers Effects for Samuel Norman to father James, Pension to mother Elizabeth

We currently have no further information on Norman Samuel Rowe, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.