Pvt. Norman Earle Bush #639411 was born to Theodore and Emma (Robinson) Bush in the village of South Mountain on March 4, 1897. He was the third of four boys which included William, Charles and Freeman. They lived on the north side of Merrickville between the William Thomas and Henry McLaren families by 1901. His father listed his occupation as a farm labourer. His parents were originally from the North Gower area. Pvt. Bush enlisted Jan. 21, 1916 in Merrickville, ON at the age of 18, listed his occupation as labourer and his religion as Methodist. He was 5’2, 34” chest, 125 lbs., dark eyes and hair, single and had a scar on the right side of his face. He listed his father Theodore of Smiths Falls as his next of kin and had his pay go to his grandmother. He was initially enlisted with the 156th battalion. He did write a will in which he gave everything to his grandmother, Mrs. Melissa Briggs of Merrickville, ON on May 1, 1917. After his death, a war gratuity form for dependents was completed for his grandmother who was also listed as his foster mother. However, it was ruled she was not eligible for the gratuity.
On Oct. 18, 1916, Pvt Bush sailed from Halifax on the SS Metagama and on Nov. 1, 1916, he arrived in Liverpool, England with the 156th and joined the 120th battalion. On Jan. 9, 1917, he was taken on strength back to the 156th battalion. On May 23, 1917, Pvt. Bush joined the 2nd battalion and left for France.
Starting on Sept 13, while in the trenches near Lens, the 2nd battalion experienced heavy losses. The Germans released gas at 3:35am followed by heavy shelling on support areas. That night, working parties quickly started digging tunnels again for relief. The next day, artillery fire came from the 2nd battalion but their aim was not good and several men were lost. On Sept 15, airplanes and balloons were seen to try and determine the location of the 2nd battalion. That night, companies and locations were changed and during that change, Pvt. Bush had a shell land near him.
Pvt. Bush was killed in action while with the 2nd battalion on Sept. 16, 1917 near Lens and buried in the Aix-Noulette Community Cemetery Extension four miles west of Lens, France, grave reference I.R.17. The Cemetery Extension was begun by French troops early in 1915, and the two French plots are next to the Communal Cemetery. It was taken over by the 1st and 2nd Divisions in February, 1916, and used by fighting units and Field Ambulances until October, 1918. It was increased after the Armistice by the concentration of graves from the battlefields to the East. There are now 749 Commonwealth burials of the 1914-1918 war commemorated here, 61 being unidentified. There are also 502 French burials here. The cemetery covers an area of 5,198 square metres and is enclosed by a red brick wall on three sides, and on the South by the wall of the Communal Cemetery. His medals and decorations went to his grandmother and his plaque and scroll went to his father. No Memorial Cross was assigned as his mother had passed away before this time. He is commemorated on page 211 of the Book of Remembrance.
On Oct. 18, 1916, Pvt Bush sailed from Halifax on the SS Metagama and on Nov. 1, 1916, he arrived in Liverpool, England with the 156th and joined the 120th battalion. On Jan. 9, 1917, he was taken on strength back to the 156th battalion. On May 23, 1917, Pvt. Bush joined the 2nd battalion and left for France.
Starting on Sept 13, while in the trenches near Lens, the 2nd battalion experienced heavy losses. The Germans released gas at 3:35am followed by heavy shelling on support areas. That night, working parties quickly started digging tunnels again for relief. The next day, artillery fire came from the 2nd battalion but their aim was not good and several men were lost. On Sept 15, airplanes and balloons were seen to try and determine the location of the 2nd battalion. That night, companies and locations were changed and during that change, Pvt. Bush had a shell land near him.
Pvt. Bush was killed in action while with the 2nd battalion on Sept. 16, 1917 near Lens and buried in the Aix-Noulette Community Cemetery Extension four miles west of Lens, France, grave reference I.R.17. The Cemetery Extension was begun by French troops early in 1915, and the two French plots are next to the Communal Cemetery. It was taken over by the 1st and 2nd Divisions in February, 1916, and used by fighting units and Field Ambulances until October, 1918. It was increased after the Armistice by the concentration of graves from the battlefields to the East. There are now 749 Commonwealth burials of the 1914-1918 war commemorated here, 61 being unidentified. There are also 502 French burials here. The cemetery covers an area of 5,198 square metres and is enclosed by a red brick wall on three sides, and on the South by the wall of the Communal Cemetery. His medals and decorations went to his grandmother and his plaque and scroll went to his father. No Memorial Cross was assigned as his mother had passed away before this time. He is commemorated on page 211 of the Book of Remembrance.