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Sunday 25 September 2022

Anderson, Norman Alexander


Private Norman Alexander Anderson
was born at Queen Street, Coleraine on 27th July 1914 to Archie Anderson, Fowl Dealer and Penelope Anderson nee Elliott. They had married on 7th February 1899 at St. Anne's Parish Church, Belfast.
3 years before, in 1911 the family were living in house number 12, New Market Street, Coleraine, Co. Londonderry. Norman's parents, 6 elder siblings and 2 boarders were in the house. The children were James (12), Elizabeth (8), Archie (6), Alice (4), Florence B (2) & John Noel (0). The boarders were William Maxwell and William Wallace.
Following his education at Coleraine Academy and Garvery College, Belfast, Norman joined Northern Bank on 1st March 1935 at Head Office and then Newry (1935 - Relief). Transfers followed to Head Office (1938 - Relief, Letter Dept. & Chief Cashiers) and Connswater (1939 - Junior).
In June 1940 he was granted permission to enlist. On 31st October 1940, Norman was ‘Called up for Active Service’ and joined the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers with Service Number 6984621. He was serving with the 1st Bn. King's Shropshire Light Infantry as a Private when he went missing on 8th February 1944. 
The Londonderry Sentinel of 14th March 1944 reported Norman Anderson as 'missing'.

N A Anderson - Londonderry Sentinel, 14th March 1944
[Newspaper cutting courtesy of Nigel Henderson]

A certificate was issued by the War Office on 14th October 1946 confirming his date of death as 8th February 1944. 
Norman Anderson is commemorated on the Cassino Memorial, Italy and on the family headstone.

Family headstone, Agherton Cemetery, Portstewart
[Courtesy of Nigel Henderson]




Cassino Memorial, Italy

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