Norman Knight GREGORY

08 January 1915

SILSDEN

Private Norman K. Gregory, of the Bradford ‘Pals’ Battalion. says:– “I beg to acknowledge receipt of the splendid gift forwarded by you on behalf of the inhabitants of Silsden. It is a great pleasure to me in find that the people of Silsden are remembering the young men this Christmas who have given up their positions in the business world to serve their King and Country. I therefore send my very best thanks for the contents of the box appreciate very much indeed the sentiment which lies behind the forwarding of the gifts. You will be pleased to hear that I like my new work and also that is doing me a great deal of good in several directions. I am a member of the Bradford ‘Pals’ Battalion of Lord Kitchener’s Army, and we go into camp at Skipton in about a month’s time when I shall take the first opportunity of visiting Silsden and looking up all old friends.”

24 December 1915

SILSDEN – SOLDIERS’ APPRECIATION FOR GIFTS

Private Norman K. Gregory, of the Bradford ‘Pals,’ states:–

“Many of the good things you sent will be eaten on the sea for I leave this camp with my battalion at midnight for a destination unknown. The voyage will last about three weeks, and we are to wear sun helmets, so you will guess where we are going. My thoughts will often be with my many friends in Silsden, and I trust that some future date will find me settled amongst them.”

14 January 1916

THRILLING VOYAGE TO EGYPT

Private Norman K. Gregory, of the 16th West Yorkshire Regiment (Bradford ‘Pals’) , a former member of the office staff of Messrs. Driver Bros., North Street Mills, Silsden, in a letter to Mr. Albert Longbottom, of the Old Hall, Silsden, relates his thrilling experiences during the voyage from this country to Egypt.

He says:– “It is the evening of Christmas Day, and I wish I could just transport you to where I am. It is a real education, and I cannot help thinking that after all it is but a dream. We arrived here last Tuesday (December 21st). I cannot tell you whereabouts I am, but we are in tents on a big tract of sand. The sand is a comfortable bed, yet a great nuisance. We have to tie clothes around our rifles, and even the then the sand gets through somehow or other. Naturally we eat large amounts of it too.

“Our sea voyage was a trifle too anxious and exciting for my liking. I was sea sick for about three days in the Bay of Biscay, and had a sort of ‘throw me overboard feeling.’ After I recovered enjoyed the life until we cut a 3,000 ton steamer in two. The accident occurred about midnight, and it was anything but pleasant waking up to that. We rescued most of the people on board, and I thought at first we were going down. ‘Chased by submarines,’ how does that sound? It was a fact I can assure you. We sent a shell or two after one of them and were rewarded by a torpedo which missed us by about ten yards, thank goodness. We called at Malta on the way here, but were not allowed to land. It looks picturesque enough and was my first scene of the oriental.

“However, we are now ready for anything, and I feel in the best of health, which is a good thing. It is winter here, and the natives are cold, but for us it is as hot as an English midsummer day; if anything the sun is more powerful. I do not know what it will be like when summer does come. In the town near to where we are encamped it is a fascinating sight to see the open air cafes, &c. I have seen all kinds of nationalities, but I don’t care very much for the Arabs. We are not allowed in the native quarter, nor do I posses the desire to go there. I suppose we shall have a good deal to get through in the course of which I might enhance my knowledge and broaden my view of life. We had a first class dinner on Christmas Day considering the circumstances. We had stew, Christmas pudding (cold), oranges, apples, dates, figs &c – oh, a right, tuck in. We are hoping that next Christmas, will find us back at home.”

25 May 1917

GREGORY – Killed in action in France, Sergt. Norman K. Gregory, West Yorkshire Regiment, youngest of the four soldier sons of Mr. and Mrs. John Gregory, of 76, Victoria Road, Saltaire, and formerly employed by Messrs. Driver Bros., Silsden, aged 24 years.

25 May 1917

SILSDEN – SERGEANT NORMAN K. GREGORY KILLED

Mr. and Mrs. John Gregory, of 76, Victoria Road, Saltaire, received the sad intimation on Saturday last that the youngest of their four soldier sons, Sergeant Norman K. Gregory (24), West Yorkshire Regiment, had been killed in action. Captain C.W. Ashforth, the officer in charge of the Company with which Sergeant Gregory was serving, writes that the latter was killed instantly whilst on duty in the trenches. Captain Ashworth speaks of him as a splendid soldier and N.C.O.

Sergeant Gregory joined the Forces at the outbreak of war and had been through a good deal of severe fighting. In civil life he had a large circle of friends, who will be sorry to hear that he has made the supreme sacrifice. Before joining the Colours he was in the service of Messrs. Driver Bros., North Street Mills, Silsden, where he had been for several years. He was equally well known in Silsden, where the news concerning his death has been received with profound regret. An elder brother, Corporal Gilbert Gregory, of the same regiment, has twice been wounded.