Norman BEAR

Regimental number14
Date of birth29 October 1894
Place of birthSpotswood, Victoria
ReligionMethodist
OccupationDriller
Address13 Forrest Street, Spotswood, Victoria
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation20
Next of kinMrs J Bear, 13 Forrest Street, Spotswood, Victoria
Previous military serviceServed in the Naval Reserve, Victoria.
Enlistment date1 October 1914
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll1 October 1914
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name14th Battalion, Headquarters
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/31/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board Transport A38 Ulysses on 22 December 1914
Regimental number from Nominal RollCommissioned
Rank from Nominal RollLieutenant
Unit from Nominal Roll14th Battalion
Recommendations (Medals and Awards)

Uspecified


Recommendation date: 28 July 1816

Military Medal


Recommendation date: 2 March 1917

Military Medal


Recommendation date: "11-13 June 1917"

FateReturned to Australia 30 March 1918
Medals

Military Medal

'This N.C.O. was on GALLIPOLI from the landing to the evacuation and from the 6th August, 1915 onwards was in charge of the Battalion Signallers. He was never tiring in carrying out his work, though short handed and often with only partially trained assistants. Since the Battalion's landing in FRANCE he has done consistently sound work as Signalling Sergeant at BOIS GRENIER in July, 1916, and at POZIERES in August, 1916. At the latter place in the face of very difficult weather conditions and extremely heavy hostile shell fire, he carried out numerous repairs to the Battalion's telephone wires and was instrumental in keeping communication between Headquarters and the front line Companies.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 219
Date: 20 December 1917

Discharge date22 August 1918
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Wandilla', 30 March 1918; transferred to HT 'Wiltshire' at Suez; appointment terminated (discharged), gas poisoning, purulent bronchitis,22 August 1918.

Medals: Military Medal, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Date of death5 July 1972 - Glenwaverly, Victoria
Age at death77
Place of burialSpringvale Crematorium (full military funeral), Victoria