Sgt Alfred Norris MM

[PoppyHomewood]

Is there any other source that would have details on why he was awarded the Military Medal twice, 7-18-1917 and 3-13-1918? His service number is 438822. He died of wounds on 11-4-1918. He served with the 1st Battalion of the Canadian Machine Gun Corps. He is not a relative and the research is for a museum exhibit that opens in September. Thank you.

[PoppyHomewood]

From what I understand the second awarded could have been a bar. What looks to be the abbreviation D.b Fn is crossed out on the entry for the second medal, I'm not sure what that stands for just yet.

https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembra ... details/53

The silver, laurelled bar is awarded for a subsequent act or acts of bravery and devotion under fire.

His service record is available here,

https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/ ... ber=550313

PDF is here,

http://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.item/?op= ... B7367-S045

Sgt Alfred Norris - Medal - 01.JPG (111.41 KiB) Viewed 38747 times

The second Military Medal seems to be for gallantry in the field, see below.

Sgt Alfred Norris - Medal - 02.JPG (116.3 KiB) Viewed 38747 times

I also found this post,

https://www.facebook.com/cefrg/posts/th ... 0346922484

The Norris Brothers
Sergeant Alfred Norris MM and Bar 438822 was born 10 June 1892 in Bilston, Staffordshire, England. He enlisted 6 January 1915 at Fort Francis, Ontario, with the 52nd Battalion. He was one of three sons of James & Ada Norris of Pinewood, Ontario, to serve in the Great War. Alfred stood 5' 11" tall, 148 pounds, with dark complexion, brown eyes, and dark brown hair. Alfred served with 1st Bn. Canadian Machine Gun Corps.
Taken on strength, 12th Battalion, 14 September 1915, Shorncliffe. Transferred to 1st Bde Machine Gun Company in France, 7 March 1916, arriving in France at Le Havre, 9 March 1916, and joining his unit in the field, 24 March 1916.
To be Lance-Corporal, 13 March 1917. Granted 10 days leave, 25 June 1917. Awarded the Military Medal in the field, 18 July 1917.
To be Acting-Corporal with pay, 9 October 1917. To be Corporal, 1 November 1917. On Machine Gun course, Pernes, 2 December 1917. Rejoined unit in field 8 December 1917. Awarded Bar to Military Medal, No. 3225 Supplement to the London Gazette, 13 March 1918. Absorbed into 1st Battalion, Canadian Machine Gun Corps. Promoted Sergeant, 1 May 1918.
On the first day of the Battle of Amiens, shortly after jumping off for the attack, No. 3 Company suffered casualties from hostile shell fire. Captain A.C. Bowles, M.C., is wounded severely, 6 other ranks are killed, and Alfred is among 21 other ranks wounded. Alfred is admitted to No. 1 C.C.S., penetrating SW wounds head, chest, left arm and both legs, 8 August 1918. His wounds are devastating, and Alfred's recovery is long, and brutal.
Admitted 2nd Canadian General Hospital, Le Treport, penetrating wounds, 9 August 1918. On 10 August 1918 he is listed as dangerously ill. On 30 August 1918, still dangerously ill. Admitted 1st London General Hospital, 5 September 1918. Alfred's condition improves and on 7 September 1918, he is removed from the dangerously ill list.
One week before the Armistice, Alfred's condition deteriorated suddenly, and he died of his wounds at London General Hospital, 4 November 1918.
Alfred is buried at Brookwood Military Cemetery, Plot III, Row G, Grave 4.
Alfred's younger brother James Norris 438823 was born 29 June 1899. He also enlisted 6 January 1915 at Fort Francis, Ontario, with the 52nd Battalion. James stood 5' 11" tall, with fresh complexion, blue eyes, and medium brown hair.
James arrived in France at Le Havre on 9 March 1916, and was Taken on Strength by the 1st Brigade, C.M.G.C., joining his unit in the field on 24 March 1916 with his brother Alfred. James was granted 10 days leave to England on 15 July 1917, rejoining his unit in the field on 24 July 1917.
James was admitted to No. 22 General Hospital suffering from the effect of gas poisoning (mustard gas) at Hill 70, 5 September 1917. He is invalided to England, and admitted to Horton City of London War Hospital, Shell Gas, 10 September 1917, and discharged 24 December 1917. James was "Granted permission to marry at public expense" on 15 December 1917, and we assume he did so as his "Past marriage approved" on 26 December 1917.
James will be posted to Canadian Casualty Depot (C.C.D.) at Seaford for the remainder of the war. James was admitted for pleurisy, 6 April 1918, to No. 14 Canadian General Hospital, Eastbourne, and discharged to 3rd C.C.D., Seaford on 6 June 1918.
James returned to Canada aboard SS METAGAMA and demobilized 6 May 1919 at the Quebec Depot. James died 19 August 1950.
Leonard Norris 820494 was born in 3 October 1894 and attested 30 March 1916. Leonard stood 5' 10" tall, medium complexion, brown eyes, and brown hair. He enlisted with the 141st Battalion at Stratton, Ontario, 30 March 1916. Leonard was granted farm furlough from 1 May to 1 June 1916, and once again from 19 July 1916 to 9 August 1916. He was caught for smoking on parade, 16 August 1916, and awarded five days F.B. His family still needed help at the farm, and it would have been quite normal for the C.E.F. to discharge Leonard on compassionate grounds, yet, this was not to be.
Leonard arrived in England aboard SS OLYMPIC (the TITANIC sister ship) 7 May 1917, and was Taken on Strength by the 18th Reserve Battalion. Proceeded overseas for service with 8th Canadian Infantry Battalion, 7 September 1917, arriving at his unit in the field near Passchendaele on 11 September 1917.
Leonard would spend exactly one month on the Western Front. While being relieved in the Wieltje area on the night of 11 November 1917 following the Battle of Passchendaele, Leonard is gassed and admitted to No. 6 Cdn Field Ambulance, Shell gas. Leonard is one of 269 men of the 8th Battalion to be wounded during the battle (107 missing, and 35 killed).
Leonard is invalided to England and admitted for Gas Poisoning Shell, 7 December 1917, 4th General Hospital, Plymouth and transferred to Basingstoke, 8 December 1917. Discharged, to No. 3 Canadian Casualty Depot, Seaford, 14 January 1918. Like his brother James, Leonard's lungs have been too damaged, and he will never return to the front.
Admitted V.D.S., 23 March 1918, Canadian Hospital, Etchinghill, discharged 16 May 1918. Leonard returned aboard SS OLYMPIC (the same ship he left Canada upon) disembarking at Halifax on 17 January 1919.
Leonard worked for CN Rail and died of cancer in 1955. His son Leonard Norris is a 96-year-old veteran, and Canadian Dispatch Rider of the Second World War.

[Phil]

This post would seem to confirm that it was a MM and Bar,

https://cefrg.ca/blog/the-norris-brothe ... great-war/

Sergeant Alfred Norris MM and Bar 438822 born 10 June 1892 in Bilston, Staffordshire, England.

[Temujin]

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[Temujin]

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[PoppyHomewood]

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This is exactly what I wanted. Thanks so much. Such a brave man. I really appreciate your help.

[PoppyHomewood]

This post would seem to confirm that it was a MM and Bar,

https://cefrg.ca/blog/the-norris-brothe ... great-war/

Sergeant Alfred Norris MM and Bar 438822 born 10 June 1892 in Bilston, Staffordshire, England.

Thank you for your help.