Norman Dark

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Sun, 13/12/2015 - 16:23

First Name:

Norman

Last Name:

Dark

Mother's Name:

Laura Dark nee Brown

Father's Name:

Benjamin Dark

Date Enlisted:

Monday, September 6, 1915

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

55th Battalion

Company:

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Wednesday, September 26, 1917

Place of Death:

Polygon Wood, Belgium

Cause of Death:

Killed in action

Details:

Norman Dark (Service No 4787) was born in Lambeth, London, England around 1892. In 1914 he and his sister emigrated to Australia and settled in Berry, N.S.W.

When Norman enlisted at the age of 23 he was single and worked as a motor mechanic.

Norman embarked from Sydney on board HMAT A15 Star of England with 15th Reinforcements, 3rd Battalion on 8th March 1916. When he arrived in Egypt Norman was transferred to 11 Platoon, C Company, 55th Battalion, and the troops were sent on to France, arriving on 29th June 1916.

The 55th Battalion served at Fromelle and Norman seems to have been one of very few who were uninjured. Norman served on the Western Front until his death on 26th September 1917. At around 7am, while digging-in near Polygon Wood Norman was killed instantly by a shell. He was buried at the time but the location of his grave has been lost.

Norman is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres, Belgium.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, DARK N