Norman Clarry 1897-1977

6049 Private N. Clarry, 4^th Bn., Guards Machine Gun Regiment [formerly 33605 Grenadier Guards] was born 1897 at Cockfield.  In 1901 he lived with his grandparents Walter and Elizabeth Clarry at Esperley Lane.  He initially attended Cockfield C of E School then the Council School from January 1907.  In 1911, the family lived at Bleak Terrace, Cockfield.  He left school in July 1911 and worked as a coal miner [putter] at Gordon House Colliery.  In February 1916 he attested joining the Grenadier Guards and was mobilized 29 April 1918, posted 30 April 1918, transferred to the 4^th Machine Gun Regiment in July 1918 and entered France 5 October 1918.  He was in Cologne, Germany in January 1919 before returning home later in the month.  He was in the Army Reserve [Class Z] until 25 February 1919.  He received British War and Victory medals.  In September 1918, he married Sarah Richardson from Lynesack and they lived at Breckon Hill, Butterknowle. He died June 1977 at Halifax aged 79.