King Tree

Lieutenant
19th (Queen Alexandra's Own Royal) Hussars
who died on Tuesday, 8th October 1918. Age 21.
Additional Information:
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Birtwistle, of "Netherton," Meins Rd., Blackbum.
Cemetery: BUSIGNY COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, Nord, France

Debt of Honour Register
Commonwealth War Graves Commission web site at http://www.cwgc.org/
(2 Marlow Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire SL6 7DX, United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 1628 634221 Fax: +44 1628 771208)

Commonwealth War Graves Commission:
Lieutenant Norman Birtwistle, M.C.

KILLED IN ACTION
LIEUT. NORMAN BIRTWISTLE
http://descentfromadam.wordpress.com/2008/08/07/lieut-norman-birtwistle-killed-in-action/
Mr and Mrs Albert Birtwistle, of Springfield House, Blackburn, have received the news that their fifth son, Lieutenant Norman Birtwistle, M.C. (Hussars) , who had previously been reported missing, was killed in action on the 6th inst. The sad news is conveyed in a letter of condolence from Lieutenant Birtwistle’s captain, who states that the gallant young officer met his death during an assault on an enemy battery which had been giving a good deal of trouble.

Many friends in Blackburn will sympathise with the bereaved parents, who have other four sons in the service. Twenty-one years of age, Lieutenant Birtwistle was educated at Cheltenham College, and then went to Sandhurst Military College, passing thence into the Army where he was extremely well liked by fellow officers and the men of his squadron. He was awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous bravery in action last march when he was in his leg, and after being in hospital in France returned hom on short convalescence leave. In peace days hunting was his favourite pastime and he was a known follower of the Pendle Forest Harriers and the Ribblesdale Buckhounds.
From "http://descentfromadam.wordpress.com/2008/08/07/lieut-norman-birtwistle-killed-in-action/#more-559 by Justin Kirby

Lieutenant Norman Birtwistle M.C.
August 10, 2009
Found this article on about my great uncle Norman Birtwistle from Blackburn Weekly Telegraph (19th October, 1918) on the Cotton Town digitisation project. He was my mother’s Uncle, killed in action in WW1 during the last ever cavalry charge.
http://descentfromadam.wordpress.com/2009/08/10/lieutenant-norman-birtwistle-m-c/#more-1304

Lieutenant Norman Birtwistle, M.C., 19th Hussars, fifth son of Mr. Albert Birtwistle, J.P., and Mrs. Birtwistle, Springfield, Preston New Road, was killed in action in France on the 8th inst, during a cavalry charge on a German battery. Twenty-one years of age, Lieut. Birtwistle was educated at Cheltenham, and was entering upon a military career at Sandhurst when, over three years ago, he received a commission in the Hussars. About two years ago he was drafted to the Western front. In March last, during the great enemy offensive, he was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry, and shortly afterwards was wounded. He returned to England, and on recovery was sent again to France. This week he was reported missing, but a later notification contained the sad news of his death. Four brothers of the deceased officer are with His Majesty’s Forces. Two are with the R.F.A., one is serving at Salonica with the R.H.A., and the other is in the South Wales Borderers. (Photo. by Sharples, Blackburn). Reported by: Blackburn Weekly Telegraph, 19th October, 1918.
http://descentfromadam.wordpress.com/2009/08/10/lieutenant-norman-birtwistle-m-c/#more-1304