Gordon Nornable
Encyclopedia
Gordon Nornable MC
(9 January 1915 – 4 November 2002) won the Military Cross
and Croix de Guerre
in 1944 fighting with the French Maquis
in eastern France
.
Nornable was born at Woodseats
, Sheffield
, the son of Charles Ernest Nornable
. He was educated locally at King Edward VII School
where he excelled at sport (his father had played cricket
for Derbyshire
).
In April 1940 he joined the London Scottish Regiment as a regimental police
officer. In July 1942 he was drafted to the 6th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders, and volunteered to undertake commando missions for the Special Service in France. He was commissioned on the General List in March 1944, having previously been a Sergeant
. In June 1945, as a Lieutenant
, he transferred back to the Gordons. He was awarded the Military Cross
in June 1945.
Apart from his military service, he was a local government officer with Sheffield Public Works Department from 1934 until he retired in 1975. In retirement, Nornable lived at Norton, Sheffield, where he died aged 87.
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(9 January 1915 – 4 November 2002) won the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
and Croix de Guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
in 1944 fighting with the French Maquis
Maquis (World War II)
The Maquis were the predominantly rural guerrilla bands of the French Resistance. Initially they were composed of men who had escaped into the mountains to avoid conscription into Vichy France's Service du travail obligatoire to provide forced labour for Germany...
in eastern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Nornable was born at Woodseats
Woodseats
Woodseats is a district of Sheffield, South Yorkshire in the Graves Park ward. Historically, Norton Woodseats was a village that straddled Derbyshire Lane running from Four Lane Ends to Bolehill , originally in Derbyshire but since 1934, part of the City of Sheffield.The name Woodseats comes from...
, Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, the son of Charles Ernest Nornable
Charles Nornable
Charles Ernest Nornable was an English cricketer who played for Derbyshire in 1909.Nornable was born in Norton, Derbyshire....
. He was educated locally at King Edward VII School
King Edward VII School (Sheffield)
King Edward VII School is a secondary school and language college located in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. KES, named after the reigning monarch, was formed in 1905 when Wesley College was merged with Sheffield Royal Grammar School on the site of the former on Glossop Road...
where he excelled at sport (his father had played cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
for Derbyshire
Derbyshire County Cricket Club
Derbyshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the England and Wales domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Derbyshire...
).
In April 1940 he joined the London Scottish Regiment as a regimental police
Regimental Police
Regimental Police , sometimes called Regimental Provost Staff in the United Kingdom, are soldiers responsible for regimental discipline enforcement and unit custody in the British Army, some other Commonwealth armies and some armed forces structured in the British tradition...
officer. In July 1942 he was drafted to the 6th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders, and volunteered to undertake commando missions for the Special Service in France. He was commissioned on the General List in March 1944, having previously been a Sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
. In June 1945, as a Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
, he transferred back to the Gordons. He was awarded the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
in June 1945.
Apart from his military service, he was a local government officer with Sheffield Public Works Department from 1934 until he retired in 1975. In retirement, Nornable lived at Norton, Sheffield, where he died aged 87.