Charles Norris Mee

Charles Norris (possibly Norris Charles), known as Norris, was the son of Joseph Mee and his wife Ann (nee Fox). His father was born in Quarndon, Leicestershire, in about 1840 and his mother in Shelford, Nottinghamshire in 1850 (A/M/J Basford). They were married in 1867 (A/M/J Nottingham) and had at least five surviving children: Ada Eliza b. abt 1871 (Calcutta, India), Joseph b. abt 1876 (Aldershot), George b. abt 1878 (North Camp, Aldershot), Charles Norris b. 10 May 1879 (A/M/J Radford) and Francis b. 1881 (A/M/J Radford). It is probable that Joseph was a veteran of the Indian Mutiny and served in India after his marriage since his only daughter, the eldest child, was born in Calcutta. His two eldest sons were born in Aldershot so it is likely that he did not leave the army until after the birth of his second son, George. By 1881 Joseph (42) was a framework knitter. He and his wife Ann (32) were living at 7 John Square, Sneinton, with their four children Ada (9), George (6), Joseph (4) and Charles Norris (1). Their fourth son, Francis, was born at the end of the same year. In 1891 the family was living at 12 North Street, Sneinton. Joseph was now a hotel porter and Ann was working as a lace clipper. Four of their five children were at home on the night of the census: Ada (19) who was in the hosiery trade, Joseph (14) a bobbin hand, Charles Norris (12) and Francis (9). Ada Eliza married Albert Bolton in 1891 (O/N/D Nottingham). She and Albert had at least three children: Norris Charles b. 5 or 6 March 1895 and baptised on 31 March 1895 (Normanton St Giles, Derbyshire), Kate b. 1896 (A/M/J Basford) and John b. 1898 (A/M/J Nottingham). At the time of the birth of their first child in 1895 Ada and Albert were living at The Barracks, Derby; Albert was a drummer in the 1st Derbyshire Regiment. In 1901 they were living in Nottingham but Albert, who was at home on the night of the census, was still in the army as he was described as a soldier 'on furlough'. Ada (29) was working as a shirt maker 'on her own account'. They now had three children, Norris (6), Kate (4) and John (3). Ada died in 1906 (O/N/D Nottingham) at the age of 35. Charles Norris married Mary Annie Whiteley in 1901 (O/N/D Nottingham). In 1911 they were living at 28 Lyndhurst Road, Sneinton, Nottingham; they had no children. They probably emigrated to Newmarket in Canada before the outbreak of war and according to the notices of Charles' death had three sons. Mary must have returned to England as the CWGC record, compiled after the war, gives her address as 39 Massey Street, Blue Bell Hill, Nottingham. It is likely Joseph Mee senior was severely injured in a road accident in 1893 while at work (see 'extra information') and this may have contributed to his early death at the age of 58 in 1898 (O/N/D Nottingham). Charles Norris's brother Francis enlisted in the Sherwood Foresters in October 1902 on a 12 year engagement (3 years with the Colours, 9 years in the Reserve) and was mobilized on 5 August 1914. He served in France from 19 September but was taken prisoner the following month on 20 October and not repatriated until 3 January 1919. He was demobilized on 30 March the same year. He qualified for the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. Francis had married Clara Hannah Chapman at Sneinton parish church on 6 July 1907 and in 1911 they were living at 19 Upper Eldon Street, Sneinton. Francis (29) was a leather dresser. He and Clara (26) had two children, Mary Annie (3) and Ada Florence (4 months). However, it appears that Ada Florence died in infancy as his updated Army Service Record gives the names of only three children: Mary Annie b. 3 May 1908, Eva(?) b. 16 December 1912 and Frederick b. 6 April (year illegible but possibly 1914). It is likely that by the time Francis was mobilized the family was living off Walker Street, Sneinton. When Francis enlisted in 1902 he named his mother, married sister and brothers Joseph and George as his next of kin. At the time Ada was living at 5 Kelly Court, Colwick Street, Sneinton, and his mother and two brothers at 81 Newington Street, Sneinton. Charles Norris's mother, Ann Mee, died in 1902 (O/N/D Nottingham) shortly after her youngest son Francis enlisted; she was 53 years old. George appears to have joined the Yorkshire Regiment (corporal) in May 1904 and after his time expired joined the Special Reserve on 13 February 1908. He later joined the Sherwood Foresters (2550 Private) and was mobilized on 5 August 1914 serving in France from 11 November. He was killed in action on 16 September 1916 (Thiepval Memorial). He was unmarried but living with Mrs Sarah Reed who completed a form for the army listing his surviving blood relatives naming George's two surviving brothers, Francis and Joseph, and herself as his 'dependant' together with her two children by him, Annie Mary Reed and George Henry Reed. Sarah and the children were living at 3 Pleasant Terrace, Upper Eldon Street, Sneinton. The notice in the local paper in 1917 of Charles Norris's and George's deaths show that their older brother, Joseph, also served in the war. Charles Norris's nephew, Norris Charles Bolton, his sister Ada's eldest child, also served in the war initially in the South Notts Hussars (1990) and later in the Machine Gun Corps (164431 Corporal). It is likely that he was in the Territorial Force prior to 1914 as at the time of the 1911 Census when he was 18 years old and a farm labourer he was recorded in Newcastle Upon Tyne (Jesmond St Andrew) with the Special Reserve Royal Field Army. He survived the war and married Florence A Briggs in 1919 (A/M/J Nottingham). He died in 1974 (Dec Nottingham) at the age of 79.

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