Private Thomas Norse

Private Thomas Norse
2117, 1st/4th Battalion, East Lancashire

Born in Blackburn in 1880, by the age of ten Thomas Norse was a child worker in a local cotton mill, later moving to a paper mill, while at the same time making a name for himself turning out as a striker for local amateur sides. He came to the notice of Everton while playing for Blackburn St Philips and was soon on his way to Goodison. However, after just two reserve games in March 1903 he was released and Thomas returned to his former club.

When war broke out he enlisted with the East Lancashire Regiment and landed in Gallipoli on 9 May 1915. On 24 June 1915, the battalion war diary notes one fatality by name, that of Private Thomas Norse. No cause is given, but it was most likely from shell fire, killed in action aged thirty-four. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial to the Missing at Gallipoli.

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