Gunner 604267 John Thomas Norgove of the 2nd/1st Shropshire Battery Royal Horse Artillery (Territorial Force) was born on the 11th of March 1895 at Madeley and was baptised at Much Wenlock 18th of March the son of John Norgrove (1863 to 1923) and Agnes Norrey (1870 to 1928).

For both the 1901 and 1911 census the family were at The Cottage at Callaughton, Shropshire. John (senior) aged 39 was an estate labourer born at Bitterley, Ludlow, Shropshire. Agnes aged 30 was born at Callaughton. Children recorded, all born at Callaughton, are Frederick aged 8, John aged 6, and Annie Gertrude aged 3.

In 1911, John (senior) is now an estate woodman. He and Agnes have been married for nineteen years and have produced three children, all still alive. Children recorded are John, a grocer’s boy and Annie still at school.

The National School Register for Bourton records his admission to Bourton School 14th of May 1900 and that he left on the 10th of March 1902 and gives his address as Calloughton. He had previously been at Loton. 

The Wellington Journal for the 2nd of June 1906 reports on children at Bourton who won a “first class book prize and a medal” prize for attendance, John being one of them. The prizes were presented by Mrs Whitley and all children were given a “dainty box of chocolates children who attended the Sunday School received a bun". The paper notes that during the year ending the 31st of January the school had been opened 424 times and fifteen children had attended each time. Mrs Lawley thanked Mrs Whitley for her kindness in distributing the prizes and asked for the children to raise three cheers for her which they “were given in the way that only children know how“.

He gained employment with the Great Western Railway. On the 20th of October 1912 he became an engine cleaner at Much Wenlock. On the 9th of July 1913 he became a fireman on a weekly wage of 3/6 at Llanelly. He resigned on health grounds on the 11th of February 1914.

John was an agricultural labourer when he enlisted into the army at Shrewsbury on the 5th of January 1915 . His service record uses the name 'Thomas John' but to save confusion the name “John” will be continued with. At enlistment he was posted to the Reserve. He was discharged on the 14th of July because he “was not likely to be an efficient soldier on medical grounds” - he had been examined at Lambton Park Camp on the 27th of June where he was diagnosed with mitral stenosis.

John’s health deteriorated and he died at the War Hospital at Huddersfield on the 7th of December 1917 aged 22 and is buried in Bourton (Holy Trinity) Churchyard, Shropshire.