Captain John Norwood VC

John Norwood was born on 8th Sep 1878, in Beckenham, Kent. He was descended from an ancient line that could be traced back to the marriage of the daughter of Harold Bluetooth, King of Denmark, and the son of King Olaf of Sweden, in the 10th century. Despite his pedigree he was an extremely modest man who was reluctant to take any credit for the act of heroism that won him the VC. He joined the 5th Dragoon Guards in Feb 1899 and went out to the Boer War with them. On 30th Oct 1899, at Ladysmith, 2nd Lt Norwood led a patrol that came under heavy fire, forcing them to withdraw. They retreated at full speed but Private Mouncer was shot in the throat. John Norwood went back 300 yards and picked up the man and carried him on his back under heavy fire from the Boers. He was helped by Private Sibthorpe, and later by Sergeant Harris. Norwood reported Sibthorpe’s act of valour but made no mention of his own part in the action. It was only later that the squadron commander, Capt Hoare, discovered the full truth, but Norwood insisted that he did not want to be recommended for the VC. The report was, however, submitted and 2nd Lt John Norwood was gazetted for the award on 20th July 1900.
He served as a staff officer to Major Bulfin’s column in 1902, being mentioned in despatches. In Dec 1904 he was adjutant of the Calcutta Light Horse, until Nov 1907. He returned to England and married Lilian Collier. They had 3 children, one of whom was also named John and became a Group Captain in the RAF in WW2. John Norwood, now a captain was serving in the Westminster Dragoons in 1914, but when the war began he returned to the 5th Dragoon Guards which was posted to France. On his 36th birthday, 8th Sep 1914 he was in command of 3 Troops of B Squadron, ordered to attack Sablonnieres. He and Capt Robert Partridge were both killed along with two troopers when their Troops were fired on by a large force of Germans. Norwood was the first VC holder to be killed in WW1. He and Partridge are buried at Sablonnieres New Communal Cemetery. There are two memorials to him; one at East Peckham Church, Kent (now closed) and at St Wilfred’s Church, Haywards Heath, Sussex.

Regimental details | Soldiers