NORWOOD, JOHN,
Lieutenant, was the son of J Norwood, of Pembury Lodge, near
Beckenham. He was educated at Abbey School, Beckenham, at Rugby and at
Oxford, and entered the 5th (Princess Charlotte of Wales's) Dragoon Guards
on 8 February 1899. He served in the Boer War from 1899 to 1900, and was
awarded the Victoria Cross [London Gazette, 27 July 1900]: "John Norwood,
Lieutenant, 5th Dragoon Guards. Date of Act of Bravery: 30 October 1899.
On the 30th October 1899, this officer went out from Ladysmith in charge of
a small patrol of the 5th Dragoon Guards. They came under a heavy tire from
the enemy, who were posted on a ridge in great force. The patrol, which had
arrived within about 600 yards of the ridge, then retired at full speed.
One man dropped, and Second Lieutenant Norwood galloped back about 300 yards
through heavy fire, dismounted, and picking up the fallen trooper, carried
him out of fire on his back, at the same time leading his horse with one
hand. The enemy kept up an incessant fire during the whole time that Second
Lieutenant Norwood was carrying the man until he was quite out of range".
He became Captain, 5th Dragoon Guards, and joined the Reserve of Officers 1
February 1911. Captain J Norwood, 2nd County of London Yeomanry (Captain,
Reserve of Officers), attached 5th Dragoon Guards, was killed in action
on 8 September 1914, the day before his 38th birthday, at Sablonnieres,
France. He was buried in the new communal cemetery. Norwood was
the first VC recipient killed in the Great War.
There is a memorial to him in Peckham Church. His son, John,
become a Group Captain in the RAF.
Norwood winning the VC (From the ILN)
VC, QSA (1) DofL, KSA (2), 1914-15 Star, BWM, VM, 1911 Coronation Medal.
