WWII veteran, Norman Bartlett, died on 17 March - just one week short of his 99th birthday
Norrie Bartlett joined the Navy in June 1942, aged 16. The minimum age was 17 so he used the common excuse of the time - that he had forgotten his birth certificate.
During WWII, Norrie participated in D-Day, the Allied assault on Nazi-occupied France. On 6 June 1944, his role was supporting the defence bombardment of Juno and Gold with HMS Belfast, other cruisers and 11 destroyers.
Born in London, Norrie never knew his parents and after time in foster care was adopted in 1927. On 23 December 1944, he married Betty at St Jude’s Church in Englefield Green and the following year his naval career took him to Japan.
Peter Bartlett, Norrie’s son, said: “Dad was always very sociable and made lifelong friends in all of his many adventures. But he was steadfast with Betty, my mother, with whom he fell in love at the age of 12. We were never too sure about her views on him signing up for the Navy at age 16 years 1 month though! As her health declined, the support he received from his many friends at North Hants Golf Club (NHGC) and Hart Male Voice Choir kept him alive.
In 2020, thanks to the NHGC Captain, he was very proud to deliver the PoW Prayer at the National Arboretum on VJ day, and then represent the Royal Navy at the Festival of Remembrance.
His life was changed when he met Dick Goodwin and Colin Mills from the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans. They enabled him to take part in the Dutch Liberation celebrations and D-Day commemorations in Normandy. His D-Day was from a mile offshore chucking shells at the German emplacements. He found, at last, that he could tell of his war experiences, while raising money for charity, and starring in TV interviews. The friendship Colin and the drivers and notably the other veterans gave him sustained him. When Colin and Richard Collie arranged his "piping the side" on HMS Victory, his last ship for demob, he said he could die happy. He did. Thank you to all of you.”
Colin Mills, chairman of the Taxi Charity, said: “Norrie made a huge impression on us all and his death has left a huge hole in our hearts. I am so very fortunate that Norrie and I became great friends and enjoyed many trips together to the continent and across the UK with the Taxi Charity.”
Paul Cook, vice chairman on the Taxi Charity, said: “God bless him - we shall never forget what he did for our country. May our dear friend rest in peace.”
