Norman Francis Wace

Born: 1899

Died: 4 November 1918

Rank and Regiment: Rifleman 45964 in the 13th Battalion, The Rifle Brigade

Resting Place: Ghissignies British Cemetery, France 

Memorials: St. Michael, Coston, United Kingdom

He was born 1899, the son of Richard Walter Wace and Louisa Wace, of Coston Hall, where he lived with eight other siblings. He was baptised on 27 May 1901 at St Michael’s Church, Coston. His name actually appears to have been Francis Norman. He had an older brother Alwyn Ralph born about 1895 and an older sister Sybil Mary born about 1898. He and Sybil were baptised at the same time.

There is a photograph of him dating from about 1912 at Paston Grammar School (at North Walsham; now part of City College Norwich): Norman Wace is in the second row from the back in the middle of the door. Apparently his nickname was “Poggy”. He was a boarder at that school, appearing there on the 1911 Census.

He served with the Rifle Brigade. Like the poet Wilfred Owen, he was killed on 4 November 1918, exactly one week before the Armistice. He was initially buried at Louvignies before re-interment at Ghissignies British Cemetery. The inscription on his tombstone reads:

HE GAVE HIS LIFE THAT OTHERS MIGHT LIVE

The wooden cross which originally marked his grave is in the church at Coston, which now belongs to the Churches Conservation Trust.

Alwyn (or Alwyne) Wace, using his middle name of Ralph, enlisted in the Royal Welch Fusiliers and survived the War, going on to farm at Walsingham and eventually dying in 1983.