Reginald Havill Norman

Brigadier Reginald Havill Norman, (10 October 1893 – 28 August 1973) was a decorated senior officer in the Australian Army and a ship-owner. With "an alert and energetic personality and a brisk demeanour," he was "widely known and respected in shipping, military and social circles both in Victoria and other states of the Commonwealth."

Early life Reginald Havill Norman was born in Kent Town, a suburb of Adelaide, on 10 October 1893, the only child of Frederick John Havill Norman (1862–1926) by his marriage in 1892 to Elizabeth Maria Richardson (1862–1947).

First World War Brigadier General John Gellibrand (wearing a hat) and his staff having breakfast in a shell hole in Sausage Valley, August 1916. In the background is Major R. H. Norman.

17 days after the outbreak of the First World War, on 14 August 1914, Norman applied for a commission with the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force (AN&MEF) in Sydney. He was appointed as a second lieutenant and left from Cockatoo Island aboard HMAT Berrima the following day. Fighting began on 11 September in German New Guinea, with German forces surrendering the following day. Norman was appointed as the garrison adjutant on 2 October. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant on 1 January 1915 and was appointed as a staff officer on 14 January. On 4 March, he was discharged from the AN&MEF. the day before he was to return to France. He transferred to the 48th Battalion on 23 November and was promoted to the rank of major the following day, at which point he was seconded to the 12th Infantry Brigade headquarters. After fighting ceased at the Battle of Passchendaele (during which Norman was again mentioned in despatches), the 12th Brigade returned to France to curb the German spring offensive.

Norman was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) during the Allied advance on 8 August. The citation for the award reads as follows: For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty under heavy artillery and machine gun fire; this officer went forward and got into touch with advanced troops, ascertaining their position and establishing liaison between units. He was untiring in his efforts to promote the success of the operation. On 25 September, he was briefly seconded to the United States Army, and returned to the 12th Brigade on 2 October, where he was again posted, this time to an officers course at the University of Cambridge, which he left in January 1919, by which time the armistice with Germany in November had brought an end to the war.

On 5 April, he was awarded the Belgian Croix de Guerre for contributions to the Allied advance on 8 August 1918. He was discharged from the Australian Imperial Force later that month.

Personal life Norman married Narelle Bessie Brunker Sherbon, daughter of Major William James Sherbon and Mary Ann Elizabeth Brunker (daughter of James Brunker), on 20 October 1920 in St James' Church, Sydney. They had one daughter, Rosemary Havill Norman.

He was a member of the Royal Melbourne Golf Club.