Lt-Colonel Cliff Norbury RIP

Kyt · Sep 4, 2008

Lieutenant-Colonel Cliff Norbury - Telegraph

Lieutenant-Colonel Cliff Norbury, who has died aged 88, won an MC at the Rhine Crossing and subsequently had a successful career in industry.

On March 24 1945, 6 Airborne Division landed east of the Rhine; Norbury, then a major, was serving as DAQMG. Both the other A/Q staff officers were killed and he had the task of setting up Rear Divisional HQ while under heavy fire from artillery, mortars and small arms as well as organising the supply of the fighting units.

The collection and distribution of supply drops was made extremely hazardous by persistent enemy action and severe casualties. A shortage of ammunition might have tipped the scales but Norbury drove his Jeep all over the divisional area, maintaining continuity of supplies with complete disregard for the enemy fire.

Towards evening, when the order was received to fall back to main divisional HQ, he organised the withdrawal with great skill and courage under the very noses of the enemy. He was awarded an immediate MC.

Cliff Clarence Norbury was born at Chingford, Essex, on November 9 1919 and educated at Ardingly College, Sussex. After working as a management trainee with the Naafi, in January 1940 he enlisted in 1st Battalion the Queen's Westminster Rifles and, after officer training, was commissioned into the Essex Regiment.

In the mess, the senior officers talked constantly about the First World War and Norbury made a vow not to bore younger generations with tales of bygone deeds when he reached higher rank.

He was posted to the 10th Battalion, based at Dovercourt, Essex, as a platoon commander and for the next six months he was deployed in the garden of a convent on coastal defence duties.

In 1942 his unit became the 9th Battalion the Parachute Regiment and the following year he was posted to HQ 6th Airborne Division, first as Staff Captain Q and then as DAQMG. He then took part in operations in Normandy (he was mentioned in dispatches), the Battle of the Ardennes, the Rhine Crossing and the advance to the Baltic.

After a spell as a company commander with the 9th Battalion in Palestine, in 1947 Norbury returned to England where he served as adjutant and training major in the newly formed 14th Battalion Parachute Battalion (TA).

A posting to HQ Southern Command followed attendance at Staff College. He then rejoined Essex Regiment and served as a company commander in the 1st Battalion in BAOR and Korea. Always keen on athletics, he built up a very successful battalion team that won divisional and BAOR awards.

In 1954 Norbury was appointed brigade major 26th Gurkha Brigade, then involved in Malayan operations based in Seremban. He was again mentioned in dispatches.

Following the amalgamation of the Essex and Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire Regiments with the newly named 1st Battalion 3rd East Anglian Regiment, he led the advance party to Malaya.

In 1962 Norbury took command of 1st Battalion 3rd East Anglian Regiment (subsequently re-designated 3rd Battalion the Royal Anglian Regiment) and accompanied it to Northern Ireland and then Berlin.

After two more staff appointments, he retired from the Army aged 50. He joined Powell Duffryn Chemical Oil and Storage Company as London manager and company secretary, and during the next 12 years he took on additional responsibilities in South Africa and St Vincent, Cape Verde Islands.

After retiring from the company, he settled at Camberley and became director of the Surrey branch of the Red Cross – an appointment he filled for five years. In his spare time he enjoyed parties, golf and bridge.

He was appointed MBE in 1951 and Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur in 2004 as part of the 60th anniversary of the D-Day celebrations.

Cliff Norbury died on July 25. He married, in 1942, Eileen McCormick. She predeceased him and he is survived by their son and daughter.
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Antipodean Andy · Sep 7, 2008

A long career that saw action in "peace time". RIP.

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Lt-Colonel Cliff Norbury RIP

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