Norm was born at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Victoria, BC, on July 4, 1925. He was raised by his parents in the Royal Oak area with his three older brothers and three older sisters. In 1939 at the age of 14, and still in school, he joined the Reserve Army. In December of 1941 he joined the Navy and in March of 1942 was sent to Sydney, Nova Scotia for his basic training. He spent the majority of his naval career defending his country in the Battle of the Atlantic through many rough seas during World War II. Norm was discharged from the Navy in September 1945 and returned to Victoria.
Norm was a successful salesman and grocer in Oak Bay, serving 10 years as an Alderman on the Oak Bay Council. Norm received his Chartered Life Underwriter Designation from the University of Toronto in 1976 and had a successful career as an underwriter. He finished his career in Ottawa as a Member of the Pension Review Board of Canada with his final two years as the Chairman of the Veterans Appeal Board.
Photo below, left: in Bermuda Shorts in Bermuda, when he was Quartermaster for the Day onboard HMCS Trois-Rivières (1944) (Navy).
Photo below, middle: in his Navy Uniform, home on sick leave in 1944 after 350 lb. depth charger came loose at sea in a severe storm, smashed against his ankle, and broke it.
Photo below, right: Norman and a fellow sailor stand onboard HMCS Trois-Rivières (he was a Gunner) in front of the depth charge throwers.
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