Norman Chell (1898–1978)

Trooper

Canadian Expeditionary Force 2293846  

Photo courtesy Jack Chell

Photo of Norman Chell

Biography [ Jack Chell]
Norman Chell was born at Fritchley on 26 April 1898. He was the second of the three children of John Walker Chell and Catherine Rodgers, with two brothers. He also had three older half-siblings from his mother’s previous marriage. Norman was raised at Fritchley but immigrated to Empress, Alberta, Canada aged eighteen, on 14th July 1916 from Liverpool aboard SS Scandinavian, to join his half-brother Joseph Radford, who had immigrated to Canada in 1907.
Norman settled at the village of Empress in Alberta where he worked as a farmer. He attested, on the 14th May 1918, into the Canadian Expeditionary Force, listed as being a farmer. He served with the rank of Trooper.
After the war, Norman returned to Empress in Alberta and married Violet May Burgess in 1922. They had two children, a daughter and a son. The family later relocated to England in 1935 and settled at Sinfin at Derby. They remained in England for the duration of the Second World War, returning to Canada in 1946. The family settled at the town of Hanna in east-central Alberta and Norman and his wife remained residents of Hanna for the rest of their lives.
Norman Chell passed away at Hanna in Alberta, Canada, in August 1978, aged eighty years.

Newspaper report

Derbyshire Courier, 1February 1919
Another local soldier over leave is Trooper Norman Chell, Fritchley, who came from Rhyl last Saturday. Trooper Chell, who is with the Canadians, emigrated to the Dominion in July, 1916, to take up farming with his brother Joseph, in Saskatchewan. He was actively associated with the Fritchley Congregational Church before his emigration, and was the organist there. He expects to be amongst those to be demobilised on his return to Rhyl.

Service Record
His attestation papers state he was aged 20 years and 1 month, his height was 5 foot 4 inches and he had brown eyes and hair. He was a Presbyterian with a scar on his right elbow.

Norman Chell's brother John Chell is also on the Roll of Honour.

CENSUS INFORMATION

1901: Fritchley

Forename Surname Relationship Age Occupation Where born
John Chell Head 35 Machinist steam joiner Crich
Catherine Chell wife 38   Crich
Joseph Radford wife's son 14 Office boy wire works Crich
John Chell son 4   Crich
Norman Chell son 2   Crich

RG13 piece 3231 folio 11 page 14

1911: Woodbine Cottage, Fritchley

Forename Surname Relationship Age Occupation Where born
John Chell Head 44 Wood machinist Crich
Catherine Chell wife 47   Crich
Alice Radford daughter 22 Dressmaker Crich
John Chell son 14 Office wire works Crich
Norman Chell son 12   Crich
Stanley Chell son 5   Crich
George Maynards boarder 24 Wood machinist Crich

RG14PN20983 RG78PN1251 RD436 SD4 ED12 SN173