This site commemorates the men and women of Collingham, Linton and Micklethwaite who served during World War 1.
Graydon, Norman
(1891-1971)
 

Rank and Unit at End of World War One

Rank Able Seaman

Service Number J61756

Service Royal Navy

Ship HMS Saracen

Pre-war Occupation*/marital status**

Trade or Occupation pre-war: Tailor
Marital status: Single


* Taken from attestation papers or 1911 census
** Marital status on enlistment or at start of war
Connection with Collingham, Linton or Micklethwaite and reason for inclusion on this web site
  • Lived in Collingham, Linton or Micklethwaite immediately prewar or during the war
  • Named as an Absent Voter due to Naval or Military Service on the 1918 or 1919 Absent Voter list for Collingham, Linton or Micklethwaite

Biography

Family background

Norman Graydon was born in 1891 in Halifax, the son of Walter and Annie Graydon. Norman was one of three children, along with his brother Harold and sister Mary Emeline.

At the date of the 1911 census, Norman was living at Woodlands, Collingham with his parents and siblings and a servant, Emily Fletcher. Norman's father, Walter, was a master tailor, and Norman and his brother were both assistant tailors.

Service Record

Norman was a member of the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve with a service number of Y1373, and so he was enlisted in the war into the Royal Navy on the 10th Novermber 1916. There he served as Able Seaman J61756.

Norman's service record shows he was first enlisted as an Ordinary Seaman in HMS Victory I where he would have undergone basic training. On the 24th January 1917, Norman was posted to HMS Attentive II. This was the shore base for the Dover Patrol and he saw active service as part of the Dover Patrol on HMS Saracen, a Tribal class destroyer of the Royal Navy launched in 1908 and sold in 1919. Originally allocated to the 1st Destroyer Flotilla, during the First World War she served in the North Sea and the English Channel with the 6th Destroyer Flotilla.

Norman was promoted to Able Seaman on the 1st March 1918.

A few months later, on the 4th, 11th and 18th August 1918, the banns for Norman's marriage were read in Collingham and Thorner Churches and he married Ethel Mary Peckett in Thorner on the 17th September 1918 while he was still in Naval Service.

Norman was finally released from Naval service on the 16th February 1919.

After the war

Norman returned to the area after his Naval service, living in Thorner in 1920, and then from 1921 to 1928 at South View, Collingham. Norman and Ethel then left Collingham and by 1939, Norman and Ethel were living at 19, Hawks Nest Gardens, Leeds with their son, Roger T Graydon. Norman gave his occupation as a clerk at the Ministry of Labour.

Norman died in 1971.

Norman's brother, Harold, also served in the Great War.

Biography last updated 25 November 2019 12:13:38.

Sources

1911 Census. The National Archives. Class RG14 Piece 25962
Royal Navy Register of Seamen's Service (ADM188). The National Archives.
Royal Navy Roll of War Medals. The National Archives. (ADM171/103)

If you have any photographs or further details about this person we would be pleased to hear from you. Please contact us via: alan.berry@collinghamanddistrictwararchive.info