Biography

Family background

Laurence Norman Cholmeley was born on the 12th March 1905 in Woking, Surrey. His parents were Norman Goodford Cholmely (1863-1947) and Mary Kathleen Cholomeley (nee Batten) (1882-1960). Norman Goodford Cholmeley had been educated at Charterhouse School and Balliol College Oxford before joining the Indian Civil Service from 1884. He had been assistant commissioner in Burma from 1884, then as deputy commissioner and finally commissioner from 1903. He was made a Companion of the Star of India in 1910, before he retired in 1911. Norman and Mary had three children: Irene Adelaide De Chievre Cholmeley (b.1904), Laurence Norman Cholmeley and Francis Nangle (Toby) Cholmeley (b. 1909). Irene and Francis were born in Minbu and Magwe in Burma (now Myanmar), respectively, while Laurence was born in the UK. At the time of the 1911 census, Laurence was with his aunt, Helen Lily Batten, sister and brother, all visiting Cross House in Ixworth, Suffolk, the home of Edward Purefoy Huddleston, his wife, daughter and sister in law. They were being looked after by three servants, a cook, a house parlourmaid and a nurse.

Ten years later, in 1921, much had changed in the Cholmeley family. Norman had retired and was living with Mary Kathleen at Uphill, Killerton Road, Bude in Devon with one servant. Irene Cholmeley was one of many boarders at Elmshurst, East End Road, East Fincheley. No occupation or description of her work was entered, so we can only assume that she could live off her own means. Francis Nangle Cholmely was in the Junior House School in Tiverton, Devon. There is no record of Laurence Norman Cholmeley in the 1921 census and we believe that by that time he may have joined the army and may be serving overseas. By 1932, The Army List, shows Lieutenant L N Cholmeley in the Royal Artillery.

Laurence Cholmeley married Patience Mary Williamson on the 15th July 1936.

Our next trace of Laurence Norman Cholmeley partly explains his connection to Linton. On the 1937, 1938 and 1939 electoral rolls for Linton, Laurence is listed with Patience at Southernhey, Linton. However, by the time of the National Registration, only Patience, with a single servant, Gladys Stephenson, is listed at that address, probably indicating that Laurence had already gone to join his unit at the start of the war.

Service record

Various Army Lists for the war years shows Laurence's promotions. Captain in 1939 to 1941, and Major in 1943 to 1945. In 1941 he was the Deputy Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster General in the York area of Northern Command. Further details of his service are not yet available.

After the war

Laurence remained in the army when the war ended. In 1947 he was awarded the General Service Medal for his service in Palestine. and by that time he was a temporary Lieutenant Colonel and in 1957 he had been promoted to Brigadier when he was awarded the CBE.

Laurence Norman Cholmeley died on the 26th September 1991 at Broadstreet House, Lyminge, Kent.

Biography last updated 16 January 2024 15:00:31.