Norman was born on 5th August 1895 in Hanley, Staffordshire the only child of Frederick James (J.P., a jeweller) and Ellen Mary Pidduck who later lived at Brooklyn, Sandbach Road, Alsager, Stoke-on-Trent. There was also an elder half-sister from his father’s first marriage to Hannah Elizabeth Boughey.
He was educated at Newcastle High School and Mill Hill School (1909 to 1913). Whilst at Mill Hill he was a prefect, holder of the Ousey Bowl, member of the swimming team and a lance corporal in the OTC.
He enlisted on 28th August 1914 as Private, 2725, 5th Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment, was commissioned on 21st February 1915 to 9th Battalion, North Staffordshire Pioneers, and afterwards transferred to the 102nd Company MGC. He went to France in May 1916, and was mentioned in despatches on 13th November 1916 (gazetted 4th January 1917).
Second Lieutenant Norman Andrews Pidduck 102nd Company, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry), died on 1st July 1916, aged 20, during the attack on La Boisselle. The family received many letters from those who served with Norman, a couple of extracts are given below.
Corporal Cox,
'…I was not with the same gun team that went into action with him, but I have scraped what news I could get together concerning his death. We led in the attack 7.30 a.m. July 1st in the line north east of Albert to take the village of La Boiselle. Mr Pidduck had not got very far in the open land when he was killed instantaneously. What men were left in his gun team were obliged to carry on and press forward, and had only sufficient time to make certain he was dead…'
His servant, Private Crockett,
'…I can assure you he died straight and had no pain it was a terrible blow for me I can tell you I crawled out to see for certain that he was dead I got wounded just before he got killed I had a good try to get his body in to the trenches where I was but it was to much for me as I could not walk I had to crawl I was on the field from nine o'clock in the morning till 7 o'clock at night and then I was carried off on a stretcher I asked them to carry my officer in and let me lie for a bit but they said he was dead I knew that for I remained about a half an hour with him before I gave it up...'
After the war Norman’s parents employed his servant, Private Crockett, as their chauffeur.
Norman is also commemorated on the war memorials at Newcastle High School, Mill Hill School, Alsager and Hanley Town Hall.
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