Norman Nuttall M.M

The Miltary Medal was awarded to non-commissioned ranks only.  It was awarded for bravery. There will be no more  awarded - the army decoration system changed in 1993 and the Military Medal was discontinued.

The account of Norman's service which follows is short.  Whilst Norman is interested and generous in his account of other people during wartime, he rarely speaks about himself. When questioned he smiles and says little. He has faced more than one interrogation in his life and it is no surprise that we still haven't got much out of him. But Norman was as close to the noise and the blast of war as it is possible to be. Perhaps that tells you as much as you need to know. 

NORMAN NUTTALL worked for the General Electric Company as a Glass blower making neon signs.  He joined the "Terriers" in 1937 as a Medic at 57 General Hospital at Chorlton. 

In 1940 Norman was despatched to Egypt via Freetown, Cape Town, Ceylon (Sri. Lanka), Bombay and changed boats three times during the journey. He was transferred to a Field Ambulance Unit at Mersa Matru and went with it to Greece.

When the Germans overcame resistance in Greece Norman was evacuated and expected to return to Egypt. No such luck for he found himself at Suda Bay, Crete. This period of Norman's war was traumatic, and involved him in being taken prisoner and escaping on three occasions, before finally making his way into Turkey. His ears were damaged during the action in Crete. Norman eventually arrived hack in Cairo where he underwent close interrogation. He was transferred to Intelligence and promoted to sergeant. After undergoing further training he went back to occupied Greece for six months, but we have no information as to what he was doing there.

On his return Norman was posted to the 56th Division at Algiers, and subsequently landed at Salerno on the third day of the invasion. He advanced with the 56th to Cassino where, due to heavy artillery action his ears began to bleed, a recurrence of his injuries during the action in Crete. He was sent to hospital in Naples and then sent back. to Inverness in Scotland, where eventually he was demobbed.

Norman was awarded the Military Medal and the Territorial Service Medal.

When Norman came out of hospital in Naples, he met his wife. They were married at St. Mary's Church in Levenshulme in 1946.  He is a keen stamp collector; all kinds and from all countries.

Norman and his wife now live in Italy and we are always pleased to hear from him.