KENNINGTON - Kent Fallen

HIGHT N.D.J
Second Lieutenant Norman Dudley John HIGHT MC. 10 th Battalion, Essex Regiment.
Formerly 3 rd Battalion, Essex Regiment. Formally (Private 184169) 89 th Regiment, Canadian
Expeditionary Forces (Infantry). Reported missing in action on 21 st March 1918 (the first day of
the German Spring Offensive of 1918) Died 24 th March 1918 aged 27 years. Born 19 th July 1890
at Monmouth, Wales. Son of Charles Rodney Symonds Hight and Annie Mary Hight of “Denfield”,
The Lees, Kennington, Ashford, Kent. Husband of Winnifred Beatrice Hight of “Homecroft”,
Predannock, Mullion, Cornwell. Formerly West Calgary, Canada. Buried in the Chauny
Communal Cemetery British Extension, Aisne, France. Grave reference 2.F.7.
Eduvated at the Dover College and the Countess of Warwick’s Agricultural College, Dunmow,
Essex.
Norman originally enlisted in the Canadian Army at Calgary in Canada aged 25 years on the 7 th
January 1916. Before joining up Norman was a Rancher/Farmer. He originally enlisted as a
Private soldier but was selected for a commission shortly after. Somehow, he changed over from
the Canadian Army to the British Army. His records show that Norman was going to be sent to
the 3 rd battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment but for some reason this was changed at the last
minute to the Essex Regiment.
The Ashford Absentee Voters List for 1918 gives –
Denfield, Kennington
Norman Dudley HIGHT.
His body was found by German soldiers on 3 rd July 1918 and was buried South West of Caillouel
57 miles West of the road to Bethancourt. His body was exhumed by British Authorities in 1919
and taken to the Chauny Communal Cemetery Extension.
Norman was awarded the Military Cross (MC) for courage and leadership.
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