T H E C O V E N A N T E R
hide and seek games with her mischievous in full support. UDI also had an effect of
antics. ‘There I was, an officer in a mountain his civilian career when he was seconded to
regiment, perching like a pair of bellows - the Tobacco Corporation; involved in the
more hectic than mountain warfare’.
Norman returned to France in 1944 with
the 9th Bn. The Cameronians with the
‘D’ Day invasion in Normandy where he
was wounded and evacuated to England
to recuperate. This followed various
secondments including the War Office
Selection Boards in UK and the British
Army of the Rhine 55WOSB (OCTU) for a
tour of duty in Germany. In 1947 he was
released and posted back to 7th Bn. The
Cameronains as a Territorial Army Officer
in Glasgow with the rank of Captain.
In 1948 Norman emigrated to Rhodesia
to join his cousin. Rachel Semple and her
husband Ebbie, to help manage their farm
in Banket where he met his wife Rosamund
Bowker and was married in May 1949.
In 1951, Norman started his career in the
tobacco industry when he joined Gallaher
Limited. This spanned a period of 45 years
to include senior production, warehousing
and shipping management position with
Elia Salzman, the Tobacco Corporation
and Universal Tobacco and as a specialist
warehousing and tobacco consultant to
Bridge Shipping.
In May 1952 his eldens son, Douglas was
born followed by his second son Hamish co-ordination of the production, storage
in 1954. and shipping of excess tobacco stock
In tandem with his civilian in tobacco accumulating as a result of international
Norman joined the 1st Bn. Royal Rhodesia economic sanctions placed on Rhodesia.
Regiment (1RRR) (Territorial Force) in Norman’s medals and decorations
1951 as a Lieutenant and was promoted to epitomise apparent diametric contradictions
Captain (Company Commander) in 1954 of this turbulent era through to independence
and Major (Second in Command) in 1955. in 1980. Granted an OBE for services to
The ‘Winds of Change’ in Southern Africa colonial Rhodesia as Officer Commanding
and the rise of African Nationalism saw 1RRR, this was followed by the granting of an
numerous states of emergency declared by independence Commemorative Decoration
the governments of the day and Norman for valuable services to the so called ‘rebel
serving in all countries of the then Federation state’ of Rhodesia post UDI. Zimbabwean
of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. This included independence culminated in the awarding
the 1RRR being urgently dispatched to of the Zimbabwe Independence Medal.
Nyasaland during a period of unrest in Norman’s allegiance to ‘Queen and Country’
1959. Norman was tasked to stabilise the remained absolutely steadfast in line with
situation, arrest Dr Hastings Banda and the stated allegiance in the Independence
return with the Battalion to Salisbury. This Declaration; his issue was with the British
was accomplished. Later Dr Banda went of Government. In his redesigning the
to lead Malawi into independence after the Regimental badge after Rhodesia became a
break-up of the Federation. In 1962 Norman republic the retention of the crown in the
was promoted to Lt Col and took command centre of the badge was pertinent example
of the 1RRR and was instrumental in taking of this allegiance.
the Battalion to a full war footing with a In 1967 Norman handed over command
counter-insurgency operational focus. of the Battalion but continued his
November 1965 saw the Rhodesia involvement with the now Rhodesia
Government's Unilateral Declaration of Regiment as Honourary Colonel of the
Independence with the Rhodesia Army 1st, 5th and 8th Battalions. He continued
including 1RRR under Norman’s command to provide the benefit of his operational
0
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77