Lieutenant Colonel Colin Hugh Boyd Norman

Service number	W243944, WX3421
Ranks Held	Captain, Lieutenant Colonel
Birth Date	20 February 1904
Birth Place	Australia: New South Wales, Sydney
Death Date	25 June 1996
Final Rank	Lieutenant Colonel
Service	Australian Army
Units	24th A-Tk Co 2/28th Australian Infantry Battalion
Place	Sydney
Conflicts/Operations	Second World War, 1939-1945 Second World War, 1939-1945
Gazettes	Published in London Gazette in 1944-01-20 Published in London Gazette in 1941-08-19 Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1943-12-02

Collection items

Rolls

Honours and Awards:

Unit

2/28th Australian Infantry Battalion

Conflict

Second World War, 1939-1945

Rank

Lieutenant Colonel

London Gazette

20 January 1944 on page 391 at position 1

Commonwealth Gazette

02 December 1943 on page 2611 at position 18
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):

Conflict

Second World War, 1939-1945
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):

Conflict

Second World War, 1939-1945
Honours and Awards:

Unit

24th A-Tk Co

Conflict

Second World War, 1939-1945

Rank

Captain

London Gazette

19 August 1941 on page 4788 at position 1

Timeline

Date of birth	20 February 1904
Date and unit at enlinstment (ORs)	02 February 1939
Interwar Service 1	02 February 1939	Tpr 10th Light Horse
Interwar Service 2	01 May 1939	CPlatoon 25th Light Horse(MG)
Date commissioned	28 September 1939
Career summary 2	1939-12	Camp
Career summary 4	05 July 1940	Recruit Reception Depot Claremont (Asst QM and Catering Offr)
Career summary 5	08 August 1940	captain 2/28th battalion
Career summary 6	09 August 1940	seconded officer commanding 24th Brigade anti tank Company
Career summary 8	30 January 1941	arrived Middle East
Career summary 9	1941-02-07 - 1941-03-28	attached Headquarters 24th Br
Career summary 10	28 June 1941	Military Cross
Career summary 11	19 October 1941	attached Headquarters AIF Middle East 12
Career summary 12	02 November 1941	attached Headquarters 9thDivision
Career summary 13	1941-12-07 - 1941-01-31	course Middle East Tactical School #8 Motor Contact officers Course
Career summary 14	11 December 1941	liaison officer
Career summary 15	30 January 1942	major
Career summary 16	06 August 1942	returned to unit 2iC (2/28th battalion )
Career summary 17	1942-09-18 - 1942-10-15	course Middle East Tactical Sc
Career summary 18	1942-12-31 - 1943-01-13	course Middle East Combined Operations School
Career summary 19	18 February 1943	Returned to Australia (Fremantle)
Career summary 20	18 July 1943	attached Headquarters 9thDivision13
Career summary 21	22 July 1943	temporary lieutenant colonel, commanding officer 2/28th battalion
Appointment	1943-07-22 - 1945-07-30	Battalion: 2/28th; Rank on appointment: lieutenant colonel; Appointed from: 2iC 2/28th battalion ; Reason for end of appointment: demobilised
Career summary 22	11 August 1943	arrived Milne Bay
Career summary 23	06 December 1943	Companion of the Distinguished Service Order
Career summary 24	22 December 1943	medical malaria 6
Career summary 25	20 January 1944	lieutenant colonel (bd 22 Jul 43)
Career summary 26	28 January 1944	Returned to Australia (Townsville )
Career summary 27	25 March 1944	attached Headquarters 9thDivision
Career summary 28	15 April 1944	medical (tinea)
Career summary 29	27 April 1944	returned to unit (2/28th battalion )
Career summary 30	1944-05-29 - 1944-07-15	medical (mala
Career summary 31	1944-07-19 - 1944-07-31	course Command and Staff Cse, Comb Operations S
Career summary 32	20 September 1944	medical (furonculosis) 1
Career summary 33	1945-02-21 - 1945-04-09	course Land Headquarters Tactical senior offi
Career summary 34	1945-04-09 - 1945-05-05	attached Planning
Career summary 35	21 April 1945	arrived Morotai
Career summary 36	30 May 1945	arrived B North Borneo
Career summary 37	30 July 1945	relinquished command 2/28th battalion
Career summary 38	12 August 1945	Returned to Australia
Career summary 39	27 October 1945	Reserve of Officers
Career summary 41	01 April 1948	commanding officer 11/44th battalion
Career summary 44	1949-01-11 - 1953-01-11	aide de camp to Governor General
Career summary 42	01 July 1951	brigadier command 13th Brigade
Career summary 43	20 February 1953	Reserve of Officers
Career summary 45	20 November 1962	honourary colonel Australian Cdt Corps (W Comd)
Date of death	25 June 1996
Career summary 1		lieutenant 25th Light Horse(MG)
Career summary 3		Camp Mar
Career summary 40		* POST WAR *
Career summary 7		course anti tank 14 Nov
Citations 2		'On the morning of the 2 May 41, Capt Norman, who is in charge of the 24 Aust A/Tk Coy, was ordered to place his guns in position near the Western perimeter defences at TOBRUK. He selected the sites for the guns, and cuased them to be placed in position. At about 0800 60 tks entered the perimeter. The guns of the A.Tk Coy (reconditioned Italian 47mm, without shields or protection) were responsible for putting 4 tks out of commission even though subject to heavy arty and M.G. fire from the tks, and M.G. fire from ground positions. The recces made by Capt NORMAN and control of his company during the action were largely responsible for the success gained. Throughout the morning, the bearing and cheerfulness of this officer ddid much to inspire his men, and the excellent handling of his guns was a big feature in holding up the penetration by large numbers of enemy tanks.'
Citations 3		-Ext Sheet DW 3/41, LG 35250/41
Citations 5		'In the campaign against LAE 6-15 Sep 43. The 2/28 Bn were commanded and led by Lt/Col C.H.B. NORMAN, M.C.
Citations 6		This outstanding officer was ordered to cross the BUSU River - a raging torrent some 40 yds wide. Repeated attempts tto cross by small units had failed. At 1730 hrs 9 Sep Lt/Col. NORMAN advanced with his whole Bn in battle formation, entered the river and although company after company were swept off their feet and carried down stream, there was no faltering. Lt/Col NORMAN landed the great bulk of hiss Bn and rapidly reorganising, led them against the enemy.
Citations 7		He established a bridgehead for the Bde killing 111 Japs, and capturing enemy weapons and equipment. By Sep 14 Lt/Col NORMAN had led action after action without pause or rest until he was astride the main North South Road at MALAHANG Anchorage.
Citations 8		Lt/Col NORMAN led and fought his Bn to a pphysical standstill, accouting for hundreds of Japs killed and unknown number wounded. Field guns, LMGs, MMGs, 20 MM AA Guns all fell before his onslaught. Every objective given him by Brigade HQ was taken with the utmost despatch. On more than one occaison he was cut off from the bulk of his comd so keen was he to b in everything. By his outstanding and courageous offensive leadership Lt/Col NORMAN set the standart [sic] for the whole Bn, and his opposed river crossing paved the way for the subsequent successful operations of the Bde.'
Citations 9		-Ext Sheet DW30/41, LG 36337/44
WW2 Service 1		Benghazi
WW2 Service 2		El Alamein
WW2 Service 3		New Guinea