Henry Gorbell (who was known as Harry) was killed in action on 14 October 1944. He was initially buried in the Venrayseweg Cemetery in Overloon then later transferred on 14/5/1947 to Grave III. B. 5. in the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery there. He was only 19 years of age and was a Private in the 1st Battalion of the Royal Norfolk Regiment (service number 14712419). The inscription on his grave reads: “At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember. Mum, Dad & family”.
 
No photo of Harry Gorbell has yet been found. Should anyone reading this have a photo of him or further information regarding him – or if they are aware of any errors in his biography below can they please contact the Foundation?

Military Career

It isn’t known when Harry joined up in the 1st Battalion of the Royal Norfolk Regiment, but given his age, it is likely to have been around 1943.
 
The Battalion landed at Sword Beach in Normandy on D-Day (6 June 1944). It played its part in operations in Normandy throughout June, July and August before being able to have a more extensive rest from 17 August at Tinchebray where it was also able to receive reinforcements to replace the many casualties.
 
During September, it moved through France and Belgium, reaching Helmond in the Netherlands on 25 September. Here, they were met with uproarious crowds, despite still attempting to fight the enemy. B Company had been assigned the task of defending the eastern end of the town having been assured by higher authority that the Germans would counter attack that night and were most anxious to settle in and sort out fighting positions, fields of fire, etc. Lt. GDH Dicks MC of B Coy. later related his story. He remembers after checking accommodation for the platoon:
 
“ I turned to leave the house. I was immediately attacked by approximately 50 nurses who insisted that I come with them to the hospital opposite to give the inmates their first view of liberation. I had no option -in spite of the preoccupation of my mind – I was hauled across the road by each arm by a couple of lusty Dutch nurses, followed by at least eight of the lads being meted out with the same pleasant treatment. The scene inside the hospital of patients waving white and feeble hands at a dirty, begrimed, equipped and armed British subaltern would have been fit for any academician.
 
At last I made my escape and then had to sort out the others who had been hauled inside. I have often thought since about that bunch of boys – how happy they were at that moment. Cariello (killed March 1), Halls (killed October 14), Gorbell (killed October 14), McMorrine (wounded October 14), Taylor (wounded October 16).”
 
They moved out of Helmond on 29 September, crossing the Maas at Grave, through Heumen on to Maldens Vlak on 1 October. Here they remained until 11 October when they moved to Cuijk then to St Anthoinis and Oploo on 12 October.
 
Movement forward by Allied Forces had been halted short of Arnhem, but a large pocket of resistance remained to the east, in the area up to the River Maas, and the intention in October 1944 was to turn south to clear the area down to the town of Venray. Overloon, which lay to the north of Venray, was taken on 13 October and the 1st Battalion of the Norfolk Regiment spent the night of the 13th in the woods around Overloon. The aim on the 14th was to move south towards Venray, but this involved crossing a stream called the Molen Beek. However, the enemy had a clear sight over a distance of 1,000 yards of the British troops as they left the shelter of the woods.
 
In May 1945, Lt. GDH Dicks MC wrote a personal account of his experiences that day while convalescing from wounds received in March 1945, of which this is an extract:
 
“Next morning, 14 October 1944, we received our orders for the attack. B Company was to be one of the two forward companies having the thankless task of first bumping and locating the enemy. Friar [Lt. D.B. Balsom]  was given the task of being the leading platoon with Company HQ next, then my platoon, then Ray’s [Lt. R. S. Hilton] platoon. Ray and I would travel with Company HQ.
 
Inevitably, we soon came under fire from the German lines and Friar’s platoon suffered casualties. Everybody took to the deep ditches either side of the road and crawled forward cautiously. I have a constitutional aversion to crawling, so very soon I began to shuffle along using my hands and feet, with my knees off the ground. Result – one bullet through my haversack. I subsided for a time but soon my constitution overcame my caution and once more I raised my body. Result – another bullet through my haversack. I did not risk a third chance. Eric [Major, E.A. Cooper-Key MC, OC B Coy] and his batman soon after rose and did a spirited dash forward to Friar to get information and then called us up to receive orders for the assault.
 
The plan was for Friar to remain where he was and by fire to keep the Germans’ heads down. Ray and I were to form up on each side of the road – Ray on the right and I on the left.
 
I formed up behind a ramshackle farm-house and then moved out into the open on the left of the road with two sections in line as per battle drill with about 5 yards between each man. I felt as naked as the day I was born.
 
We moved forward at a walking pace with the Churchill tank rumbling along behind. A Spandau opened up and I saw the tracer bullets go through our ranks and a figure fall. It was Halls, 8 Section Bren gunner  – shot (as I afterwards learnt) through the heart. He was on the extreme left of the section, and the fire had come, I noticed, from a projecting copse on our left front. The sections had automatically gone to ground. Cpl. Smith recovered the Bren gun from the body of the dead soldier; and L/Cpl. Grimble, the other Bren gunner in the forward sections, was blazing away merrily although I feel he only had a vague idea in which direction the Spandau lay.
 
Rather than waste time telling him the exact position, I doubled over to Eric and indicated the area to him, information which he immediately passed on to the tank commander who gave the wood a liberal burst from his Besa. Eric also ordered me to keep my platoon where they were while he ordered Friar to pass through me with supporting fire from my Brens. Our initial objective was a cross road which had the code name ‘Cartwright’. Friar had gone to ground about 150 yards in front of me, so Eric ordered my platoon to move forward once again to pass through Friar and achieve ‘Cartwright’. However, as I approached Friar, he yelled that he had reached ‘Cartwright’, and I therefore ordered my men to ground about 70 yards short of him and reported back to Eric.
 
It was now about 10:30 AM and we had achieved our objective. My casualties up to that point had been one killed (Halls), one wounded (Hart – shrapnel in the forehead) and one bomb-happy (a soldier who, rather surprisingly, had broken down when we first came under fire).
 
I suddenly became aware that there was a German tank about 300 yards down the road near a blazing farmhouse, and that it had been responsible already for knocking out three Churchills which were littered untidily over the landscape. At this stage Sgt. Parker became a little bored with ditches and decided to sit upright to see what was happening in the world. He immediately received two bullets for his pains, one in the side and one in the shoulder, a third just chipping the rim of Harry Blowing’s tin-hat. Even this did not disturb his tranquillity – he casually collected his haversack which he had taken off and walked off down the road in full view of the enemy in search of the RAP.
 
Artillery fire began to increase and the cursed nebelwerfer opened up frequently and dropped clusters of shells in our vicinity in between ferocious displays by the German tank. Our troubles were increased by our own artillery who were trying to eliminate the tank. Running true to form some of their shells were falling short or hitting the tops of trees just in front of our position, with the inevitable result that casualties occurred to our own troops.
 
I began to look forward rather eagerly to the hours of darkness, but the day seemed interminable. About 5pm, Gorbell in 8 section decided to leave his trench to urinate. As he crawled back, he received a sniper’s bullet in the back – and he died within a minute. His last words were characteristic. ‘The bastards have got me’”.

A total of eleven men of the Royal Norfolk’s were killed that day, including Harry Gorbell. The Battalion succeeded in crossing the Molen Beek on 16 October and Venray was taken by the 18th. Between 13 and 18  October the Battalion suffered 43 fatal casualties and almost 200 wounded and the towns of Overloon and Venray were badly damaged.

Family Background

Harry was the son of George James Gorbell and Maud Gorbell (nee Smith) of Whitechapel, London.

George James Gorbell was the son of Samuel and Jane Gorbell. Samuel was born in 1849 in St George in the East, London and Jane was born in 1850 in Bethnal Green, London.

In 1901 Samuel and Jane were living at 100, Pereira Street, Bethnal Green. Samuel was working as a General Fish Dealer. With them at that time were children Henry 1879, George 24/9/1883, Elizabeth 1886, Mary A 1889 and William 1891. All were born in the Bethnal Green district. Henry and George were working as Fish Cutters and Elizabeth as a Paper Sorter.

Little is known of Maud Smith whom George James Gorbell married on 24/4/1905 in Bethnal Green except that she was born on 20/11/1884 in Long Lane, Birmingham. They went on to have thirteen children as follows, mostly born in Bethnal Green district: George 27/6/1903, Emily 19/9/1905, James (known as Jim) 27/10/1906, William (known as Billy) 20/8/1908, Samuel (known as Sammy) 26/7/1910 (Whitechapel), Maud 15/7/1912 (Whitechapel), Rose Marie 24/6/1914, Joseph John (known as Joey) 4/8/1916, Alfred (known as Fred) 10/2/1919, Mary Elizabeth (known as Polly) 9/1/1921, Jane (known as Jinnie) 23/3/1922, Henry (known as Harry) 1925, John 1929.

In 1911, George and Maud were living at 12 Holmes Avenue, Bethnal Green. With them were their first five children. Holmes Avenue was very close to Periera Street where George had previously been living and was just north of where Whitechapel Road meets Mile End Road in the East End of London. George was working as a Fish Curer. It is understood that he worked in Fish Smoke Houses at Billingsgate Market. He also sometimes engaged in bare knuckle boxing fights in the area.

George and Maud’s first child, George, suffered a horrific accident in 1916 when aged just 13. He was working as a Ship’s Purveyor for Wholesale Provisions Merchant, Kealey Tongue, when a cart rolled over his leg causing him first to loose his foot, then his leg to prevent gangrene setting in.

George James Gorbell joined up as a Private in the Royal Flying Corps on 1/12/1917 (Service No. 298177). However, it seems he deserted three days later. His family say that he and two others managed to escape while waiting to be taken to training by train from Liverpool Street Station and then spent 8 months living with gipsies to avoid being captured. He was not afraid to fight but had asked himself why he should fight for the King when the King was unlikely to fight for him – and he had no issues with the few Germans he knew in London. He is shown as transferring to the RAF on 1/4/1918 as a Private II – but also noted that he only rejoined after his period of desertion on 22/9/1918. He was tried by Court Martial on 10/10/1918 and sentenced to 9 months for desertion. It is thought he spent this time in Brixton Prison. He was discharged on 30/4/1920. His military record gave details of his marriage and births of his first nine children.

In June 1921, George and Maud were living at 5, Holmes Avenue. George was a Fish Curer for J Brooks but was out of work. With them were their first 10 children. Despite the loss of his leg, the eldest boy, George, was still working as an Unpacker for Kealey Tongue. The eldest girl, Emily, was working as a tailoress. The second eldest son, Jim, was a Farrier’s Assistant for Mr Watson.

From 1931, George and Maud’s children began to marry. Billy married Charlotte Symes in 1931 in Bethnal Green. Sammy  married Beatrice Wichard in 1932 in Stepney. Then there were four marriages in 1938: Maud  to  Richard Shrosbree and Rose to Samuel J Moffat, both in Bethnal Green, Joey to Lucy L Jones in Finsbury and Fred to  Violet E Mason in Stepney. Jim then married Lily Riches in Stepney in Spring 1939.

By September 1939, George and Maud were now living at 20 Harvey House, Bethnal Green. This was on Brady Street, just around the corner from their previous home in Holmes Avenue. George was still a Fish Curer. Only their six unmarried children were present – George, Emily, Polly, Jinnie and presumably the two youngest although Harry himself and John were not actually named as such. George was working as a Grocery Warehouseman, Emily as a Tailoress Presser, Polly as a Tailoress Machinist and Jinnie as a Cake Packer.

At this time, Jim and Lily were living at Rhodeswell Road, Limehouse. Jim was working as a Bread Maker and Lily as a Trousers Machinist. Billy and Charlotte were living at 53 Blackwall Buildings, Tower Hamlets with their first child. Billy was a Tea Warehouesman. Sammy was living at 17 Clifton Buildings, Shoreditch, though his wife wasn’t present at the time. He was a Solderer of Tin Cannisters. Maud and Richard Shrosbree were living with their first child at 29 Squirries Street, Tower Hamlets. Richard was a Wharf Labourer. Rose and Samuel Moffat were living at 68 Corfield Street, Tower Hamlets. Samuel was a Brewer’s Drayman. Joey and Lucy were living at 340 Kingsland Road, Kingsland, Hackney. Joey was working as a Motor Driver and Lucy as a Typist. Most of these locations were still close to where they had been brought up.

It seems that their son, Alfred, was the first of the boys to have joined up as he served in the Royal Artillery from 1939 (Service No. 957804). It seems that by September that year Violet had got out of London and was living at the Holy Trinity Rectory Hostel of Evacuees, Nailsea, Somerset, probably with their first child who had been born that year.

George and Maud’s eldest son, George, married Florence H Smith in 1940 in Bethnal Green.

The East End of London suffered greatly during the Blitz in 1940-41. It is understood from a family member that one side of Brady Street was hit, but not Harvey House. Apparently, Harry’s father refused to go to an air raid shelter during the Blitz, preferring to stay in his own home.

Many more of Harry’s brothers and brothers in law also served in WW2. Clearly, George could not because of his disability. Jim, as a baker, was in a reserved occupation. However Billy served in the Royal Artillery; Sammy in the Royal Navy and Maud’s husband, Richard, went to France on D-Day plus 3. Rose’s husband, Samuel, had previously served in the Transport Corps in WW1. Joey served in the GHQ Liaison Regiment (known as Phantom) which was a special reconnaissance unit of the British Army (one of whose squadrons was led by David Niven, the actor). However, a Casualty List also shows that J J Gorbell, a Rifleman in the Rifle Brigade (Service No. 6917045) was wounded in North West Europe on 17/10/1944.

Fred was in the Royal Artillery, serving in an anti aircraft unit at Brightlinsea, Essex for the duration of the war.

Polly Gorbell married Edward J Kinchin (Ted) in 1942 in Bethnal Green. He too, served in the Royal Navy in WW2.

Jinnie, whose address was still given as 20 Harvey House, Brady Street, who was working as a Biscuit Packer at the time, enlisted in the Women’s Land Army on 17/5/1944. She resigned on 3/11/1944 on medical grounds. She later married George S Ince in 1945 in Bethnal Green. He had served in the Special Air Service and the Special Boat Service in the Aegean in WW2.

Sadly, Harry Gorbell was killed in action on 14/10/1944 near Overloon. He was the only one of his brothers or brothers in law to be killed. His mother, Maud, was devastated by his death as were the rest of the family. It is thought that Harry was her favourite son. She was even more distraught when her youngest child, John, was called up for National Service to Malaya in 1947 when he was just 18.

It is understood that Harry’s sisters, Polly and Maud, visited his grave at Overloon around 1946. They brought back a novelty windmill cigarette holder which had pride of place for many years in Polly’s house with a photo of Sammy and Joey in their uniforms behind it, but no photo of Harry. It may just have been too distressing for his parents, brothers and sisters to have one on display.

Maud Gorbell died in late 1947, just three years after Harry was killed. Sadly, her youngest son, John, died in 1951 in Stepney, aged just 22.

Many of Harry’s brothers and sisters went on to have more children both during the war and afterwards.

His father, George J Gorbell, died in 1965 in Hackney district. His brothers and sisters passed away between 1970 and 2014, with many of them still living in the East End of London, but some having moved further afield into Essex. They had remained a close-knit East End family who still remembered the loss of their brother.

 From FindMyPast website: Civil and Parish Birth, Marriage and Death Records; England Census and 1939 Register Records; Electoral Rolls; Military Records
Royal Norfolk Regiment Museum website
Information from “Thank God and the Infantry – from D-Day to VE-Day with the 1st Battalion, the Royal Norfolk Regiment” by John Lincoln
Assistance from Stephen Ince (Harry’s nephew) and Lee Dann (Harry’s great nephew)

Research Elaine Gathercole