Norman LORD

Serial Number: NZ422297
RNZAF Trade: Pilot
Date of Enlistment: 1942
Rank Achieved: Flying Officer
Flying Hours:
Operational Sorties: 37 Sorties

Date of Birth: 1st of February 1921
Personal Details: Norm was the eldest son of Mr. Eric Edwin Lord and Mrs. Louisa Katharine Lord, of Putaruru, and grandson of Mr and Mrs R.A. Martin of Roto-o-Rangi. Norm was brought up by his grandparents at Roto-o-Rangi where he lived before the war with his brother Martin Lord.

He was married to Colleen for 59 years till her death in 2010, and they had three daughters, who are now Bev Lord-Taylor, Robynne Surtees and Karen Lord. He was known by the nickname Ganda.

Norm and Colleen moved from New Zealand to Noosa, Queensland, in July 2003, and spent the rest of their lives in Australia.

Service Details: Norm trained at No 3 Service Flying Training School, at Calgary in Canada, on Course No 70. He passed his flying course and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant on the 2nd of April 1943.

He was then posted to England where his next posting was flying Airspeed Oxfords, probably on a refresher course and perhaps Beam Approach training.

On the 1st of February 1944 Norm was posted to Jerusalem in Palestine. In March 1944 he converted to Vickers Wellington bombers and crewed up at an Operational Training Unit.

In late March his brother Martin Lord aged 21 was killed in action over Germany, however due to his movements Norm did not learn of his death until 9 months later.

In June 1944 Norm was transferred to Naples at the foot of Mt Vesuvius in Italy, and on July 7th trucked to join No. 150 squadron in the Foggia Valley. During his service he flew a total of 37 operations.

Died: Norm died on the 2nd of November 2015, at home in Maranoa Nirsing Home, Northern Rivers, New South Wales, Australia in November 2015, aged 94. He was cremated.

Connection with Cambridge: Norman Lord lived at Roto-o-Rangi with his grandparents before joining the RNZAF

Thanks to: Norm's daughter Bev Lord-Taylor for updates in April-May 2015 and to Norman's grandaughter Carleen McBurney in 2018 for further information and the photos on this page, including an ANZAC Day display. Some of the information above comes from a eulogy given by Grahame Gooding on behalf of the Alstonville RSL sub branch in the Norther Rivers region at Norm's funeral, and was supplied by Carleen.

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