LIEUT. N. L. SMITH
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Born: Q3 1884 Stone RD, Norman Louis Smith [GRO]
Married: Q2 1913 Bridgnorth RD, Norman L Smith & Alice M Lightfoot.

Norman Louis Smith
Rank: Lieutenant
Date of Death: 30/12/1917
Age: 33 [so born 1884ish]
Regiment/Service: King's Shropshire Light Infantry 1st/4th Bn.
Panel Reference Panel 8 and 9.
Memorial CAMBRAI MEMORIAL, LOUVERVAL
Additional Information: Son of Mrs. L. Spencer Smith, of Lloyd's Bank House, Heath Town, Wolverhampton, and the late Mr. S. E. Spencer Smith; husband of Alice Margaret Garling (formerly Smith), of 2, Oldbury Rd., Bridgnorth, Salop.[CWGC]

The CAMBRAI MEMORIAL commemorates more than 7,000 servicemen of the United Kingdom and South Africa who died in the Battle of Cambrai in November and December 1917 and whose graves are not known. 
Sir Douglas Haig described the object of the Cambrai operations as the gaining of a 'local success by a sudden attack at a point where the enemy did not expect it' and to some extent they succeeded. The proposed method of assault was new, with no preliminary artillery bombardment. Instead, tanks would be used to break through the German wire, with the infantry following under the cover of smoke barrages. 
The attack began early in the morning of 20 November 1917 and initial advances were remarkable. However, by 22 November, a halt was called for rest and reorganisation, allowing the Germans to reinforce. From 23 to 28 November, the fighting was concentrated almost entirely around Bourlon Wood and by 29 November, it was clear that the Germans were ready for a major counter attack. During the fierce fighting of the next five days, much of the ground gained in the initial days of the attack was lost. 
For the Allies, the results of the battle were ultimately disappointing but valuable lessons were learnt about new strategies and tactical approaches to fighting. The Germans had also discovered that their fixed lines of defence, no matter how well prepared, were vulnerable. 
The Cambrai Memorial was designed by Harold Chalton Bradshaw with sculpture by Charles S. Jagger. It was unveiled by Lieut-General Sir Louis Vaughan on 4 August 1930. 

The memorial stands on a terrace at one end of LOUVERVAL MILITARY CEMETERY. The chateau at Louverval, was taken by the 56th Australian Infantry Battalion at dawn on 2 April 1917. The hamlet stayed in Allied hands until the 51st (Highland) Division was driven from it on 21 March 1918 during the great German advance, and it was retaken in the following September. 

Parts of Rows B and C of the cemetery were made between April and December 1917 and in 1927, graves were brought in from Louverval Chateau Cemetery, which had been begun by German troops in March 1918 and used by Commonwealth forces in September and October 1918. 

The cemetery now contains 124 First World War burials.

Name:	Norman Louis Smith
Death Date:	30 Dec 1917
Rank:	Lieutenant
Regiment:	King's (Shropshire Light Infantry)
Battalion:	4th Battalion (Territorial)
Type of Casualty:	Killed in action [UK Soldiers Died in the Great War]

SMITH Norman Louis of 2 Oldbury-road Bridgnorth Shropshire
lieutenant 4th battalion King's Shropshire Light Infantry
died 30 December 1917 in Belgium Probate Shrewsbury
21 February to Alice Margaret Smith widow and Spencer
Edward Smith gentleman. Effects £581 19s. 2d. [Probate Calender]

1911 census: age 26, single. b. Longton, Staffs. Living with father, Spencer Edward Spencer-Smith (b. Eccleshall) and Mother, Lizzie Singleton (b. Longton) at Lloyds Bank House, 55 Wolverhampton Road, Heath Town, nr. Wolverhampton. Father is Bank Accountant. Brother (Benham Abberley) is Bank Cashier and he is Bankers' Clerk.

[Medal Card] SMITH Norman Louis: R War R Sjt 15/918 dis to com 12/9/15. Shrops L I (TF) Lt. No trace of R/S overseas. Decd 30.12.17 K in A. Entered in France 31.8.17. (Widow) Mrs N L Smith, 2 Oldbury Road, Bridgnorth, Salop.

At time of death, 1/4th bn KSLI was attached to 190th Brigade in 19th Div.