Assistant Baker Norman Joseph Hume, S.S. Ascanius (Liverpool), Merchant Navy

Early Life:

Norman was the 5th child born to John and Mabel (nee Batty). He was born on 30th January 1907 in Southport. He had 4 older siblings, Mabel (b1901), John (b1902), Walter (b1904) and Constance (b 1905) his four younger siblings were Edith (b1908), Ernest (b1910), Arthur (b1914) and Dorothy (b1916).

In 1911, the family were living at 10, Robert St. Burnley. Lancashire and his father worked as a newspaper compositor for Duke Brothers Printing Co. By 1921, Norman now aged 14, was working as an errand boy for F. Chester, Confectioner in Burnley where his older brother Walter was also employed as an apprentice confectioner.

In 1929, he married Minnie Nicholls in Blackburn. Minnie had two children by a previous marriage and the family moved to Blackpool.

In 1934, they were living at 32, Whalley Lane. Marton where Norman worked as a baker and Minnie as a baker/confectioner.

By 1939, he had moved and was living at 87, Keswick Road. Blackpool and still working as a baker. The marriage did not survive and they were divorced. We do not know exactly when they divorced as very few case files survived after 1937 but in 1944 Norman married Ruby Davidson, a confectionary packer at Blackpool Register Office. They had a son born later that year.

War Service

Norman was 32 years old when war broke out and although his occupation as a baker was considered a reserve occupation, he joined the Merchant Navy as an assistant baker serving on the S.S. Ascanius (Liverpool). We do not know exactly when Norman joined the navy but his C.R.1 card (Central Index Register Card), a card used by the navy to record personal details describes him as 5’ ¾”, fresh complexion, grey-green eyes and brown hair.

The S.S. Ascanius was requisitioned by the admiralty in 1940 for use as a troop carrier. Its primary mission was to transport troops and equipment, including deployment to the Normandy beaches during D-Day operations.

Death and Commemoration

On 30th July 1944 S.S. Ascanius was in the English Channel south of Portsmouth as part of Convoy EBC-54 on her way to the Normandy beaches where it was to act as a depot ship. She was torpedoed by German submarine U-621 but despite being damaged, was able to make it to Liverpool port for repairs. Norman and four of his crew members were killed.

Norman is buried at Marton (St Paul) Church Burial Ground. Plot 15. Grave No:99 He is commemorated on the Blackpool Cenotaph. Princess Parade.