Norman Hill was a tractor driver when he joined the Army and it would have made sense to assign him to and engineer unit working with bulldozer, the 5th Field Park.
"General Kippenberger, who commanded 5 Brigade at the time, wrote appreciatively of 5 Field Park's bulldozer operators: ‘Our bulldozers did magnificent work — in fact the move would have been impossible without them. Their drivers always amused me. They wore a curious slouch-hatted rig of their own that could almost be called a uniform, regarded all army ranks with easy contempt, never dreamt of saying “Sir” or taking the drooping cigarette out of their mouths even while having a casual chat with the army commander, affected a cynical and tired expression, and worked superbly.'" -NZ Engineers, Middle East.
Norman was reported wounded at the end of December, 1942, and he died of his wounds about three weeks after the event. The most likely cause of his fatal wounds would be the copiuos mines left behinds by retreating German troops.
ROLL OF HONOUR.
DEATH.
HILL — Lance-Corporal Norman James, dearly loved only brother of Mrs McKenzie, 6 Division street. Riccarton, and Mrs Truscott, Dunsandel. Late of Dunsandel, aged 29 years. Died of wounds.
For King and country. -Press, 23/1/1943.
SOLDIER'S DEATH.
The many friends of the Hill family will be sorry to learn that Lance-Corporal N. J. Hill has died of wounds. He left New Zealand with the First Echelon and served with the engineers in all the Middle East campaigns. -Ellesmere Guardian, 23/1/1943.
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