King Edward’s School and the Great War

Norrys Aubrey Best, born on 4th June 1895, was admitted to King Edward’s School in September 1909, having attended West House Preparatory School. He lived with his father, a surgeon also named Norrys, his mother Laura, and his brother and sister at 61, Edgbaston Road, Birmingham. His brother Gordon, also an Old Edwardian, served and was wounded and gassed but survived the war.

Norrys was elected a Foundation Scholar in January 1910. He also enjoyed an extensive sporting career while at School. Various Chronicles record that: “[He] has the cricket in him, but must get as much practice as possible. His batting is his strongest point and he should work particularly hard in this department”; and that in rugby: “He is an excellent forward, being particularly good in the loose. He might use his weight more in the scrum, and his tackling is unorthodox but effective.” He earned School rugby and cricket colours, as well as being School Rugby Captain in 1913-14, Heath Cricket Captain in 1912-14, a Prefect in 1913, Cricket Secretary, and a Lance Corporal in the Officer Training Corps. He was also a hurdler (winning a 120 yards hurdle race in 18⅖ seconds), an award-winning cricket-ball thrower (84 yards, 2 feet and 6 inches), and on one occasion dived for plates.

Norrys enlisted as a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery in December 1915. He was killed near Ypres on 19th July 1917, aged twenty-two, having reached the rank of Lieutenant. He is buried at Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery, near Ypres, and is commemorated on the West House School Memorial, Edgbaston.