| Surname: | Critchley |
| Initials: | N |
| Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Army Number: | 3529656 |
| Notes: | CMP. From Oldham. Formerly Manchester Regiment, later Royal Armoured Corps, transferred to CMP. 21/3/46 to discharge. Norman Critchley. Served in the Middle East and 166 Pro Coy Manchester in 1945. Home address 366 Ashton Road, Oldham Newspaper Cutting. Oldham soldier on the air from Middle East. Mr. Critchely, of 366 Ashton Road, Oldham, was listening to the Forces programme last night when he heard the announcer say that a few British soldiers in the Middle East would broadcast messages to their relatives, "and here is Trooper Norman Ciritchley, of Oldham." "Hello, mother and granddad. I am happy to be here and I am all right. Hope you are the same. Keep your chins up," came Norman's voice. Mr Critchley told an "Oldham Chronicle" representative that he was the only one of the family to hear his grandson's broadcast, Norman, who is twenty, joined the Territorials at the age of seventeen. Upon the declaration of war he was called up and volunteered for service abroad. he was employed by the Lancashire Handbag Co. |