Cloke, Norman

Norman Lewis Cloke was born in Lepperton on 8 June 1916, the fourth son of farmer John Cloke (1884-1965) and Alice Maria Cloke (nee Perrott) (1884-1965).  

Norman attended Lepperton School and later served on the committee of the A & P Society, judging pigs at the annual Taranaki Show. He was farming on Wortley Road in Lepperton when the Second World War broke out and his name was called in the first ballot for overseas service in December 1940. Norman had been engaged to Alice Myrtle Huffam (1915-2002) from Hāwera since June of that year so the pair married at St Mary’s Church in New Plymouth on 19 March 1941, less than three months before the groom shipped out. A social evening with dancing, euchre and supper was held at Lepperton Hall to farewell Norman and two other local men heading overseas.

An elected member of the Automobile Association and proud owner of a Ford V8 Coupe which he had to sell after being called up, Norman served as a driver with the 2nd Division of the NZ Army Service Corps in the Middle East. He did not return to Taranaki until 6 September 1945, on a special troop train with 135 other personnel who had also arrived back in Aotearoa a few days before. His safe return was celebrated with another dance at the Lepperton Hall and his service honoured with the War Medal 1939-1945 and the New Zealand Service War Medal. He and Alice went on to farm in Koru and had four children, Jocelyn, Alan, Maurice (Tom) and Roger.

Norman Cloke died at home in New Plymouth on 18 March 2006 at the age of 89 and his ashes were interred in the Services Area of Awanui Cemetery alongside those of his wife.