James William Norrie

James William Norrie was born at Dyers Crossing in country NSW and spent his childhood at a number of small country schools before coming to Sydney in 1933. He attended Randwick Public School where his cricketing prowess brought him to the attention of Mr Ossie Taylor, the President of the Randwick Cricket Club and a teacher at Sydney Boys’ High. Ossie encouraged him to attend High. He played in the GPS First XI and the SHS First XI and First XV for four years. Later he played first grade cricket and Rugby in Sydney when he could get time off from the Army.

Norrie entered Duntroon straight from school in 1941 and spent the next 37 years in the Army, finally reaching the rank of Major General. He became a keen infantryman, with excellent administrative skills, showing a good knowledge of human nature, and at all times a willingness to learn.

He travelled extensively in his service life. He saw service as platoon commander in the Aitape-Wewak campaign in New Guinea in World War II.  He also saw service as a company commander in the Korean War and was awarded an OBE and Coronation Medal for his service there. Later he made valuable contacts at the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Missouri, USA. He served in Vietnam from early 1969 as Military and Naval Attache for two years.

He returned to Papua New Guinea in 1959-62 to command the Pacific Islands Regiment and again in 1972 as Commander, Joint Forces Papua New Guinea. In 1973 he was appointed Commander of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force witnessing the granting of Independence before returning to Australia in late 1975.

Norrie was closely associated with military training throughout his career. He was appointed Commandant, Jungle Training Centre Canungra in 1970 and, in 1976, was appointed GOC Training Command with promotion to the rank of Major General. In the same year he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia.

Horse racing was always one of his great interests. In 1977 he become Secretary/General Manager of the Australian Jockey Club a position he held until 1984. He travelled to England, France, Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and USA on racing matters.

Since 1984 he was associated with a number of business ventures, including a Nashi pear farm near Shepparton.

Norrie was President of the Old Boys’ Union, 1993-1999. During this time, he also served on the School Council and the Foundation where his wry sense of humour and knack of asking probing questions at crucial times is well remembered. Norrie accepted the invitation to be Patron of the Old Boys’ Union in 2002.

His funeral service, with military honours, at St Mark’s Church, Darling Point, was attended by numerous friends and colleagues, including the Governor-General, Major General Michael Jeffery AC CVO MC.