File:Memorial to Henry Norrington Packard in Holy Trinity Church, Gidleigh.jpg

English: In loving memory of Lieut. Colonel Henry Norrington Packard. D.S.O. R.F.A. Only son of Henry Woods Packard. He was severely wounded at the Aisne Sept 19th 1914 and killed at Arras April 12th 1916, aged 46.

Henry Norrington Packard was the only son of Henry Woods Packard and Agnes Marian (née Norrington) Packard and a grandson of Edward Packard, the founder of the chemical fertiliser works in Bramford. He was born in Ipswich on 12th March 1870 and educated at Dedham, Essex, Leamington and the Royal Military Academy. He was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant RFA on the 25th July 1890, promoted to Lieutenant 25th July 1893, Captain 13th February 1900, Major 1st April 1908 and Lieutenant-Colonel 12th February 1915. He was Deputy Assistant Adjutant General RA in India from 3rd January 1902 to 2nd January 1907 and deputy Assistant Adjutant and Quarter Master General for the West Lancashire Division, western Command from 1st April 1910 to 31st March 1914.

He served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from 18th August 1914 commanding the 117th Battery, XXVI Brigade, was severely wounded at the Battle of the Aisne on 19th September 1914 and invalided home. He returned to France in May 1915 in command of the 46th Brigade RFA and was killed in action, by a sniper, at Arras on the 12th April 1916. He was mentioned in despatches twice for gallant and distinguished service in the field and was awarded the DSO (London Gazette 18th February 1915) for distinguished service from August 1914 through the Retreat from Mons until the Battle of the Aisne.

He married Ursula Rosa Youell, the daughter of Edward Pitt Youell in St Matthew’s Church, Ipswich on 3rd September 1895. They had six children; John Norrington (15th July 1907), Meriol Maclean (8th June 1909), Nancy Norrington (15th January 1901), Beryl Joan (31st July 1903), Barbara (29th August 1904) and Diana Margaret (13th April 1913).