Norman F. Ellison (1893–1976) was an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Culture, language and peoples * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England * ''English'', an Amish ter ...

radio presenter A radio personality is a person who has an on-air position in radio broadcasting. A radio personality who hosts a radio show is also known as a radio host (North American English), radio presenter (British English) or radio jockey. Radio personali ...

and

author In legal discourse, an author is the creator of an original work that has been published, whether that work exists in written, graphic, visual, or recorded form. The act of creating such a work is referred to as authorship. Therefore, a sculpt ...

who made radio programmes about

nature Nature is an inherent character or constitution, particularly of the Ecosphere (planetary), ecosphere or the universe as a whole. In this general sense nature refers to the Scientific law, laws, elements and phenomenon, phenomena of the physic ...

and the

countryside In general, a rural area or a countryside is a geographic area that is located outside towns and cities. Typical rural areas have a low population density and small settlements. Agricultural areas and areas with forestry are typically describ ...

for the

BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...

's ''

Children's Hour ''Children's Hour'', initially ''The Children's Hour'', was the BBC's principal recreational service for children (as distinct from "Broadcasts to Schools") which began during the period when radio was the only medium of broadcasting. ''Childre ...

'', under the

pseudonym A pseudonym (; ) or alias () is a fictitious name that a person assumes for a particular purpose, which differs from their original or true meaning ( orthonym). This also differs from a new name that entirely or legally replaces an individual's o ...

Nomad the Naturalist, and wrote on the same subjects both as Nomad and in his own name. Born in

Liverpool Liverpool is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. It is situated on the eastern side of the River Mersey, Mersey Estuary, near the Irish Sea, north-west of London. With a population ...

in 1893, he signed up as a private in the 1/6thn (

Liverpool Rifles The Liverpool Rifles was a unit of the Army Reserve (United Kingdom), Territorial Army, part of the British Army, formed in Lancashire as a 'Rifle Volunteer Corps' (RVC) in 1859, becoming a battalion of the King's Regiment (Liverpool) in 1881. It ...

) Battalion,

King's Liverpool Regiment The King's Regiment (Liverpool) was one of the oldest line infantry regiments of the British Army, having been formed in 1685 when a single battalion was raised as The Princess Anne of Denmark's Regiment of Foot. The original uniform consiste ...

, at the outbreak of

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, and served in the

trenches A trench is a type of excavation or depression in the ground that is generally deeper than it is wide (as opposed to a swale or a bar ditch), and narrow compared with its length (as opposed to a simple hole or pit). In geology, trenches res ...

Belgium Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...

. He saw action on

The Somme The Battle of the Somme (; ), also known as the Somme offensive, was a battle of the First World War fought by the armies of the British Empire and the French Third Republic against the German Empire. It took place between 1 July and 18 Nove ...

and at

Flanders Flanders ( or ; ) is the Dutch language, Dutch-speaking northern portion of Belgium and one of the communities, regions and language areas of Belgium. However, there are several overlapping definitions, including ones related to culture, la ...

but was discharged in 1917 suffering from

trench foot Trench foot, also known by #Names, other names, is a type of immersion foot syndromes, foot damage due to moisture. Initial symptoms often include tingling or itching which can progress to numbness. The feet may become erythema, red or cyanosis, ...

. His war diaries were published in 1997. In later life, he lived at

West Kirby West Kirby () is a coastal town in the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, Merseyside, England. In the north west of the Wirral Peninsula and at the mouth of the River Dee, the town is contiguous with Hoylake. It lies within the historic county bo ...

, on the

Wirral Peninsula The Wirral Peninsula (), known locally as the Wirral, is a peninsula in North West England. The roughly rectangular peninsula is about long and wide, and is bounded by the Dee Estuary to the west, the Mersey Estuary to the east, and Liverpo ...

Cheshire Cheshire ( ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in North West England. It is bordered by Merseyside to the north-west, Greater Manchester to the north-east, Derbyshire to the east, Staffordshire to the south-east, and Shrop ...

. He and

Eric Hosking Eric John Hosking OBE (2 October 1909 – 22 February 1991) was an English photographer noted for his bird photography. Life and career Eric Hosking OBE, Hon FRPS, was a pioneering wildlife photographer preceded in Britain by Richard and Che ...

would watch birds together at

Hilbre Island The Hilbre Islands ( ) are an archipelago consisting of three islands at the mouth of the Dee Estuary, the border between England and Wales at this point. The islands are administratively part of the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral. They are a ...

. Six of his books were illustrated by his friend

Charles Tunnicliffe Charles Frederick Tunnicliffe, OBE, RA (1 December 1901 – 7 February 1979) was an internationally renowned naturalistic painter of British birds and other wildlife. He spent most of his working life on the Isle of Anglesey. He is popularly ...

Bibliography

* ''Down Nature's Byways'',

University of London Press The University of London Press (also known as UoL Press) is a publishing house that is part of the University of London. Based in the School of Advanced Study at Senate House, it "seeks to facilitate collaborative, inclusive, open access interc ...

, 1938. * ''Out of Doors with Nomad'' (illustrated by Tunnicliffe), University of London Press, 1947. * ''Our British birds and beasts'' (photographs by Hosking, drawings by Alfed K. Wiffen), Open Air Books, 1947 ** Republished by Countrygoer Books, 1953 * ''Wild Life in Britain'', Open Air Books * ''Roving with Nomad'' (illustrated by Tunnicliffe), University of London Press, 1949. * ''Adventuring with Nomad'' (illustrated by Tunnicliffe), University of London Press, 1950. * ''Northwards with Nomad'' (illustrated by Tunnicliffe), University of London Press, 1951. * ''Over the Hills with Nomad'' (illustrated by Tunnicliffe), University of London Press. * ''Wandering with Nomad'' (illustrated by Tunnicliffe), University of London Press. * ''A check list of the fauna of Lancashire and Cheshire: Mammalia, Reptilia, Amphibia'', 1959 * ''The Wirral Peninsula'', Hale, 1970 * ''Remembrances of Hell, the Great War diary of naturalist, writer and broadcaster Norman F. Ellison – 'Nomad' of the BBC'', edited by David R. Lewis, Airlife, 1997

References

External links

(Both include photographs of Ellison)
Nomad Books on the Charles Tunnicliffe Society websiteReference to Norman Ellison's Year of Death
English nature writers English children's writers English radio personalities People from West Kirby 1893 births 1976 deaths British Army personnel of World War I King's Regiment (Liverpool) soldiers Military personnel from Liverpool Territorial Force soldiers {{UK-radio-bio-stub

Bibliography

See also

References

External links