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Sea. Richard Patrick Morrissey
Royal Navy HMS Caesar
from:Dublin
This is a typical story of many enlisted men in the Great War and so many other wars. There are no major battles in this story, just solid duty and service in wartime. Richard Morrissey, left his hometown in Dublin at a time of civil unrest at home and, on return, was met with a Civil War. Meanwhile he had lost a brother and cousin on other battlefields of the Great War. Richard Morrissey was my maternal grandfather. Sadly, he passed before I was born, but his service tells me much about him as a soldier and a man. From far off Australia, we are proud to share this simple story of family service.
A native of Dublin, Richard (Dick) Morrissey enlisted in the Royal Navy on 8 May 1918 when he was 21 years old. First stationed at the training facility in Liverpool, he served on five ships over the next 18 months: HMS Vivid (18 May-7 Sep 1918); HMS Queen (8 Sep-30 Sep 1918); HMS Caesar (1 Oct-31 Dec 1918); HMS Europa (1 Jan-3 Mar 1919); and HMS Eaglet (4 Mar 1919-1 Jan 1920).
Immediately establishing a Wage Garnishment to send his pay home to his widowed mother, Elizabeth Morrissey, a photo of trainee Dick Morrissey in uniform clearly shows the word Minesweeper on his cap. It was hazardous duty to keep the shipping lanes clear for convoys. He appears to have served overseas duty at Mudros. A note in Dick’s service record indicates an incident/illness early in his naval career. While the handwriting is difficult to decipher, the two references very clear are 2 months, Gillygate. Another reference, equally difficult to decipher, indicates that Dick may have spent those two months in hospital. Written are what look like the words ‘found to be unserviceable’ then ‘to be retained on RAG’ (probably Regimental Artillery Group), and what appears to be ‘S tone Hospital’. This reference may be to ‘Shenstone Hospital’ in Manchester.
For his service, Richard Morrissey received the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. He was discharged from reserve duty on 4 December 1919 and ‘Dispersed to shore’ on 1 January 1920, then returned home to Dublin. Sidebar: His older brother, John Morrissey (11898), had joined the 6th Battalion of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers and was deployed with first-cousin John (Jack) Morrissey (11967). John Morrissey (11898) was killed in action on 21st of August 1915 during the Suvla Landing at Gallipoli. Jack Morrissey was killed in action on 8 December 1915 in the Balkans.
