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World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment
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.
Rfn. Charles Henry Morrisson
British Army 17th Btn. London Regiment
from:Poplar East, London
My grandfather was Charles Henry Morrison, Rifleman, Regimental Number 4466. He was a volunteer and joined the 17th Battalion (Poplar and Stepney), London Regiment. He died after the war in Fulham Military Hospital from lung damage caused by shrapnel. We knew he went abroad but until now saw no proof because the Blitz on London in WW2 destroyed all evidence.
He left 5 children and my grandmother received just 10 shillings a week war widow’s pension. It was not enough to keep 5 children and they lost their home. They moved from relative to relative sleeping on the floor.
One son named Charles was then deemed an imbecile and was sent to St Lawrence’s Hospital for the Insane in Surrey at the age of 5. Can you imagine that? He never saw his mother or siblings again.
Wars cause lots of misery and tragedies for those left behind. Every man who fought in both World Wars must never be forgotten. My grandfather’s name is on the Wall Screen in East London Cemetery and I go there every year to remember him.
Capt. William Morritt MID
British Army 1st Btn. East Surrey Rgt
(d.27th June 1917)
Captain Morritt was a prisoner at Schwarmstedt POW Camp. He was shot dead ny guards on 27th June 1917 and is buried in Hamburg Cemetery, grave II.H.1.
Arthur Galway Morrow
British Army 14th Btn. Royal Irish Rifles
(d.1st Jul 1916)
Cpl. Frederick Roulstone Morrow
British Army D Bty. 174th Brigade Royal Field Artillery
from:Sandymount, Dublin
(d.27th Sep 1917)
Frederick Morrow was born in Belfast in 1895, son of Alexander and Frances Morrow. The family moved to Londonbridge Rd., Dublin, and Frederick was educated at Pembroke Technical school (now the Ballsbridge College of Further Education on Shelbourne Road). He joined the Boys’ Brigade in St. Matthew’s and was a keen footballer, captaining the Irish Boys’ Brigade team against England at the age of 15. He became a law clerk, but continued his football, playing for Bohemians, Shelbourne, and Tritonville. He also played as a junior Irish international.
He enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery in August 1915 and served with the Expeditionary Force in France from February 1916. He became a corporal, and at the time of his death he was Acting Sergeant. His commanding officer wrote “I can only say what a loss he is to the battery and also that I was sending him home for his commission as soon as we came out of action”. He was badly injured on 25th of September 1917 and died in the casualty clearing station the next day. He is buried in Outtersteene Cemetery near Bailleul in France.
Pte. R. E. Morrow
British Army att. Scottish Horse Royal Army Medical Corps
(d.15th Feb 1916)
Private R Morrow was aged 28 when he died and is buried At West end of walled enclosure in the Ballyjamesduff Presbyterian Cemetery, Co. Cavan, Ireland. He was the brother of James Morrow of Ballyjamesduff, Co. Cavan.
Pte. Robert Morrow VC.
British Army 1st Btn. Royal Irish Fusiliers
from:Dungannon, Co. Tyrone
(d.26th Apr 1915)
Robert Morrow served with the 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers during WW1 and was killed in action on the 26th April 1915, aged 24. He is buried in the White House Cemetery in Belgium. He was the son of Hugh and Margaret Jane Morrow, of Sessia, Newmills, Dungannon, Co. Tyrone
An extract from The London Gazette, No. 29170, dated 22nd May, 1915, records the following:- For most conspicuous bravery near Messines on 12th April, 1915, when he rescued and carried successively to places of comparative safety, several men who had been buried in the debris of trenches wrecked by shell fire. Private Morrow carried out this gallant work on his own initiative and under very heavy fire from the enemy.
Gnr. Robert George Morrow
British Army 5th Siege Bty. Royal Garrison Artillery
from:Leominster, Herefordshire
C.S.M. Stewart Morrow
8th Btn Royal Irish Rgt
from:Belfast
(d.10th July 1916)
Stewart Morrow died on 10 July 1916 from wounds received
Pte. Thomas Morrow
British Army 1/8th Battalion Scottish Rifles
from:Glasgow
(d.13th Nov 1917)
Gnr. Daniel Albert Morse
British Army 256 Brigade, D Bty. Royal Field Artillery
from:Chedworth, Gloucestershire
Albert Morse was born in 1888 in Chedworth. His parents were Lambert Morse and Clara Juggins. He enlisted into the Royal Field Artillery on the 13th of November 1915.
The son of farmer Lambert and Clara Morse of Pinkwell, Albert enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery (RFA) in November 1915. The most numerous arm of the artillery, the horse-drawn RFA was responsible for the medium calibre guns and howitzers deployed close to the front line and was reasonably mobile. It was organised in brigades.
We have no detailed record of Albert's service with the RFA, except the certain knowledge from the following newspaper report that he was wounded in a battle at Givenchy on the 18th April 1918. "Mr and Mrs L Morse of Pinkwell received the news that their son, Gunner Albert Morse, was badly gassed and burnt on April 18th in a battle near Givenchy in France. He was in a battery of the RFA 55th Division, and had been on active service for over two years. All his relatives and friends will be glad to hear that he is making good progress in the War Hospital, High Barnet." The battle was known as the Battle of the Lys where the 55th Division defended some 5 miles of the front against an all-out attack by 3 German divisions. During the battle British casualties were heavy, amounting to 163 officers and 2,956 other ranks, killed, wounded and missing. Whilst the rest of the Division was withdrawn for a brief rest, the Field Artillery and Trench Mortar Batteries remained to assist the 1st Division, and earned the gratitude of the Corps Commander, which was most freely expressed as follows:- "From Lieut.-General Sir A. Holland, K.C.B., M.V.O., D.S.O., Commanding 1 Corps 21/4/18. The Corps Commander wishes to place on record his high appreciation of the work done by the Trench Artillery of the 55th Division during the attack on Givenchy on the 18th April. The detachments, by their heroic stand, assisted materially in the retention of the Givenchy position, and have added another page to the glorious history of the Royal Regiments of Artillery."
Albert eventually recovered and he returned to live at the Rookery in 1920 and 1921, subsequently moving away. Albert also served with 256 Brigade, D battery. He was wounded about 19 April 1917 and treated by 2/1st Highland Field Ambulance, 12th Ambulance Train and a Hospital Ship. We have a photograph of him in uniform and have copied his issued small book. He married Effie Ada Winifred May in 1919 in Croydon.
An extract from Chedworth Remembers the Great War
Pte. Harry Lawson Morse
British Army 8th Btn. Gloucestershire Regiment
from:Cheap St., Chedworth, Glos.
(d.7th Jun 1917)
Pte. George Morson
British Army Wiltshire Regiment
from:Bedworth, Warwickshire
George Morson joined the Wiltshire Regiment at the outbreak of the First World War. He was a miner before joining up and took the chance to join the Canadian forces on Vimy Ridge after four hard years in the trenches. He told me that he heard the soil in the Vimy Ridge area was chalky, so he hoped to be rid of living in the muddy trenches and volunteered. His mining experience was the key to this opportunity and he was transferred there in early 1917. After carrying out several tunnelling attacks (including two counter mine attacks) he was captured when the Germans made a full scale counter attack at the end of the Battle of Arras.
He was a prisoner of war until relieved by the allies at the end of the war and returned a very emaciated man. He didn’t complain about his treatment at the hands of his captors… it was just that the Germans themselves had no food. During the last four months of captivity they had nothing but turnips to eat every day.
Pte. Alfred Albert Morss
British Army 7th Battalion Essex Regiment
from:Walthamstow
Alfred Albert Morss served as a member of the 1/7th Btn the Essex Regiment having enlisted in 1915 and served until 1919. He was a keen footballer and played for the battalion football team. He played post war for a while in East London until receiving a serious leg injury and worked as a cabinet maker in East London, He never really spoke about his service - other than to relate that he only fired his rifle once in anger at the Ottoman Turks and that he worked in the field kitchens having been trained in the army as a butcher. His unit were part of the reinforcement at Gallipoli and then were transferred to help in the defence of the Suez Canal zone and may have been involved in the Battle of Gaza.
During World War 2 he was too old for active service and remained with his family throughout the London blitz. A story from this period is that my aunt was on fire watch duty during a particularly heavy incendiary raid in 1940 and he was sent out to check that she was alright. He cycled down the road saw the factory was still untouched and reported back - all's well!
His brother's served in units ranging from Finsbury Rifles, Royal Horse Artillery, Duke of Cambridge Middlesex Regiment and lost one brother, George who was killed in action on 20th September 1917 serving with the Kings Royal Rifle Corps on the opening day of the British offensive at Passcehendale (George is remembered at the Tyne Cot cemetery in Flanders)
L/Cpl. Andrew Mortimer
British Army B Coy. 2nd/4th Btn. Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
from:Felling, Tyne
(d.4th November 1918)
My grandfather, Andrew Mortimer was lost in the Great War. My grandmother lived until 1965, she never knew where or how he was killed or where he was buried. When she died her eldest son, my Uncle George, had the original war office telegram and his death penny.
Pte. Arthur Mortimer
British Army 12th Btn. Highland Light Infantry
from:26 Oswald St, Leeds
(d.29th Sep 1918)
Arthur Mortimer's military photo was hung on the wall with poppies around it, but we don't know where this photo went. He was killed in action France and Flanders in 1918. Just as the war was coming to an end.
Cpl. Fred Mortimer
British Army Royal Irish Rifles
from:Luton
In 1914 my grandfather, Fred Mortimer, was the bandmaster of Luton Red Cross Band. When war was declared he and the other eight bandsmen of military age volunteered for France, expecting to work as military bandsmen.
Once in France, though, they were employed as stretcher-bearers. Fred thought this was because of the "Red Cross" in the band's name. As bandmaster he was told he could either be a sergeant unpaid, with the privileges of the rank,or a corporal unpaid. Living in Luton he might be, but Fred was a Yorkshireman, from Hebden Bridge, with a wife and six young children to support. He chose to be paid.
As the war dragged on the powers that be decided that morale needed lifting and so the band members were given back their instruments. However,because he was only a corporal Fred could not now lead the band. He had to take his orders from an unpaid sergeant, a well-meaning vicar who played the organ and had no experience of brass bands whatsoever. Fred said that the first parade they did was a shambles because the vicar insisted on putting the trombones at the back, giving the horns in front of them a very uncomfortable time indeed.
Fred survived to become the most successful band conductor of the 1930's leading Foden's Motorworks band to victory at the Brass Band Championships no less than seven times.
Pte. George Henry Mortimer
British Army 6th Btn. Gloucestershire Regiment
from:Oldland Common, Bristol
(d.29th Mar 1917)
George Mortimer was born in 1893 at Oldland Common, Bristol. one of 6 children. He was killed in action on 29th of March 1917 in Flanders.
2nd Lt. Gerald James Mortimer
Royal Flying Corps 35 Squadron
My father, Gerald Mortimer, volunteered firstly for the Army and following training on Salisbury Plain put his hand up to go "Flying". He was shot down on 23rd March 1918 as an Observer in FE of 35 Squadron, he and the pilot crawled to a farmhouse (my father was wounded in the thigh) where a local lady gave them coffee, best smell of coffee my father always said! He was evacuated to military hospital in Rouen and then by steamship to Dover. I have his medical records but no log book; many of them were burnt by HMG in the 60's I gather. I would like to know if there is any more history of the RFC this day in 1918 and from which airstrip my father flew from; was it Chipilly?
2nd Lt. Gerald James Mortimer
Royal Flying Corps 35 Squadron
My father Gerald Mortimer was an Observer in France from 1st to 25th of March 1918 when he was shot down early morning near Bapaume having taken off from Poulainville.
I have been to Poulainville and seen the original Airfield and have the intention of taking my 2 sons to see the other March 1918 airfields at Chippily and Estree-en-Chausee. I will send a short report of my visit if anyone is interested. I have some info on 35 Squadron of that era and am still collecting more.
Sgt. Harry Mortimer
British Army Royal Engineers
from:Trimdon Colliery, County Durham
Cpt. Hugh James "Mort" Mortimer MC & Bar
British Army Royal Garrison Artillery
from:Ashburton, Devon
Hugh Mortimer served with the RGA.
Lt. W. B. Mortimer
Army 2nd Btn. Durham Light Infantry
Lt. W. B. Mortimer
Army 2nd Btn. Durham Light Infantry
Lt. Mortimer-Phelan
Royal Flying Corps
Lt Mortimer-Phelan escaped from Holzminden Camp, where he was being held as a POW.
L/Cpl. Herbert Arthur Mortlock
British Army 4th Battalion City of London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers)
from:Hackney
(d.11th Sep 1916)
Pte. Alexander Morton
British Army 9th Btn. Gordon Highlanders
from:Longforgan, Scotland
My grandfather, Alexander Morton served in the 9th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders from 1914-1916. He served and fought during that period in France, the Battle of Loos and several others. About August 1916 he was unfortunately enveloped by Mustard Gas fired from a German gun near the village of Vermeils, near Cambrai. As a result of this he was returned to Britain for treatment but was discharged from the hospital in Perth in June 1917.
I remember him from the early 1960s when I was a child. I know he suffered from the effects of the gas on his lungs all his life until he died in 1966. After the war he was employed as a farm grieve (manager) in the Carse of Gowrie, Perthshire but suffered terribly from the effects of the mustard gas and had a difficult time carrying out physical work. I inherited his Short Magazine Lee Enfield bayonet which sits on a plaque in my living room.
Pte. Alfred Edward Morton
British Army 2nd Btn. Wiltshire Regiment
from:Birmingham
(d.9th April 1917)
Alfred Morton was born in Aston, Birmingham in 1886 and was a moulder in a brass factory before the war. Alfred had served for 5 years in the Warwickshire Volunteers since 1906 and when war broke out he immediately joined the Kings Royal Rifles, and later transferred to the R.F.A. In October 1915 he was transferred to the 2nd Wiltshires. He fought at Lens, Festubert and the Somme before being killed while attacking the Hindenburg line near St Martin sur Cojeul on 9th of April 1917. Alfred left behind a wife and a 3 year old daughter, who was my mother.
Pte. Alfred Edward Morton
British Army 2nd Btn. Wiltshire Regiment
from:Birmingham
(d.9th Apr 1917)
Alfred Morton was a gun maker in Birmingham before the war. He joined the 1st Battalion of the Warwickshire volunteers militia in 1907 and served for 5 years. In September 1914 he volunteered in Birmingham for the Kings Royal Rifle Corps and 5 weeks later he was demobbed due to lumbago. He immediately joined the Royal Field Artillery and served until he was transferred to the 2nd Battalion of the Wiltshire Regiment in October 1915.
He was killed on April 9th near St Martin sur Cojeul in the attack on the Hindenburg line and is buried at Wancourt British Cemetery. Alfred was my grandfather and my mother was born in October 1914 after Alfred had joined the army. We do not know if he ever saw his daughter.
Pte. Aubrey Morton
British Army 6th Btn. Lincolnshire Regiment
from:3, Freiston Rd., Skirbeck, Boston, Lincs.
(d.7th Jun 1917)
Page 90 of 102
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