Ypres Reservoir Cemetery: P. Priano
Ypres Reservoir Cemetery: Pauline Priano
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Edward Morris, born 1896, was the eldest of 5 surviving children, 3 sons, 2 daughters, (3 deceased gender unknown), offspring of Edward Morris Snr born 1866 and Mary Hannah Longstaff 1875, both natives of Sunderland, County Durham, where they were married in 1892. At the age of 5 Edward was living as a boarder at 11, Barnett’s Buildings, Southwick, Sunderland, the home of shipyard iron worker John Wilson, his wife Margaret and daughter, while his parents and new born Cormric Turner Morris were at 53, Barclay Street, his father employed as the manager of a butcher’s shop. Daughters Vera and Gladys May were born in 1904 and May 16th 1906 respectively and Arthur, September 3rd 1909. In 1911 the entire family was living in 2 rooms at 14, Lilburn Place, Southwick, although his father was still a butcher Edward (16) had entered into an apprenticeship as a riveter.
In 1914 when war was declared he was one of the first to enlist at Sunderland, assigned as Private 3556 to the 7th Battalion Durham Light Infantry a Territorial Force. The men were split into two groups those of the first line were designated for service overseas, the second line for home service. Once mobilised Private Morris was sent with his regiment to the coastal defences. The first draft of men departed from Newcastle railway station, April 17th 1915, bound for France, his training complete, having been posted to the 1st/7th Battalion he joined his regiment in the field as of January 1916 with a change of service number, 275960. The battalion had left the 150th Brigade of the 50th (Northumbrian) Division and converted to a Pioneer Battalion, although they fought as infantrymen when required. To this effect when the offensive began on the battlefields of the Somme, July 1st 1916 they entered the fighting at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette September 15th-22nd, Morval September 25th-28th and Le Transloy October 1st-18th. In the spring of 1917 they were moved to the Arras sector participating during the Battle of Arras, April 9th-May 16th 1917 at the 1st Battle of the Scarpe, Wancourt Ridge and the 2nd Battle of the Scarpe before returning north to Belgium. In the trenches of the Ypres salient they fought during the 3rd Battle of Ypres, July 31st-November 10th 1917 then spending another winter battling in the mud until returning to the Somme in March 1918.
Private 275906 Edward Morris Durham Light Infantry died of wounds sustained January 1st 1918 and was interred at Ypres Reservoir Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium, grave IV. A. 7. He was 22 years of age and single.
His mother Mary, nominated as his sole beneficiary, received all monies due to him and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Edward Morris Snr died in 1925 aged 59 years, details of Mary Hannah Morris nee Longstaff unknown. Edward was the only one of their sons old enough to serve during WW1. His brother Cormric died in 1963, Vera James nee Morris 1933, Gladys May Wilkinson nee Morris 1872, Arthur 1982.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Edward Morris is listed in Peter Gibson's Book on Southwick and remembered at Sunderland in S140.048 part 02
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 1
