A.E. Morris
Royal Navy Badge
H.M.S. Shark
Derek Johnstone and Carole Fife have provided the following:
Albert Edward Morris was born at Blyth, Northumberland 1/7/1897. His parents were Joshua Morris from Bedlington, a hewer in the coal mines, and Lavinia Phillis (nee Willis) Morris from Cambois.
The 1901 census shows Albert was living at Boathouse Terrace, Cambois, with his parents and siblings Robert 5, Lydia aged 1 month. At this time Albert was three years old.
In 1911 the Morris family lived at 19, Sinkers Row, Cambois. Albert was 13 and is assumed to be at school.
Albert worked in the coal mines before joining the Navy.
After training on HMS Victory he served on HMS Shark. Navy records show Albert was 5’ 4” tall with brown hair and grey eyes. His death occurred during the Battle of Jutland. The vessel he was serving on, HMS Shark, was involved in an unsuccessful torpedo attack on the Second German Scouting Group, during which Shark’s guns were destroyed. Shortly before 7pm on 31/5/15 the order was given to abandon ship, but she was torpedoed a few minutes later and sank with the loss of 86 of her 92 crew. Albert’s body was not recovered for burial.
On his death his effects went to his mother indicating he was not married.
Albert Edward Morris is remembered in Cambois on C6.02 and on our List of Ships’ crews
