On Chatham Naval Memorial is the name of 8442S Stoker Fenwick Morris, serving on H.M.S. Natal with the Royal Naval Reserve who died 30/12/1915.

The son of Mrs. H. B. Morris, of 21, Melton Terrace. New Hartley, Seaton Delaval, Northumberland, and the late Matthew Morris.

In Seghill (Holy Trinity) Churchyard) is a family headstone in the form of an open book, which reads:

Left hand page
In loving
Memory of
Matthew
Beloved husband of
Hannah B. Morris
New Hartley
Who died March 5th 1917
Aged 55 years.

Their son
Sto. Fenwick Morris
Was lost on H.M.S. Natal
Dec. 30th 1915 aged 20 years.

Their son Wm. Morris N.F.
Fell in action
June 1st 1917 aged 23 years

Right hand page

Their son
Pte Henderson Morris
Fell in action July 31
1917, aged 28 years.

Also Hannah
B. Morris
Died March 2nd 1938
Aged 74 years.

Fenwick lived at 21 Melton Terrace, New Hartley. HMS Natal suffered internal explosions while anchored at Cromarty Firth, Scotland. At 3.25pm the ship sent a signal to say that she was on fire; at 3.30pm it was reported that she had turned over and her bilge was showing and at 3.45pm she was reported sunk.

His brothers Henderson and William also died in WW1.

Acknowledgements: Ron Carson.

Fenwick Morris is remembered at New Hartley on N50.02 and N50.04 where his name is spelled “Morriss” and in our List of Ships’ Crews.