Pte 52136 Alan Strutt Morrell

• Age: 22
• From: Moston, Manchester
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Wednesday 18th October 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Alan Strutt Morrell was born on the 8th Dec 1893 in New Moston, Manchester(from family tree), the son of Arthur and Martha(nee Slater) Morrell, of 3 Moorfield, Moston Lane, Moston, Manchester, who were married on 26th Dec 1892 at the Christian Church, Mossley. Prior to the outbreak of the war he had been employed by the Cooperative Wholesale Society. 

The 1901 Census shows the family living in Vine Fold, Parkfield Rd, Moston Lane, Moston, Manchester.

His father, Arthur, is aged 34, born in Mossley and is a Commercial Clerk. His wife Martha is aged 32, born in Clayton, West Yorkshire, son Alan aged 7, born Moston. 

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 3 Moorfield, Moston Lane, Moston, Manchester.

His father, Arthur, is aged 44, born in Mossley in 1867 and is a Commercial Clerk. His wife Martha is aged 42, was born 1869 in Clayton, West Yorkshire. They have been married for 18 years and have had three children of which one had died. Their two children were both born in Moston. Alan aged 17, born 1894 is an Insurance Clerk and Norah aged 7, born 1904 at school. 

He enlisted in Manchester and was formerly 2759, 7th Battalion, Manchester Regiment and was serving in the 19th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 52136 when he was killed in action on the 18th October 1916 aged 22 during the Battle of the Transloy Ridges which was part of the ongoing Somme Offensive.

19th Bn Diary  

18^th October 1916

Zero hour for attack 3.40am. The 21^st Brigade attacked on our left, the Battalion immediately on our left being the 2^nd Battn. Yorkshire Regiment, to whom 2^nd Lieut Rendell was sent as Liaison Officer. The 12^th Division attacked on the right, the Battalion immediately on our right being the 5^th Battalion Royal Berks Regiment, from whom Lieut Debono was sent to us as Liaison Officer .  Advances were made on the far right and far left of the attack, but the Brigades immediately on our left and right were held up. The Battalion was not called upon to advance, merely to hold its position. Two tanks went into action, one got into the German trenches, remaining there for about 25 minutes, killing many Germans and causing many others to run away. Casualties 4 O.R. killed and 4 O.R. wounded. Late in the evening orders were received for the Battalion to take over a portion of the line held by the 21^st Infantry Brigade, and No.1 Company, under Captain Dodd, was brought up to effect this, his Company being relieved at Factory Corner by 2 Companies of the 20^th Battn K.L.R.        

Alan has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing fo the Somme, France.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916.

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

Manchester Evening News 13th Nov 1916 

FROM THE DISTRICTS. 

OLDHAM. 

Lance Corporal ALAN S. MORRELL, Manchester Regiment (attached King's Liverpool Regiment), 3 Moorfield, Moston Lane, New Moston. Well known in Failsworth, killed on October 18, worked in an insurance office in Manchester. 

Mossley Reporter 11th November 1916 

Died in Action. 

Loss to well-known Mossley Family. 

Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Morrell of Moston Lane, Failsworth, have this week received official news of the death of their son Lance Corporal Alan Morrell, who was killed in action on October 18th. The only particulars to hand are that he was struck by a shell and killed instantly. Lance Corporal Morrell joined the 7th Manchester Regiment in November 1914 and went to France three months ago. On arrival there he was transferred to the King's Liverpool Regiment and it was whilst fighting with this regiment that he met his death. He was 22 years of age, belonged to a well-known and highly respected family. His grandfather, the late Mr Abraham Morrell, was for a great number of years Secretary of the Mossley Co-operative Society. He himself was in the office of the Co-operative Wholesale Society until he enlisted. The family have a long and honourable connection with the Christian church and Sunday school and the news of Lance Corporal Morrell’s untimely death will be received with general regrets. 

He is also commemorated on the Cooperative Wholesale Society Ltd Roll of Honour.

Soldiers Effects to father Arthur, and pension to mother Martha, 3 Moorfield, Moston Lane. 

Father died on the 1st May 1929, probate 28th May to Martha widow and Nora Nuttall. Effects £2433 23s 2d. 

Mother died on the 4th Dec 1933 and is buried at Failsworth Cemetery. 

We currently have no further information on Alan Strutt Morrrell, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.