L/Cpl 53134 Albert Arthur Morris

• Age: 19
• From: Wellington, Salop
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 23rd July 1917
• Commemorated at: Menin Gate Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 4 & 6

Albert Arthur Morris was born on 11 August 1897 in Wellington, Shropshire the fourth son of Felix Morris and his wife Martha (née Evanson), who had married in the spring of 1884 in Wellington. Felix was a widower who had six children from his first marriage to Elizabeth Humphreys(d.1882). He and Martha went on to have four more children. 

The Census of 1901 shows Albert as one of eight children, including two younger siblings, who were living at home in Ladycroft. 

Father Felix was aged 54, a compositor born in Wellington, mother Martha was aged 41, born in High Hatton, children born Wellington: James E. 16, a telegraph messenger, John W. E. 14, a boot shop assistant, Mary A. 12, Grace E. 11, Charles V. 10, Albert A. is aged 3, Frank H. 2, and Thomas E. 8mths.  

When his father, Felix died on the 5th January 1908, the Wellington Journal printed an obituary detailing his employment with the newspaper, he had worked for them for close to 40 years. 

Wellington Journal - Saturday 11 January 1908 

Deaths. 

MORRIS—5th inst., aged 60, 33, Park Street. Wellington, Felix Morris. 

DEATH OF OLD EMPLOYEE.—On Sunday, to the regret of many of his friends, Mr. Felix Morris, Park Street, Wellington, passed away at the age of 60. He was one of the oldest employees at the JOURNAL Office, having been apprenticed to the late Mr. Leake more than 40 years ago, and with the exception of short interval, had remained on the staff of this paper since the days of his apprenticeship, assiduously fulfilling his duties as a compositor to within fortnight of his death. He leaves a widow and large family to mourn his loss.—The funeral took place in the cemetery on Wednesday, service being conducted the Rev. P. Gordon (vicar of Christ Church). The mourners were Messrs. J. E. Morris, J. W. E. Morris, and C. V. Morris (sons), Tom Morris (brother), Tom and Jack Morris (nephews), Alfred Betteley and John Cotton (brothers-in-law). The body was borne from the cemetery chapel to the grave by six members the Journal Office Staff. The late Mr. Morris had been Oddfellow for 43 years, and a contingent of members of the Loyal “Hope” Lodge, M.U., attended the obsequies in mourning regalia, the oration of the Order being read at the graveside by Mr. F. Arnold, N.G. Among the followers were Mr. C. W. Leake (representing Messrs. Leake & Sons), and members the staff at the Journal Office. Several beautiful wreaths were placed at the grave, including those from “Wife and Children," “Charlotte and Will," “Jess," “Brother Tom and Family," “Alf and Pollie," Messrs. Leake & Sons, Mr. and Mrs. Overton and Family, Mr. and Mrs. W. Cooke, and Staff at the Journal Office. Messrs. Corbett and Leeds were the undertakers. 

By the time of the Census of 1911, Martha, aged 51, and her children had moved house.

She was living at 15 Alexandra Road with one of her stepsons, James aged 26, and four of her own remaining nine children. Albert was by then aged 13 and he was working as an errand boy for a local confectioner, with Harold 12, Ernest 10, and Violet 8. They have a boarder Edward Moss 28.  

Albert enlisted in Wellington, on 31 August 1914. Prior to enlistment he had been working at the Hadley Castle works. At this point he was not yet 18 years old but he lied about his age in order that he could be considered for service overseas. He initially went into the newly formed 6th King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, with the service number 11781. The battalion came under the command of 60th Brigade in 20th (Light) Division. It moved to Aldershot and then on to Larkhill, Salisbury Plain in April. On 22 July 1915 Albert embarked with the rest of the battalion for Boulogne.

Albert was at some point transferred to the 19th Battalion of The King’s (Liverpool Regiment). He was killed on 23 July 1917 aged 19, one of 6 men killed in action on that day. According to the battalion War Diary, on the evening of 23rd July, the battalion proceeded to the line, relieving the 6th Bn Royal West Kents. It is highly likely that Albert was killed by shellfire during the relief. 

19th Battn. War Diary in the area of MUNCQ NIEURLET. 

CANAL RESERVE CAMP.  

23rd July 1917 - During the longer part of the day the Battalion rested, a few parades being held during the morning under Company arrangements. In the evening the battalion proceeded to the line, relieving the 6th Battalion of the Royal West Kents. 

TRENCHES. 

24th July 1917 - Relief was complete by 3.15 a.m. During the day the artillery on both sides were very active, special attention being paid by the enemy to the front and support lines. A few shells also dropped in RITZ STREET and in the vicinity of Battalion headquarters (DORMY HOUSE). 

His body was not recovered and as such he is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres in Belgium.  

The site of the Menin Gate was chosen because of the hundreds of thousands of men who passed through it on their way to the battlefields. It commemorates casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and United Kingdom who died in the Salient. In the case of United Kingdom casualties, only those prior 16 August 1917 (with some exceptions). United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after that date are named on the memorial at Tyne Cot, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war. New Zealand casualties that died prior to 16 August 1917 are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British Cemetery.

The YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL now bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, was unveiled by Lord Plumer on 24 July 1927.

Weekly Casualty List (War Office & Air Ministry) - Tuesday 18 September 1917 

Missing. 

King’s Liverpool Regiment) - Harrington, 332672, F. (Liverpool); Morris, 33134(sic), L-Cpl. A. (Wellington); 

The local newspaper reported that his mother had been notified that he was posted as missing on 23 July, but official notification from the War Office was not given until June 1918. 

Wellington Journal - Saturday 29 June 1918 

Mrs Morris, Alexandra Road, Wellington, has this week been notified from the War Office that her fourth son, L-Cpl. Albert A. Morris, King’s Liverpool Regiment, who had been missing since July, 1917, is concluded to have been killed on that date. The deepest sympathy is felt with the mother in her bereavement. The gallant young soldier, who was only 17 when he enlisted on August 31, 1914, has seen considerable service on the Western front, and had proved himself as a splendid soldier. Before enlisting he was employed at the Hadley Castle works. A brother is still serving in France, and two others have been discharged from the army.[GKN Sankey Ltd - The Hadley Castle Works produced the “Sankey wheel”, sold extensively to British car makers, and pressed sheet steel for car and charabanc bodies] 

Soldiers Effects, army pay of £7 7s 2d, war gratuity £13 10s, and a pension of 6/6 pw went to his mother Martha.    

His mother died aged 67 on the 21st April 1927. 

Wellington Journal - Saturday 23 April 1927 

MORRIS - ApriI 21, at Alexandra Road, Wellington, Martha Morris, aged 67 years, widow of Felix Morris, who for many years was a member of the staff of the JOURNAL. 

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

His sister Grace Edith married Pte Frank Butterworth RAMC in Rochdale on 2nd Sept 1915.

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