2nd Lieut George Mackelvey Morris

• Age: 16
• From: Norwalk, Huron, Ohio, USA.
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• D.O.W Thursday 7th September 1916
• Commemorated at: Brompton Cem, London
  Panel Ref: E.6.173789

George Mackelvey Morris was born on the 24^th November 1899 in Norwalk, Huron, Ohio, USA. He was the only son of Mr David Morris of Youngstown, Ohio, USA and Mrs Letitia Mackelvey Morris of 21 Palace Gate, Kensington. His father David was born in 1874 and his mother Letitia Mackelvey was born September 8^th, 1877 in Youngstown, Ohio and died in 1935 in France. George had a sister Esther Letitia born 1898 and a half sister Jan-nik Frotte Bonniface Florens born 1920 and she died May 2nd 2018 in North Carolina, USA.

He was educated at the Anglo-Saxon school, Passy, Paris, College du Pont, Levoy, France, the Landheim School, Bavaria and Clayesmore School, Pangbourne, England.

His mother Letitia had divorced her husband David and came to Europe. Together with her children Esther, George, and Dorothy, Letitia arrived in Liverpool from New York on the “Celtic” (White Star Line) on 14th March 1913, with passage to London.  Their intended future permanent residence is listed as “foreign countries”. and they arrived in London August, 1913. Her daughter Dorothy was born 24.05.1902 and the family was living at 8 Gloucester Walk, London, they remained in England until 1919 when she moved to France. 

It appears George had lied about his age when he joined the Inns of Court O.T.C. in May 1915.

17^th Battalion Diary 30^th July 1916

The Bn was in support to 19 & 20 Bn K.L.R. 2 Coys. behind 19th & 2 Coys. behind 20^th. Very thick mist. The attack was pushed home to the objective in places but in the main was held up by machine gun fire from hidden machine guns.

Fighting continued all day swaying backwards and forwards until by 6pm about 300 yards in depth had been gained & consolidated all along our front.

Casualties in the 17^th Battalion were 15 Officers and 281 Other Ranks

Further details are reported in more detailed by Everard Wyrall in his book The History of the King’s Regiment (Liverpool) 1914-1919 Volume II 1916-1917

The 17^th King’s had advanced (two companies each behind the 19th and 20th Battalions)  in small columns. They too suffered heavily from machine-gun fire and were quickly absorbed into the waves that preceded them. They also shared the gains and losses of that terrible day.

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30^th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55^th Division during the early hours of the 31^st July. 

The events of 30^th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89^th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone.         

He now rests at Brompton Cemetery, London. His burial record states his death was at Empire Hospital, Vincent Sq, Westminister.

There are 380 burials from the First World War at the Cemetery

George is also commemorated on the following Memorials:

Clayesmore School Chapel, Winchester, Hampshire on a small pane of glass within a larger stained glass window with the Inscription:

“GEORGE MACKELVEY MORRIS/ LIEUT. LIVERPOOL  REGIMENT/ DIED/ FROM/ WOUNDS/ RECEIVED/ IN ACTION/ IN FRANCE/ SEPT 8TH/ 1916 MIDDLE INSCRIPTION: E PLURIBUS UNUM”

Liverpool Hall of Remembrance Panel 23

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