MORRIS, Thomas Adolphus, Private, 44th Battalion

Rank: Private

Regimental Number: 971 / 2086 / 3310(AIF Record used) / 7229

Place of Birth: Mosquito Island, Newcastle, New South Wales

Address: Silas Street, East Fremantle, Western Australia

Next of Kin: Father, Samuel Morris

Enlistment Date: 19 February 1917

Unit Name: 44th Battalion, 8th Reinforcement

Age embarkation: 24

Marital Status: Single

Occupation: lumper

History

THE MORRIS FAMILY

Samuel and Mary Morris and their 8 children were a well-known working class family that lived on the corner of George and Silas Streets, East Fremantle from 1914 until 1925. Three of their sons and one son-in-law served with the AIF during WWl and all returned.

Samuel Morris (1859-1925) & Mary Morris (nee Ryan, 1869-1943) and their family traveled to Western Australia from New South Wales c.1897. Family history says Samuel worked as the chief Pile Driver on the construction of the Fremantle Harbour, which opened in 1897.

The family, with their eight children (and subsequent families) mostly lived in the Fremantle area. In 1910 Samuel, Mary and their eldest son Reginald lived at 22 Hubble Street (now 8), East Fremantle and from 1912-1913 they lived at 151 Attfield Street, Fremantle.

From 1914 to 1925 the Morris family lived on the corner of George & Silas Streets Plympton and the family home ‘Milton’ was next to, and some said, underneath, the Royal George Hotel.

Of Samuel and Mary’s four sons, the second eldest Samuel Stanley Morris Snr. (b.1889) was married with one child and did not enlist in WWI but the other three sons (Reginald Walter, Thomas Adolphus and George Arthur) all enlisted, giving their next of kin as either one of their parents at Silas Street. Reginald and George listed their occupations as jockeys and were initially taken into the Light Horse before transferring together to Artillery. Thomas was a labourer. While not exemplary soldiers the three brothers, and their brother in law made a huge contribution to the war effort. Their war records give a realistic account of life as working class and single men experiencing war in Europe. Perhaps with a ‘larrikin’ spirit- Reg and George made an effort to fight together when they could, and all three returned from the War.

Reginald ‘Walt’ Walter Morris, known as ‘Jockey Jim’ (b.1887-1923) the eldest son, rode as a jockey in unofficial race meetings before and after WWI. He enlisted 14 June 1915 (Service Number 1623), trained with the 10th Light Horse Regiment, and embarked on 23 November 1915 on RMS Mongolia. In Egypt in May 1916 he transferred to Artillery. His Unit- the 111th Howitzer Battery, Australian Imperial Force served in North Africa and France/Belgium. He contracted syphilis while in London and was AWL many times throughout his service. After being arrested in London he was finally court martialed on 4 February 1918, and returned to Australia on 1 May 1919. He never married. He died in Fremantle Hospital.

On March 20, 1923, at the Fremantle Hospital, Reginald Walter, dearly beloved son of Samuel and Mary Morris, of Silas-street, East Fremantle, and a returned soldier, late of the Field Artillery, A.I.F., aged 36 years.’ (The West Australian, Wed 21 Mar 1923 p1) (Reference)

Thomas Adolphus Morris (b.1892-1956) nicknamed ‘Skin’, originally joined up to the 11th Battalion on 14 September 1914 but was discharged a fortnight later, the reason being he was ‘Not likely to become an efficient soldier’ (the usual reason given to men who could not be inducted into the Light Horsemen). He joined up again 8 March 1915 and subsequently went to Gallipoli with the 16th Battalion and was wounded twice (13 July & 8 August 1915) and discharged back in Australia on 16 June 1916. Tom enrolled again on 19 February 1917 and when the ship was in Durban (South Africa) on 23 July 1917 he was noted ‘Absent Without Leave’. Later it was found he had joined the Native Transport Corps of the African Expeditionary Force and was fighting in German East Africa under his own name. Consequently, his record was notated ‘Not Eligible for War Medals’ but on 10 August 1922 he did receive the 1914/1915 Star. Tom married Violet Gwendoline Burton in 1926, and had one daughter Pamela.

George Arthur Morris (1896-1970), nick-named ‘Skinny’, Service Number 4655, enlisted in November 1915 and embarked on the HMAT Miltiades (A28) on 12 Feb 1916 from Fremantle with the 11th Battalion. He then transferred to the 10th Light Horse Regiment, in Egypt, to be with Reg, but Reg was soon transferred to the 3rd Light Horse Regiment. Both then transferred to Artillery. George was hospitalised with VD (Gonorrhoea) in July 1916.  In September 1916 he and Reg were both absent without leave and served their punishment together. In May 1917 he was deemed fit for Permanent Base after it was found he was deaf, and was discharged and returned to Australia. He married Doris Hopetoun Pridmore in June 1922, and had two sons. One, George ‘Arthur’ Morris Jr married Phyllis Weston (see Notable People) in Kalgoorlie in 1946 and they are Raymond Morris’s parents- lived at 89 Duke st. (Reference)

Samuel Stanley Morris (b.1889) & Jessie Elizabeth ‘Dollie’ (nee Wisbey) lived at 30 East Street in 1914, 132 King Street in 1916 and 149 King Street in 1917, which was Samuel Stanley’s address when he died of the Spanish Influenza on 14 July 1919. His funeral and burial were held the next day with the funeral procession leaving his parent’s place at the Cnr. Silas & George Streets. Samuel Stanley had four children and his widow subsequently married again in 1920.

The eldest Morris daughter Maggie May Morris (1888-1940) married Neil Miller (b. 1883) in Boulder WA in 1907. Her husband enlisted on the 17 August 1914 at Blackboy Hill – on the day the camp opened - and during the war Maggie lived at ‘Milton’ with her family.

Gunner, Sergeant, Lieutenant Neil Miller (#1796) embarked 31 October 1914 aboard HMAT Medic (A7) from Fremantle and served with 8th Field Artillery Battery, the 35th Fortress Company Australian Engineers 4th Division, and Australian Army Ordnance Corps. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal in 1917. (Reference)

MILLER (nee Morris). On July 9, 1940, at Darwin, N.T., Maggie May, the dearly loved wife of Neil Miller (Commonwealth Lighthouse Service), and mother of Mrs. E.A. McNab (of Northern Territory Police) and grandmother of Neil James McNab; aged 52 years. (West Australian, Wed 17 Jul 1940 p1) (Reference)

Mary Anne (Alice) Morris (1899-1961) born  Fremantle WA, married James H. Crocker c. 1921

Anna Eileen Morris (24 Dec 1901-1981) born Fremantle WA, married Frank Robson 1923

Nora Kathleen Morris (1904-1985 born Fremantle WA, married Roy Trevor Perham 1934 

Family portrait c 1905/6 Standing, Left to Right: George Arthur Morris (b.1896), Reginald Walter Morris (b.1887), Samuel Stanley Morris (b.1889), Maggie May Morris (b.1888) and Thomas Adolphus Morris (b.1892) - they're around and across the back of Mrs Mary Morris (nee Ryan) sitting on the left and Samuel Morris on the right. The girl in the centre of the photo is Mary Alice Morris (b.1899), Anna Eileen Morris (b.1901) is front left, and Nora Kathleen Morris (b.1904) is front right.

Samuel Morris died at Silas Street, Plympton in 1925.

1925 The funeral of the late Mr Samuel Morris, of the Fremantle Harbor Works, and of Silas-street East Fremantle, took place on Saturday afternoon and was largely attended. The deceased, who was 66 years of age, was born at Newcastle, NSW. He had resided in this State, and principally at Fremantle, for the last 29 years. He was highly respected at the Port, and during his residence there he made many friends. A widow and a grown-up family of two sons and three daughters survive him... The pall-bearers were: Messrs. W. Glasson (president), C. Sullivan (secretary), J McKay, C. Reid, W.Steele, and S. Robinson, of the Coastal Docks River and Harbor Works Union of Workers. (The Daily News, 19 Sep 1925 p5)

In loving memory of my dear husband Samuel, who departed this life on September 3, 1925. Also dear sons Samuel, July 14, 1919; and Walter (Son), March 20, 1923. Inserted by their loving wife and mother. (The West Australian, Fri 23 Mar 1926 p1) (Reference)

In 1943 Mary Morris died at her daughters house,  53 Holland Street, East Fremantle

On November 9, 1943, at Fremantle, Mary Morris, widow of the late Samuel Morris, of 53 Holland-street, Fremantle East, loving mother of Thomas, George, Alice (Mrs J. Crocker), Anna (Mrs F. Robson), Nora (Mrs R. Perham) and the late Walter, Cis (Mrs N. Miller), and Samuel; aged 75 years. R.I.P. (The West Australian, Wed 10 Nov 1943 p1)  (Reference) Loved mother of George, mother-in-law of Doris, grandma of Arthur (RAAF) and Kevin Morris (RAAF), 9 Edmund-street (changed to Chalmers St), Fremantle, beloved mother of Anna, mother-in-law of Frank, grandma of Allen (AIF) and Val Robson, dearly loved mother of Nora, mother-in-law of Roy (RAAF), grandma of Harry Perham, dearly loved grand-mother of Phyllis, Edna (AWAS), George (AIF), Stan (RAN), Jack (AIF), Fred (RAN), Albert; great-grandmother of Greg, dearly loved mother of Alice, mother-in-law of Jim, loved grandma of Joy, Jim (AIF) and Marj Crocker, grandma of Edith, Eric and Bill McNab (Adelaide, South Australia), our grandma-deeply missed by Joy, George (AIF), and Jan Devereux. (Reference)

Written and researched by Jo Darbyshire, Neil Smithson and from information and photos given by Ray Morris on his great grandparents Samuel and Mary Morris ( 2020) 

NESTOR, Robert John, Private, 28th Battalion

Rank: Private

Regimental Number: 6030

Place of Birth: Edinburgh Scotland

Address: John Street, Fremantle, Western Australia

Next of Kin: Father, Robert Hay Nestor

Enlistment Date: 8 May 1916

Unit Name: 28th Battalion, 17th Reinforcement

Age embarkation: 23

Marital Status: Single

Occupation: Labourer

Date of Death:

Place of Burial: -

Links: -

FREDERICKS, Arthur Charles, Private, 29th Battalion

Rank: Private

Regimental Number: 2529

Place of Birth: Melbourne, Victoria

Address:

Next of Kin: Wife, Mrs Maud Fredericks

Enlistment Date: 2 July 1915

Unit Name: 29th Battalion, 4th Reinforcement

Age embarkation: 31

Marital Status: Married

Occupation: Owner shop

Date of Death:

Place of Burial: -

Links: -

HICKS, Donald Jabez, Private, 28th Battalion

Rank: Private

Regimental Number: 7069

Place of Birth: Perth, Western Australia

Address: East Fremantle

Next of Kin: Mother, Mrs Barbara Hicks

Enlistment Date: 11 May 1917

Unit Name: 28th Battalion, 21st Reinforcement

Age embarkation: 18

Marital Status: Single

Occupation: Clerk

Date of Death: -

Place of Burial: -

Links: -

History

FOSTER, B

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EVANS, George Freeman, Captain, 48th Battalion

Rank: Captain

Regimental Number: Captain

Place of Birth:

Address: c/o Harbor Trust, Fremantle, Western Australia

Next of Kin: Mother, Mrs Ada Elizabeth Evans

Enlistment Date: 4 November 1914

Unit Name: 48th Battalion

Age embarkation: 24

Marital Status: Single

Occupation: Civil servant

Date of Death: August 14 1916

Place of Burial: Sunken Road Cemetery (Plot I, Row A, Grave No. 14), Contalmaison, France

Links: -

History

THE LATE CAPT. G. F. EVANS.

Capt. George P. Evans, son of Mr. and Mrs. James H. Evans, of Western Australia, and formerly of this State, was killed in action in France on August 14. Mr. Evans was formerly railway station master at Semaphore, Woodville, and Largs Bay, and Capt. Evans spent his early years in those districts. His grandparents were the late Mr. George M. and Mrs. Louisa T. N. Pedler, of Semaphore, and Capt. Beilby and Mrs. Evans, of Port Adelaide. A great uncle of the deceased officer was the late Col. Philip Pedler, of Madras Staff Corps Native Infantry, India, and his great-grandfather was Capt. John Pedler, R.N., who served in the battles of Copenhagen and the Nile under Lord Nelson. Prior to enlisting at Western Australia Capt. Evans was employed by the Fremantle Harbour Trust, and was greatly esteemed by his fellow officers. He represented Australia's best type of young manhood, and had a most promising future. (Reference)

THE LATE CAPT. G. F. EVANS

ELLIS, N

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EGAN, Owen George Campbell, Private, 28th Battalion

Rank: Private

Regimental Number: 52000

Place of Birth: Ballarat, Victoria

Address: Subiaco, Western Australia

Next of Kin: Father, J Egan

Enlistment Date: 9 June 1917

Unit Name: 28th Battalion

Age embarkation: 27

Marital Status: Single

Occupation: School teacher

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EDMUNDSON, Edwin, Lieutenant, 28th Battalion

Rank: Lieutenant

Regimental Number: Lieutenant

Place of Birth: York, Western Australia

Address: 22 Addis Street(WW1), Kalgoorlie

Next of Kin: Wife, Mrs Marjory Grace Edmondson, c/o Mrs Siggs

Enlistment Date: 15 November 1915

Unit Name: 28th Battalion, 16th Reinforcement

Age embarkation: 26

Marital Status: Married

Occupation: Manual Training instructor

Date of Death: 2 September 1918

Place of Burial: Hem Farm Military Cemetery (Plot II, Row K, Grave No. 1), Hem-Monacu, France

Links: -

HISTORY

Lieutenant EDWIN EDMONDSON.

Lieutenant Edwin Edmondson, 28th Battalion, son of James and Louisa Edmondson, Palmyra, East Fremantle, was born at York, W.A. He was married on the 30th October, 1915, to Margery Grace Siggs, daughter of Caleb and Lilian Siggs, 50 Shaftesbury-street, Leederville, and has one child, Kenrid Edwin Edmondson. He enlisted on the 10th October, 1916, and embarked for England with the 16th Reinforcements, 28th Battalion. Early in 1917 he crossed to France, where he contracted trench fever and was sent to hospital. On his recovery he rejoined his unit, but was gassed at Ypres in October, 1917, and sent to Wandsworth Hospital. In 1918 he returned to France, and on the 2nd September, 1918, he made the supreme sacrifice at Mont St. Quentin, at the age of 28 years.

Australia’s Fighting Son’s of the Empire

EDMONDSON, Edwin. Australia's Fighting Sons of the Empire

COULSON, N B

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CLEGG, Stanley Jacob, Sergeant

Rank: Sergeant

Regimental Number: 4307

Place of Birth: Melbourne, Victoria. (1895 29th December)

Address:

Next of Kin: Wife, Isabelle Clegg

Enlistment Date: 5 December 1914

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Served in Royal Australian Navy on the 5th of December 1914 till 1st January 1920. (WWI)

Enlisted in the Australian Military Forces on the 12th of November 1940 till 30th August 1943. (WWII)

His First Wife was Isabelle May from his service record during WWI 1918. Married again with Wife Elvy Margaret Clegg based from his enlistment records during WWII.

Family/military connections

CLEGG, Percival James, Private, 28th Battalion — Streets of East Freo

CLEGG, Walter Henry, Private, 11th Battalion — Streets of East Freo

 

CHAPMAN, E T

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BAKER, John, Private, 10th Light Horse Regiment

Rank: Private

Service Number: 1155

Place of Birth: Western Australia (2 March 1896)

Address: Sewell St, East Fremantle

Next of Kin: Grandmother, Mrs Mary Ann Jarvis

Enlistment Date: 21 June 1915

Unit Name: 10th Light Horse Regiment

Age at Embarkation: 19

Marital Status: Single

Occupation: Farm hand

Returned: 2 January 1919

BAKER, C

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ALLBEURY, James George, Private, 46th Battalion

Rank: Private

Service Number: 3113

Place of Birth: Perth, Western Australia

Address: 84 Duke St (180 Duke St WWI), East Fremantle, Western Australia.

Next of Kin: Father, Spencer Charles Allbeury (38 Sewell Street(WW1: 88), East Fremantle)

Enlistment Date: 22 November 1916

Unit Name: 46th Battalion, 8th Reinforcement

Age at Embarkation: 18

Marital Status: Single

Occupation: Printers Devil

HISTORY

His Father was a resident of 38 Sewell Street.
1911 - 1916: Allbeury, Charles or Albury
1918 - 1921: Allbeury, Spencer C.

38 Sewell St

84 Duke St

GOURLEY, James, Private, 16th Battalion

Rank: Private

Regimental Number: 6126

Place of Birth: Belfast, Ireland

Address: Claremont, Western Australia

Next of Kin: Mother, Mrs Matilda Gourley

Enlistment Date: 8 December 1915

Unit Name: 16th Battalion, 19th Reinforcement

Age embarkation: 32

Marital Status: Single

Occupation: Shipwright

Date of Death: 14 April 1959

Place of Burial: -

Links: -

GOURLEY, Edwin Joseph, 2nd Lieutenant, No 6 Tunnelling Company

Rank: 2nd Lieutenant

Regimental Number: -

Place of Birth: Waan Yarra Victoria

Address: Boulder, Western Australia

Next of Kin: Mrs Mary Gourley

Enlistment Date: 20 March 1916

Unit Name: No 6 Tunnelling Company

Age embarkation: 48

Marital Status: Married

Occupation: Inspector of Mines

Date of Death: -

Place of Burial: -

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GLASSON, Henry, Private, 11th Battalion

Rank: Private

Regimental Number: 4794

Place of Birth: Perth Western Australia

Address: Norseman, Western Australia

Next of Kin: Mother, Mrs Anne Glasson

Enlistment Date: 28 December 1915

Unit Name: 11th Battalion, 15th Reinforcement

Age embarkation: 33

Marital Status: Single

Occupation: Labourer

Date of Death: -

Place of Burial: -

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GLASSON, George, Private, 11th Battalion

Rank: Private

Regimental Number: 2374

Place of Birth: Geelong

Address: 74 Hubble St(WW1: 130), East Fremantle

Next of Kin: Sister, Mrs Hariet Moss

Enlistment Date: 8 May 1915

Unit Name: 11th Battalion, 7th Reinforcement

Age embarkation: 25

Marital Status: Single

Occupation: Railway employee

Date of Death:

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History

15/4/1917 Received bullet wounds on his left leg and hand. He then got captured and became a prisoner of War at Somme, France.

GIBSON, Edward James, Private, 44th Battalion

Rank: Private

Regimental Number: 128

Place of Birth: East Fremantle, Western Australia

Address: Fremantle, Western Australia

Next of Kin: Mother, Mrs Margaret Rooke

Enlistment Date: 15 January 1916

Unit Name: 44th Battalion, A Company

Age embarkation: 21

Marital Status: Single

Occupation: Labourer/Blacksmith

History

 

Virtual War Memorial Australia: Sern 128 E. J. Gibson Fremantle Cemetery Graham Padget

Half brother Theodore Rooke (left). Edward James Gibson (Right). (reference)