Reginald Robert Morris

Submitted by wollongongcityl... on Wed, 26/03/2014 - 15:58

First Name:

Reginald

Middle Name:

Robert

Last Name:

Morris

Mother's Name:

Annie Morris (nee Warr) aka Annie Combellack

Date Enlisted:

Sunday, July 11, 1915

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Unit:

3rd Battalion

Company:

11th Reinforcemements

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Star 1914/15 Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Saturday, July 22, 1916

Place of Death:

France

Cause of Death:

Killed in action

Details:

Reginald Robert Morris was born in Wollongong, c1896 to Annie (nee Warr) Morris, also known as Annie Combellack. His father passed away before he enlisted. Reginald grew up in Keira St, Wollongong with his family where he was a carpenter prior to enlisting.

He enlisted in Newtown on 11 July, 1915 at the age of 18 years and 8 months and served in the 11th Reinforcements, 3rd Battalion – Infantry. He embarked on 2 November, 1915 on the HMAT Euripides A14from Sydney.

He was wounded in action in France on July 21 and died the following day (22 July 1916). Records state that the men were resting in a support trench when an enemy shell hit the area killing several men straight away. Morris was hit in the head; his mates got him out of the trench into a make-shift dug-out where his wounds were attended to by the doctor. Regardless of ample efforts, Morris died around 10am having remained unconscious the entire time. He was buried that night by the “padre,” Capt. Wilson at about 8pm in a shell crater behind the line; two others shared his grave.

Morris has a memorial located at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, panel 27 in the commemorative area and the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, France.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, MORRIS REGINALD ROBERT