Private Benjamin George Morris 9060.

[Jimmy]

Hi,
Can anyone find anything on Private Benjamin George Morris, no 9060, who served in the first world war.

Many thanks.

[apowell]

Hi Jimmy,

I've found his service records and wow this chap saw a lot of action, wounded and I think was also taken prisoner.

I just want to confirm we have the right chap and his address was 8 Queens Street, Kidderminster.

I'll post all the information I can find out for you but it may not be until Monday or Tuesday next week due to extra work commitments.

Regards
Adrian

[Jimmy]

Hi Jimmy,

I've found his service records and wow this chap saw a lot of action, wounded and I think was also taken prisoner.

I just want to confirm we have the right chap and his address was 8 Queens Street, Kidderminster.

I'll post all the information I can find out for you but it may not be until Monday or Tuesday next week due to extra work commitments.

Regards
Adrian

Hi Adrian,

Yes this is the same person, NO RUSH.

Thanks Adrian.

[apowell]

Hi Jimmy,

This is the information I was able to obtain from Benjamin's service records but sadly some of the information is missing from 1905 until 1915 but we're still able to get some really interesting information. No information is given on his Battalion from 1905 until 1915 but the Worcester regular Battalions from 1905 were posted all over the British Empire from India to Egypt. Benjamin was a professional soldier and one of the 'Old Comtemptibles' who saw action in France from the 12th August 1914 (stated on his MIC). He was still serving in the Army or was mobilized from the Reserves on the 5th August 1914 (day after Britain declared war).

He must have landed in France with the 2nd or 3rd Battalion in August 1914 and from Benjamin's service records the 2nd Battalion is mentioned from 1915. I would guess he landed with the 2nd Battalion but both Battalions saw action at most of the major engagements during 1914 including the first engagement with German forces at Mons.

1914
2nd Battalion Worcester Regiment was part of the 5th Brigade, 2nd Division
The Battle of Mons and the subsequent retreat, including the the Affair of Landrecies, the Rearguard affair of Le Grand Fayt and the Rearguard actions of Villers-Cotterets
The Battle of the Marne
The Battle of the Aisne including participation in the Actions on the Aisne heights
First Battle of Ypres

3rd Battalion Worcester Regiment was part of the 7th Brigade, 3rd Division
The Battle of Mons and the subsequent retreat, including the the Rearguard action of Solesmes
The Battle of Le Cateau
The Battle of the Marne
The Battle of the Aisne including participation in the Actions on the Aisne heights
The Battles of La Bassee and Messines 1914
First Battle of Ypres

I just can't imagine the horrors Benjamin must have witnessed and researching his service history I'm just amazed and humbled at what this chap must have experienced. Truly amazing stuff.

Benjamin George's Service History

Personal Details
Name: Benjamin George Morris
DOB: (abt) 1887
Apparent age: 18 years 7 Months
Height: 5ft 5'
Weight: 142 lbs
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown
Complexion: Sallow
Girth when expanded: 37'
Distinctive marks: Small scar at point of chin
Religion; Church of England
Address: 8 Queen Street, Kidderminster, St Mary's Parish, Worcestershire
Married: No
Wife: No
Children: None
Next of Kin: Not stated
Trade or Calling: Labourer
Served in His Majesty's forces prior: No
Signature of recruit : Benjamin George Morris

Attestation of Service
Attestation form: 12 Years (9 Years with the Colours and 3 Years Reserves)
Enlistment date: 5th January 1905
Enlistment Place: Army Recruiting Office, Kidderminster, Worcestershire
Mobilised: 30th January 1905
Enlistment approved: 31st January 1905, Army Recruiting Office, Kidderminster, Worcestershire (medical A)
Regiment posting details: Worcestershire Regiment, Reg No.9060

Statement of Service
Joined: 31st January 1905, Private Reg No.9060, Worcester Regiment
Posted: 31st January 1905, Private Reg No.9060, Unknown Battalion Worcester Regiment (Not stated from 1905 until 1915)
Mobilized: 5th August 1914, Worcester
Embarked: England 12th August 1914, Private 9060, 2nd/3rd Battalion Worcester Regiment
Disembarked: 12th August 1914, France
Posted: 3rd February 1915, 1st General Military Hospital (Gun Shot Wound-Arm)
Posted: 20th February 1915, Convalesce Camp (France)
Posted: 9th March 1915, 2nd Battalion Worcester Regiment
Posted: 16th June 1915, 8th General Military Hospital, (Gun Shot Wounds-Back & Chest Wall)
Posted: 24th June 1915, Convalesce Camp (Dublin, Ireland)
Posted: 5th November 1915, 6th Reserve Battalion Worcester Regiment, Plymouth, England
Posted: 24th November 1915, 4th Battalion Worcester Regiment
Embarked: 24th November 1915, Troop ship, England
Disembarked: 6th December 1915, Alexandra Egypt
Embarked: 15th March 1916, Alexandra Egypt, Troop Ship 'Trvania'
Disembarked: 20th March 1916, Marseilies, France
Appointed: 10th May 1916, Lance Cpl
Deprived: 29th July 1916, Lance Cpl (due to absence)
Posted: 24th April 1917, 6th General Military Hospital (Gun Shot Wound-Finger)
Posted: 28th April 1917, Convalesce Camp (France)
Posted: 8th June 1917, Home Leave, England
Posted: 20th June 1917, Returned from Home Leave, France
Posted: 16th August 1917, General Military Hospital (Gun Shot Wound-Leg)
Posted: 17th August 1917, Military Hospital (England)
Embarked: 8th September 1917, England
Disembarked: 8th September 1917, Boulogne, France
Posted: 9th September 1917, 10th Battalion Worcester Regiment
Posted: 10th February 1918, Home Leave, England
Posted: 18th February 1918, Returned from Home Leave, France
Posted: 30th March 1918, Missing in Action (confirmed-POW)
Posted: 13th December 1918, Returned from Germany to England
Demobbed: 10th March 1919 (Military Conduct-Very Good)

Pension Award
Pension seemed to have been rejected for Wounds sustained in action.
Benjamin wrote on the information form dated 20 January 1920:
I suffered GSW in left arm and shrapnal wound in left shoulder in March and June 1915. The wounds are giving me great pain and I'm unable to do full time work. I worked at Stanly Baldwins Iron Works in Stourport prior to joining the Army and I am working part time at Austin Brothers works in Kidderminster (Labourer).

Medals awarded
14 Star: Roll L/2/5 Page 67
Victory: Roll L/102B20 Page 4462
British: Roll L/102B20 Page 4462
Date of entry: 12/8/14 (France)

The information included on the service records can be hard to read so the information given is the best I could gather.

Hope this helps and all the best.
Adrian

[Jimmy]

Hi Adrian,

This is brilliant stuff, he was my partners Grandfather.
Thanks a lot for taking to time to look it all up and for posting it.

[gardener]

That makes very interesting reading. He must have been a tough man to take so many wounds - and no antibiotics then.

I see that he was in Eygpt around the same time as my grandfather. I have some of the letters which Dada wrote home and in one from Alexandria, April 26th 1916, he says:

Dear Mother and Father you would laugh to see the natives they are a lot. Dirty is not the word they never wash themselves from one week's end to another but where we are is not a bad part its just out from the town what they call the European Part. The flies are enough to drive you off your head there are millions of them you can't see the walls of the houses for them and in the tent the pole is one mass from top to bottom. The Captain told us not to let any of these natives as they are like rats. You can smell them coming a mile off.


I hate flies!

[Jimmy]

Hi Adrian,

My partner as asked to pass on a big thank you for these details, Thank you.

Benjamins son Ben didn't come back from the second war,

http://www.cwgc.org/search/certificate. ... ty=2229676

Neither did his brother in law, Arthur Hodgkinson in the first war.

http://www.cwgc.org/search/certificate. ... lty=628830

[apowell]

Hi Jimmy,

That's no problem and I'm glad I was able to help.

I find it really sad to think of Benjamin and all the horrors he must have seen and experienced during the First World war and then to lose a son in the Second War must have been truly devastating to him and his family.

I think stories like Benjamins really brings home the awful human tragedy of war and the need for us to never forget.

Kind regards
Adrian