FAMILY LIFE

Morris Price was born c 1891 in Murwillumbah. He was the son of William Henry and Mary Price, of Cudgen and a brother to Effie, Matilda, Percy & Harold. Percy enlisted in May 1915 & was killed 11^th April 1917.

APPLICATION

Morris enlisted 26 November 1915 at Murwillumbah as a private in the 16^th reinforcements 15^th Battalion. He was 23 years old, single & a farm labourer. His next of kin was his mother, Mary Price, of Cudgen.

Morris was 5ft 5 ½ inches (1.66m) and weighed 140 lbs (63kgs) with a fair complexion, grey eyes & fair hair. He had a scar on his right wrist & another on his right shin. He was Methodist

The Examining Medical Officer stated that Morris “can see the required distance with either eye; his heart and lungs are healthy; he has the free use of his joints; and he declares he is not subject to fits of any description. I consider him fit for active service.”  On the second page of the Attestation Paper, he made the following oath in the presence of the Attesting Officer: “I, Morris Price, swear that I will well and truly serve our Sovereign Lord the King in the Australian Imperial Force until the end of the War … SO HELP ME, GOD.” 

TRAINING AT RIFLE RANGE CAMP, ENOGGERA

As was the case with men from the Northern Rivers district in New South Wales, they trained at Enoggera near Brisbane. The Barracks Block was built as accommodation for men in two dormitories, each 36 feet by 22 feet (10.97 x 6.7 metres). Beds or bunks were not provided, instead each man slept on a palliasse with ground sheet on the floor. For many it was their first time away from home. Men from every walk of life, from clerks and teachers to factory and shop workers, were crammed together.

Then training began. Firstly, a recruit had to be inducted into military forms of discipline, command, and order. This was partially achieved through a program of basic training carried and, in a sense, was maintained for a long as a man was in the service. It involved marching and drilling with the rifle, cleaning and caring for personal equipment and being supervised and inspected in ways quite different to ordinary civilian life. For example, no boots should be allowed to get in a bad state of wear but must be sent to the bootmaker without delay for repair. Men who were found with hair long and unshaven had to have a haircut and shave

Secondly, after basic training there followed the far more serious exercise of turning a man into a fighting soldier at least partially prepared for the kind of warfare he was about to experience in France and Belgium.

The topics and exercises in the syllabus of training were a world away from their former lives and included daily physical training, entrenching, wiring, firing rifle grenades, firing the Lewis light machine gun, dealing with gas attack, using hand grenades, using the bayonet, and the routines to be followed in the trenches.

This training was then put into practice during what were called ‘Field Days,’ when men would practice using the skills they had acquired in mock attacks both by day and by night. How well men had learnt to use their weapons, in cooperation with each other in training, was soon to be tested in the harsh reality of the front line.

The recruits were issued with their uniform: a khaki woollen jacket, heavy cord breeches and the famous slouch hat – turned up on the left and featuring a plain khaki band, chinstrap and “rising sun” badge. A soldier’s equipment also included a dixie (mess tin), water bottle, mug, .303 Lee-Enfield rifle and bayonet.

OVERSEAS VOYAGE

His unit embarked on 31 March 1916 on the Star of Victoria. The epic voyage across the ocean has been described as “the longest journey to war in the history of the world.” They thought it was the start of a new adventure- for many it was their first time so far away from home. However, after some time at sea the biggest problem turned out to be boredom. On-board, Officers organised rigorous training drills and exercise sessions for the men. They were expected to do their own washing, sweep the decks and carry out other chores

Attempts at breaking up the boredom, apart from the regular drill, varied. Shipboard activities included regular church parades and concerts. Troops engaged in lifebelt drill; a cookhouse on deck; soldiers on fatigues peeling potatoes 'spud bashing'; going to the dentist; barber, pay day; soldiers cleaning personal equipment; medical inspection. Sports and recreation included boxing, deck quoits, draughts. Also, the commanding officer's morning inspection; kit inspections; submarine drill; recreation such as the on deck 'open air' library, deck billiards, pillow fighting and card games including Nap. As well, conditions on the ships were cramped and the risk of illness was constant. 

Three hearty meals a day were served; breakfast usually consisted of porridge, stew, and tea. Lunch included soup, meat, vegetables, and pudding. Meat, bread with jam and tea was served for dinner. Many of the troops experienced bouts of seasickness on the voyage. The crossing the Equator ceremony, ‘Neptune’s Journey,’ was played-out on each troopship.

EGYPTIAN TRAINING CAMP

The ship arrived in Tel el Kebir, Egypt on 5 May 1916. They had already completed their basic training in Australia but over many more tough months, the volunteers left their old lives farther behind. They began their training with physical fitness exercises, they were taught individual and unit discipline, how to follow commands, how to march, some basic field skills and how to safely handle his weapons.  Later, as soldiers specialised in a particular area (for example, machine gunner or signaller) they would be trained in specific skills and would take part in practice manoeuvres and sham fights. They would spend many hours learning training in the use of bayonets, anti- gas training and guard duty along with lectures on camouflage or trench warfare and much more. Training would normally last 3 months.

They had already completed their basic training in Australia but over many more tough months, in the Egyptian training camp, the volunteers left their old lives farther behind. They began their training with physical fitness exercises, they were taught individual and unit discipline, how to follow commands, how to march, some basic field skills and how to safely handle his weapons. 

Training would be for eight hours a day six days a week. All day long, in every valley of the Sahara for miles around the Pyramids of Giza were groups or lines of men advancing, retiring, drilling or squatted near their piled arms listening to their officer. For many of the battalions many miles of desert had to be covered in the morning and evening to and from their allotted training areas. At first, to harden the troops, they wore full kit with heavy packs. Their backs became drenched with perspiration, and the bitter desert wind blew on them as they camped for their midday meal and many deaths from pneumonia were attributed to this cause.

HOSPITALISATION VARIOUS MAY TO NOVEMBER 1916

On 13^th May Morris had bronchitis and was admitted to hospital. He then developed enteritis on 22^nd May, which is inflammation of the small intestine, was admitted to the 4^th Auxiliary hospital in Heliopolis then transferred to the Ras el Tin Convalescent Hospital in Alexandria. In August he had dysentery and on 13^th August was transferred to England.

FURLOUGH & CODFORD TRAINING DEPOT

He was granted furlough and on 25 November 1916 he was sent to Codford for further training which would again take several months. This was necessary as the tactics and technologies of the war developed very rapidly and Morris had not seen active service yet.

HOSPITALISED MUMPS, TRAINING JANUARY TO DECEMBER 1917

In January 1917 he developed mumps, then more training and proceeded to join his unit on 21 April 1917 where they were fighting on the Western Front. On 31 August 1917 Morris had a septic gland in his groin spent several months in English hospitals. 

REJOINED UNIT DECEMBER 1917

He rejoined his unit 3 December 1917.

Between January and June 1918, the 15th played a key role in holding the front lines on the Western Front during a period of dramatic change—from quiet trench warfare to the chaos of the German Spring Offensive and the early Allied counteractions.

JANUARY–FEBRUARY 1918: FRONTLINE DUTIES NEAR MESSINES & PLOEGSTEERT (BELGIUM)

The 15th Battalion rotated through the front and support trenches near Messines Ridge and Ploegsteert Wood ("Plugstreet"). Routine included:

·      Patrols and raids into German lines

·      Trench maintenance, observation posts, wiring parties

·      Dealing with harsh winter conditions, mud, frostbite, and trench foot

·      Enemy artillery, gas shells, and sniping caused regular casualties.

MARCH 1918: GERMAN SPRING OFFENSIVE BEGINS

On 21 March, the Germans launched Operation Michael, targeting the British 5th Army. Though the 15th Battalion was not in the initial impact zone, they were rapidly moved south to the Somme sector, near Hebuterne and Villers-Bretonneux, to reinforce collapsing lines.

They performed:

·      Defensive operations along hastily prepared trench lines

·      Machine gun support, digging, and salvage operations under fire

·      Scouting and rapid battalion relocations to plug gaps

APRIL 1918: SECOND BATTLE OF VILLERS-BRETONNEUX (24–25 APRIL)

Though the 13th and 14th Battalions were more directly involved in the iconic counterattack to retake Villers-Bretonneux, the 15th Battalion:

·      Held key positions in support lines during the fighting

·      Was placed on alert to reinforce front units

·      Provided labour and carrying parties during the retaking of the town

MAY–JUNE 1918: DEFENSIVE SECTOR ON THE SOMME

The 15th Battalion occupied trenches near Sailly-le-Sec, Vaire-sous-Corbie, and Hamel.

Main duties:

·      Raiding German trenches and gathering intelligence

·      Constructing deep dugouts, strongpoints, and machine gun nests

·      Night patrols and sentry duties in No Man’s Land

German artillery and trench raids were frequent, and gas attacks increased.

KILLED IN ACTION JUNE 1918

One the casualties of these actions was Morris, who was killed in action on 10^th June 1918.

FOR HIS SERVICE

For his service, Morris was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal and his name is located at panel 77 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial

He is memorialised at Corbie Communal Cemetery Extension, Picardie, France Plot 2. Row E. Grave 62

His personal effects, consisting of 2 wallets, letters, photos & a post card were sent to his mother. 

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