FAMILY LIFE

Morris Price was born c 1891 in Moonbah, in the Snowy Mountains. He was the son of William Henry and Mary Price, of Cudgen and a brother to Effie, Matilda, Percy & Harry as per NSW BDM.

ATTESTATION

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.

He then signed a declaration confirming he had answered the questions correctly and was willing to voluntarily agree to service in the Military Forces of the Commonwealth of Australia

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CERTIFICATE OF ATTESTING OFFICER

On the second page of the attestation documents the attesting confirms the following; “The foregoing questions were read to the person enlisted in my presence. I have taken care that he understood each question, and his answer to each question has been duly entered as replied to by him”

OATH

He also 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, and a further four months thereafter unless sooner lawfully discharged, dismissed or removed therefrom: and that I will resist His Majesty’s enemies and case His Majesty’s peace to be kept and maintained; and I will in all matters appertaining to my services faithfully discharge my duty according to law

SO, HELP ME, GOD.” 

MEDICAL EXAMINATION

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

CERTIFICATE OF MEDICAL EXAMINER

The medical examiner certifies I have examined the abovenamed person, and find that he does not present any of the following conditions, viz: -

Scrofula; phthisis; syphilis; impaired constitution; defective intelligence; defects of vision, voice, or hearing; hernia’ haemorrhoids; varicose veins, beyond a limited extent; marked varicocele with unusually pendent testicle; inveterate cutaneous disease’ chronic ulcers; traces of corporal punishment or evidence of having been marked with the letters D. or B.C; contracted or deformed chest; abnormal curvature of spine; or any other disease or physical defect calculated to unfit him for the duties of a soldier.

He can see the required distance with either eye; his heart and lungs are healthy; he has the free use of his joints and limbs; and he declares he is not subject to fits of any description. I consider him fit for active service

CERTIFICATE OF COMMANDING OFFICER

The commanding officer certifies that this attestation of the abovenamed person is correct, and that the required forms have been complied with. He then states “I accordingly approve, and appoint him as a private with the 15^th Infantry Battalion with service number 5162”

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.

INNOCULATIONS

All recruits were given a range of inoculations while in camp. The most important jab was to protect against smallpox and typhoid – indeed, having this was an essential precondition of enlisting.

THE UNIFORM

The recruits were issued with their uniform- service dress jacket was made of Australian wool and its loose fit gave the wearer more allowance for movement. The four large pockets were very useful. A unique feature designed for comfort was the pleated back, which provided a double thickness of cloth down the back that the pack rubbed against. Breeches were corduroy worn with wool wrap puttees. The famous khaki felt slouch hat or early service cap is probably the most distinctive part of the uniform. turned up on the left and featuring a plain khaki band, chinstrap and “rising sun” badge.

SOLDIER’S KIT

Australia's World War I soldiers went to war weighed down by almost 30 kilograms of clothes, weapons, tools and kit.

·      Breeches: made from khaki woollen cord fabric, with side pockets and button flies. Soldiers were issued with two pairs of breeches, plus a pair of dungarees. The breeches ended above the ankles and the gap was filled with puttees.

·      Braces: worn with breeches.

·      Puttees: The men wound these strips of woollen cloth, almost three metres long, upwards from the ankle to just below the knee. Soldiers disliked the puttees, probably with good reason: the tight binding restricted circulation and might even have contributed to the high incidence of trench foot. Mounted troops wore leather leggings.

·      Shirt: Soldiers were given two grey, collarless, flannel shirt, plus a military shirt.

·      Ankle boots: brown and lace-up.

·      Socks: Made from wool or cotton. Soldiers were issued with three pairs.

·      Greatcoat: the khaki woollen coat (which weighed about 3kg) often doubled as a soldier's bedding and was his chief protection against the cold and wet. The coat came into its own when snow hit Gallipoli in November 1915 and also on the Western Front.

·      Jersey

·      Singlets: Soldiers were issued with 2 woollen singlets.

·      Cotton "drawers" (underpants): Soldiers were issued with two pairs.

·      Abdominal belts: a sort of cummerbund that was issued to keep soldiers warm and supposedly ward off disease.

·      Backpacks and webbing: The main backpack was a rectangular sack measuring about 15 inches x 13 inches, closed at the top by a folding cover secured by two straps. The webbing included a web belt, cartridge pouches, small haversack, bayonet frog, an entrenching tool holder (plus another holder for its handle), and a water-bottle holder.

·      Identity disc: Soldiers were initially issued with one medal "dog tag" on a cord, but later in the war they were given two tags, made of compressed fibre.

·      Soldiers were also issued with a "housewife" - a sewing kit containing such items as needles, thimble, thread, wool and button so they could carry out running repairs.

·      Also in their kit were a short-magazine Lee-Enfield (SMLE) rifle, a rifle sling, a bayonet and scabbard, and an "entrenching tool" (they were "diggers" after all). This came in two parts, with the helve (handle) separate from the spade part.

·      Soldiers were issued with eating equipment (knife, fork, spoon, an enamel mug, water bottle (with two-point capacity), and a mess tin with carrier.

·      They also had a clasp knife (with marlin spike, tin-opener and lanyard), razor, shaving kit, soap, comb, two towels, field dressing (carried in the tunic's inside pocket), and a hold-all, in which they could pack their private possessions.

·      No item was probably looked after more carefully than their service pay book: privates were paid six shillings a day

OVERSEAS VOYAGE SYDNEY TO EGYPT 1916

His unit boarded the troop train at Brisbane on 29^th March 1916 and embarked on 31 March 1916 in Sydney on the Star of Victoria. Alongside his comrades, he marched aboard, his boots ringing on the gangway. As the ship’s lines were cast off and the quay began to slip away, the reality of war lay ahead, but for now, the sea breeze carried only the sound of voices and the excitement of men bound for adventure, duty, and the unknown.

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 the voyage, due to overcrowding, training was limited to mainly to lectures and a little physical training.

SLEEPING & LIVING ARRANGEMENTS

Recruits likely slept in a crowded troop deck below, where rows of hammocks or three-tier wooden bunks were crammed close together.

Air below decks could be stuffy, especially in warmer climates, and seasickness was common during the first few days.

DAILY ROUTINE

Reveille early each morning, followed by physical exercises on the open decks (weather permitting). There were parades and inspections—officers ensured uniforms, rifles, and kit were clean and in order. Training was a little problematic—drill without much space, rifle maintenance, lectures on military discipline, signalling, and trench warfare theory. The ship’s decks were used for marching in tight circles or practising bayonet thrusts into stuffed sacks. Rifle shooting was impossible at sea, so soldiers learned to strip and clean their weapons until it was second nature.

MEALS

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. The meals were served in shifts from the ship’s galley. Queues were long, and eating on a rolling ship meant many tried to eat quickly before nausea set in.

HEALTH & SANITATION

Shipboard hygiene was critical—every man was ordered to scrub his section daily to prevent disease. Saltwater baths were the norm, with freshwater rationed for drinking.

THE VOYAGE EXPERIENCE

Entertainment included church drill, concerts, singalongs, card games, and makeshift cricket matches on deck when the weather allowed. To keep up morale, an area of the ship was roped off where regular boxing and wrestling tournaments were held. This became commonly known as the Stoush Stadium. No letters could be sent until they reached port, but men often wrote diaries or unsent letters to be posted later.

The 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

CROSSING THE EQUATOR CEREMONY

The crossing the Equator ceremony, ‘Neptune’s Journey,’ was played-out on each troopship.

SIGHTS AT SEA

On the way to Egypt the ship would pass through the Great Australian Bight, cross the Indian Ocean, and stop at Colombo (Ceylon now Sri Lanka) for coal and supplies.

SECURITY

By late 1914, German raiders were active, so lifeboat drills were frequent, and lookouts kept watch for suspicious ships. Troopships generally sailed in convoys or at least took zig-zag courses to make torpedo attacks harder. Ships often travelled under blackout conditions at night, with lookouts specifically watching for periscopes or torpedo wakes.

APPROACHING EGYPT

After several weeks at sea, the men finally saw the dusty shoreline of Port Said or Alexandria. The reality of leaving home truly sank in. The recruits would soon exchange the ship’s cramped decks for the sandy training grounds of Egypt, preparing for what lay ahead.

EGYPTIAN TRAINING CAMP MAY 1916

The ship arrived in Tel el Kebir, Egypt on 5 May 1916. Over many tough months, in the Egyptian training camp, the volunteers left their old lives farther behind. They began an intensive period of training in preparation for deployment to the front. These camps were shared by other Australian and New Zealand forces, creating a large and active training environment.

Daily life followed a strict military routine. Reveille was sounded around 5:30 am, followed by physical training, which included route marches and endurance work in the desert conditions. After breakfast, the men began structured morning sessions focusing on drill, bayonet practice, and rifle handling. Training resumed after lunch, often with practical field exercises such as digging trenches, constructing defences, and simulating attacks on mock enemy positions. The day ended with roll call, personal time, and lights out around 9:00 pm.

The training itself covered a wide range of military skills. Soldiers learned close-order drill, musketry (rifle shooting), bayonet fighting, and basic tactics. Musketry was particularly important: the men practised with their Lee-Enfield rifles on firing ranges, learning how to load, aim, fire rapidly, and judge distances accurately. Bayonet training was also emphasized, with troops practising thrusts, parries, and charges on straw-filled dummies to build aggression and confidence.

Physical fitness was a high priority. Route marches of 10 to 15 kilometres in full kit were a regular part of the schedule to build stamina and discipline. Troops also received instruction in field engineering—learning how to dig trenches, build parapets and revetments, and position barbed wire obstacles effectively.

Other important areas of training included basic first aid, battlefield communication (such as flag and lamp signalling), and map reading.

Sanitation and hygiene were stressed throughout the training period. Soldiers were taught how to prevent disease by maintaining clean clothing and equipment, constructing latrines, and purifying drinking water. This was crucial in the Egyptian climate, where illness could spread rapidly.

Although the training was demanding, there were occasional opportunities for leave. Many soldiers visited the bazaars, cafés, and sights of Cairo, or made trips to the pyramids near Mena. Morale was generally high, though the men understood active service was approaching.

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 BRONCHITIS MAY 1916

Morris's first serious interruption to his military service came in the Egyptian summer of 1916. On 13 May he was admitted to the 2nd Stationary Hospital at Tel el Kebir suffering from bronchitis, a common complaint among troops who had endured months of dust, extremes of temperature, crowded camps and the lingering effects of winter illnesses. Tel el Kebir was one of the Australian Imperial Force's principal medical centres in Egypt, where soldiers received treatment before either returning to duty or being transferred to larger hospitals.

HOSPITALISATION ENTERITIS MAY 1916

His condition worsened when he developed enteritis on 22 May. Enteritis, an inflammation of the small intestine, could cause severe abdominal pain, diarrhoea, dehydration and weakness. He was transferred to the 4th Auxiliary Hospital at Heliopolis near Cairo, one of the large medical facilities established to care for Australian and New Zealand troops. When the acute stage of his illness had passed, Morris was sent to the Ras el Tin Convalescent Hospital at Alexandria. Situated near the Mediterranean coast, Ras el Tin provided a healthier environment where recovering soldiers could regain their strength before returning to military duties.

HOSPITALISATON DYSENTRY AUGUST 1916

EVACUATION TO ENGLAND

Unfortunately, Morris's health troubles continued. During August 1916 he contracted dysentery, one of the most dreaded diseases affecting soldiers in the Middle East. Dysentery spread easily in military camps and often left men debilitated for weeks. The severity of his illness was sufficient for the authorities to decide that he should be sent to England for further treatment and recovery. He embarked from Egypt on 7 August 1916 aboard a hospital transport. Although his service record does not name the hospital to which he was admitted on arrival, soldiers evacuated from Egypt commonly entered one of the military hospitals in southern England before being assessed for future service.

PERHAM DOWNS COMMAND DEPOT SEPTEMBER 1916

By September Morris had improved sufficiently to be transferred to the Command Depot at Perham Downs on Salisbury Plain. Command Depots were designed for men recovering from illness or wounds who were not yet fit enough for front-line service. On 20 September he was classified B2A, indicating that while he was not fit for full combat duties, he was considered capable of light military work and continued rehabilitation.

FURLOUGH SEPTEMBER 1916

The following day Morris commenced furlough. The unusually long period of leave recorded in his file suggests that military authorities believed an extended period of rest away from camp would assist his recovery from the lingering effects of enteritis and dysentery. Such illnesses frequently left soldiers weakened for months, even after the immediate symptoms had subsided. Morris remained on furlough until reporting back to the Australian camp at Codford on 20 November 1916. Codford, situated on Salisbury Plain, was one of the principal Australian training and rehabilitation centres in England. There he would have resumed a gradual programme of physical conditioning, medical observation and military training designed to restore him to fitness and prepare him for eventual service overseas once his health permitted.

Taken together, the entries in Morris's record reveal a soldier who spent much of 1916 battling illness rather than the enemy. Bronchitis, enteritis and dysentery were serious setbacks, and the lengthy period of hospitalisation, convalescence and furlough reflects the considerable time required for him to recover his strength before he could again be considered for active service

RETURNED TO CODFORD NOVEMBER 1916

Morris would almost certainly have been undergoing the final stages of recovery and reconditioning after the illnesses that had plagued him throughout 1916.

Codford was one of the major Australian camps on Salisbury Plain and served several purposes. It was a training camp, a rehabilitation centre and a holding depot for men awaiting posting back to active service. Since Morris had only recently returned from a lengthy period of hospitalisation, convalescence and furlough, he would not have been thrown straight into strenuous military training.

Instead, his days would likely have included:

·        Medical inspections to monitor his recovery from dysentery and enteritis.

·        Graduated physical training designed to rebuild strength and stamina lost through months of illness.

·        Route marches of increasing length across Salisbury Plain.

·        Musketry and refresher military training to keep his soldiering skills current.

·        Parade-ground drill and discipline training.

·        Fatigue duties around camp, depending on his medical classification.

·        Further assessments to determine whether he was fit for return to his battalion in France.

Life at Codford during the winter of 1916–17 was far from comfortable. The camp was often cold, wet and muddy, and many Australians found the English winter far more difficult than the climate they had left behind. Thousands of recovering soldiers were concentrated in camps across Salisbury Plain, creating ideal conditions for infectious diseases to spread.

This helps explain why Morris contracted mumps in January 1917. Mumps was common in military camps where large numbers of young men lived, trained and ate in close quarters. Although often considered a childhood illness today, it could be quite debilitating in adults and frequently resulted in several weeks away from duty.

It can cause fever, swelling of the salivary glands and inflammation in other parts of the body.  Soldiers would have suffered fever, headaches, tiredness, body aches & poor appetite. There is no specific treatment for mumps. Instead, treatment focuses on symptom relief. Treatment would have included plenty of rest, lots of fluids, using a warm or cool compress to relieve facial pain and swelling & eating foods that do not need a lot of chewing

COMMAND DEPOT JULY 1916

Morris then went to Sutton Veney command depot for rest and retraining so he could return to this unit

REJOINED UNIT APRIL 1917

Morris sailed to France to join his unit on 21 April 1917 where they were fighting on the Western Front. When Morris rejoined the 15th Battalion on 21 April 1917, he returned to a unit still recovering from the disastrous fighting at Bullecourt earlier that month. After almost a year lost to illness and recovery, he once again entered the routine of trench warfare, alternating between front-line duty, reserve positions and working parties. During the following months he served in the rebuilding battalion as it occupied trenches in the Bullecourt sector before moving north to Belgium. In June the battalion took part in operations associated with the Battle of Messines, helping hold the ground captured on Messines Ridge, and throughout the summer Morris shared in the hard and often dangerous work of maintaining positions in the Ypres Salient amid shellfire, mud and the constant threat of enemy action

TRENCH WARFARE

On the Western Front in 1914–1918, both sides constructed elaborate trench, underground, and dugout systems opposing each other along a front, protected from assault by barbed wire. The area between opposing trench lines (known as "no man's land") was fully exposed to artillery fire from both sides. Attacks, even if successful, often sustained severe casualties. Trench warfare created a living environment for the men which was harsh, stagnant, and extremely dangerous. Not only were trenches constantly under threat of attack from shells or other weapons, but there were also many health risks that developed into large-scale problems for medical personnel. Apart from the inescapable cold during the winters in France & Belgium, trenches were often completely waterlogged and muddy, and crawling with lice and rats

The time soldiers spent in the trenches varied depending on factors like their army's rotation system and the intensity of the conflict in their sector. On average:

·      Front-line trenches: Soldiers typically remained here for about 4–6 days at a time. This was where the fighting was most intense and the conditions were the harshest.

·      Support and reserve trenches: After time on the front line, soldiers were rotated to these positions for around 6–12 days. These trenches were set further back and offered slightly better conditions.

·      Rest periods: Soldiers were then moved away from the trench system entirely for rest, training, and recovery, often lasting several weeks, depending on operational needs.

The rotation system helped prevent complete physical and mental exhaustion, but the constant dangers of trench life meant there was rarely any true respite.

HOSPITALISATION SEPTIC GLAND IN THE GROIN AUGUST 1917

Morris's next period of hospitalisation appears to have stemmed from an infection rather than a battle wound. On 31 August 1917 he was admitted to the 4th Field Ambulance suffering from a septic gland in the groin. In modern terms, this usually referred to an infected and inflamed lymph node, often caused by bacteria entering the body through a cut, scratch, blister, insect bite or other minor infection in the legs or feet. For infantrymen serving in the filthy conditions of the Western Front, such infections were not uncommon. Constant exposure to mud, poor sanitation, damp clothing and minor skin injuries created ideal conditions for bacteria to spread through the lymphatic system.

The condition was painful and potentially serious. An infected gland could swell considerably, causing fever, discomfort and difficulty walking. If the infection spread into the bloodstream it could become life-threatening. As a result, Morris was evacuated through the normal medical chain, first to the 4th Field Ambulance and then to No. 2 Casualty Clearing Station, where more advanced treatment could be provided closer to the front.

When his condition failed to improve sufficiently, he was transferred to No. 7 Canadian General Hospital. Large general hospitals such as this were equipped to deal with more serious infections and surgical cases. Treatment in 1917 would usually have involved bed rest, careful nursing, antiseptic dressings and observation. Antibiotics did not yet exist, so doctors relied on the body's own ability to overcome infection. If an abscess had formed within the gland, surgeons might make an incision to drain the infected material, a common procedure of the period. Patients were also given nutritious food, rest and supportive care to aid recovery.

EVACUATION TO ENGLAND SEPTEMBER 1917

The medical authorities evidently considered Morris's condition serious enough to warrant evacuation to England. On 3 September 1917 he was placed aboard the hospital ship Antwerpen and transported across the Channel. Hospital ships were specially fitted vessels carrying wounded and sick soldiers from France to Britain, where more extensive treatment and longer-term convalescence could be undertaken.

Upon arrival in England Morris was admitted to the 3rd London General Hospital at Wandsworth. This was one of Britain's largest military hospitals and treated thousands of wounded and sick soldiers during the war. Here he would have received specialist medical attention and continued treatment for the infection. The fact that he remained in England for an extended period suggests that the infection required considerable time to resolve and that he was not yet fit to return to active service.

WEYMOUTH OCTOBER 1917

By 24 September he had improved sufficiently to be transferred to Weymouth, which served as a convalescent centre for recovering servicemen. The move indicates that the acute phase of his illness had passed, although he was still regaining his strength. Convalescent centres focused on rehabilitation through rest, good nutrition, gentle exercise and gradually increasing physical activity

SUTTON VENEY OCTOBER 1917

On 27 October Morris was transferred to Sutton Veny, one of the principal Australian convalescent and training camps on Salisbury Plain. Sutton Veny acted as a staging point for soldiers recovering from illness or wounds before they returned to active service. There he would have undergone further medical assessments and physical training designed to restore him to military fitness.

For Morris, this episode was another frustrating interruption to his service. After finally returning to his battalion earlier in 1917 and serving through the hard months in Belgium, a seemingly minor infection developed into a condition serious enough to require evacuation from the front, treatment in several hospitals and almost two months of recovery in England. Such cases remind us that disease and infection remained almost as dangerous to soldiers on the Western Front as enemy bullets and shells.

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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