Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Edward Morrison, was born on 5 December 1888 at Blessington, Tasmania, son of James Morrison, labourer, and his wife Elizabeth, née Shepherd. After farming for some years at Blessington, he became a labourer for Hinman, Wright & Manser Ltd of Launceston.

Morrison enlisted in mid-1915 in the 12th Battalion AIF as a private, aged 26. During March 1916 he transferred to the new 52nd Battalion during the reorganisation of the AIF. The battalion embarked for the Western Front in June; Morrison saw action at Sailly, France, and suffered from shell-shock on 12 July 1916.

Morrison was part of a group of thirteen men of the 52nd Battalion who were all recommended for a bravery award, for the following deed. On 4 September 1916, “Some wounded men, having been left out in front of the firing line near the Farm de Mouquet, a party under Lieutenant Ralph Anderson volunteered to go out from Albert, a distance of 8 kilometres, and try and bring them in. This they did, having to make their way for a very long distance over ground and through saps that were being shelled heavily by the enemy; with much trouble in the darkness, they located the men in No Mans Land, near the enemy trenches, and brought them back to safety over ground that was being swept by our own guns and over the ground being bombarded by the enemy.”

Only one of the thirteen men received an award. It must have been a particularly hazardous little enterprise for four of the thirteen were killed in action, one was wounded, and one was wounded in the thigh and captured by the Germans.

On 14 March 1917 Morrison was promoted sergeant and at Messines was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for 'leading his men in a bombing attack upon the enemy who were forming up for a counter-attack'. He afterwards 'showed great courage in an attack upon a strong point where he remained in an isolated position with a small party until all his bombs were exhausted'.

In July-August Morrison attended the 2nd Anzac Infantry School and achieved good results. On 9 September 1917, under strange circumstances, he was found guilty and reduced to corporal by a court martial for 'improper interference after an order had been given by his superior officer'. He was detached on 2 October 1917 from the battalion and sent to intensive bombing training courses in England, probably as an instructor.

Morrison rejoined the 52nd Battalion during February 1918 and on 5 April 1918 was wounded twice at Dernancourt. He nevertheless 'continued to take up exposed positions and fire rifle-grenades and throw bombs on the enemy inflicting heavy casualties on them. His fine courage and skill greatly inspired the men of his platoon and caused the enemy attack to be stemmed'. For this he received a Bar to his D.C.M. His wounds were severe and he did not see any further active service before he was invalided to Australia in October 1918.

Morrison married in 1919 before joining the Tasmania Police Force and served in numerous towns until 1935 when he resigned for health reasons. He resumed farming at Blessington before joining the Court of Requests in 1937; he later became a court crier at the Supreme Court of Tasmania and between 1943 and at retirement in 1953 was judge's attendant to Sir John Morris.

Survived by his wife, son and daughter, he passed away in the Repatriation General Hospital, Hobart, on 22 September 1955 and was buried in Cornelian Bay cemetery.

(Edited from the Australian Dictionary of Biography)