MORRIS, Alexander
| Service Number: | 5163 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 8th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Nhill, Victoria, 5 June 1894 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | The Geelong College |
| Occupation: | Grazier |
| Memorials: | Geelong College WW1 Roll of Honour, Maroona Honor Roll WW1 |
World War 1 Service
| 1 Apr 1916: | Involvement Private, 5163, 8th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Suffolk embarkation_ship_number: A23 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Apr 1916: | Embarked Private, 5163, 8th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Suffolk, Melbourne |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Daryl Jones
MORRIS, Alexander (1894-1963)
Morris Alexander, soldier and grazier was born on 5 June 1894, the son of Joseph Morris and Ellen nee McGrath, of Nhill. He was educated at Yanac-a-Yanac State School and Geelong College. where he boarded from February 1910. The enrolment Register records that he left in July 1913, however his Valete listing in Pegasus does not appear until August 1914. He was a member of the 1st Football XVIII in 1911 and 1912 and the Athletics Team of 1912. He was often known as 'Mick'.
During World War I, at the time of his enlistment (No 5163) as a Private in the 8 Battalion (16th Reinforcement Group) AIF on 21 February 1916, his family resided at Glastonbury, Maroona. He stated that he had served for four and a half years in the The University of Melbourne Regiment. He embarked on HMAT A23 Suffolk on 1 April 1916 for Suez, and on to Plymouth in HT Hunkgreen. He transferred to France on 23 August 1916, where he suffered from the mud and cold in the trenches, as he related in a letter he wrote from Birmingham on 28 August 1917.
'During my fighting period in France, I met only two old College boys, Frank Herman and W O McPherson, my old mate when at College. Both these are in the AASC - something different from the infantry which I am in; the poor infantry are always in the mud. ... Since being admitted to the Hospital, I have met Roy Richardson. ... Just been interrupted by the nurse pressing me to eat a plate of sour stewed plums, as sugar is a very scarce article here now. ... I have been five months in bed now, suffering from diphtheria paralysis, and I am only able to walk about the hospital at present, but I am pleased to state that I’m well on the road that eventually leads to France.'
He was evacuated on 2 May 1917 on HS Grantully Castle from Havre and later returned to Australia, embarking on 6 June 1918, Pegasus reported:
'He has been invalided home from the front, and is glad to enjoy once more the blue skies and the sunshine of Australia.'
Source : The Geelong College - https://gnet.geelongcollege.vic.edu.au/wiki/MORRIS-Alexander-1894-1963.ashx?HL=morris
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