Person

Edmund Morris was born in Quebec, Durham on 02-Apr-1879. His father, also called Edmund Morris, (1844-1897) was a Welsh coal miner from Blaenavon and his mother Emma Young (1852-1909) was from Somerset. The couple married in Abergavenny in 1867 and were living in Blaenavon at the 1871 census. Whatever brought the couple to Durham was relatively short-lived and after the birth of Edmund junior in 1879 they returned to Blaenavon and were living as a family of three in 2 Rifle Street at the time of the 1881 census. At this time, Edmund senior was described as a coal miner and beerhouse keeper. In 1891, Edmund senior was described as the innkeeper of The Rolling Mill Inn at Blaenavon and the family had grown to include two sisters (Mary Emma b.1880 and Maud Lethain b.1883) and one brother (John b.1885)

At the time of the 1901 census, Edmund junior was boarding with the Gardner family in Tyneside at 23 Loraine Terrace, Newburn Hall, where he was working as a joiner. He returned to Wales where he married Elizabeth Emma Barnes (1880-1958) from Trevethin in Monmouthshire. At the 1911 census, Edmund was working as a carpenter and the couple were living at 40 Cwmarvon Road, Blaenavon where they spent the rest of their lives.

Edmund joined the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) on 07-Aug-1917. He was given the service number F18920, the rank of Air Mechanic 1st class and the trade of rigger. Like most recruits, his induction was via Crystal Palace in London from where he was posted to Kent, serving first at Eastchurch and then at the Isle of Grain. At the beginning of April 1918, the RAF was formed and took in Edmund along with almost all RNAS personnel. He kept his rank of Air Mechanic 1st class and was given the new service number of 218920. He left the RAF via the Chisledon Dispersal Camp near Swindon on 05-Feb-1919 and was discharged to the G Reserve with effect from 08-Mar-1919. Edmund’s discharge address when he left the service was 40 Cwmarvon Road, Blaenavon and his Probate Record shows he died at this address on 04-Jul-1947 at the age of 68.

Edmund Morris was awarded the British War Medal for his service in World War One.

Civil Parish: Esh

Birth date: 02-Apr-1879

Death date: 04-Jul-1947

Armed force/civilian: Air Force

Residence: 2 Rifle Street, Blaenavon, Wales (1881 census)
The Rolling Mill Inn, Blaenavon (1891 census)
23 Loraine Street, Newburn Hall, Tyneside (1901 census)
40 Cwmarvon Road, Blaenavon, Wales (1911 census, 1919 Discharge Address, 1947 Probate Record)

Military service:

Enlisted in Royal Naval Air Service, F18920, Air Mechanic 1st class, 07-Aug-1917
Transferred to Royal Air Force, 218920, Air Mechanic 1st class, 01-Apr-1918
Discharged to RAF G Reserve 05-Feb-1919

Gender: Male

Contributed by David D, Stanley, Co Durham