Charles Morris (1890-1917)
Painter and decorator from Durham served in 18th DLI commemorated on the Arras Memorial
Charles Morris, the son of Charles and Margaret Isabella Morris, was born at the beginning of 1890 in Durham. He had three brothers and three sisters and lived in the Elvet district of Durham all his life. He became a painter and decorator, and in December 1912 he married Christina Hutton and they had a daughter, Margaret Jane.
He enlisted at Durham on 17 September 1914 in the 18th Battalion (The Pals) Durham Light Infantry and was later transferred to the 21st Battalion. On 4th April 1916 he was transferred back to the 18th Battalion. He landed in France on 8 April 1916 and was promoted to lance corporal on 30 October. He was killed on 18 May 1917 at the Battle of Arras and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial and St Oswald’s Church Calvary Memorials, in the Durham Cathedral Book of Remembrance and on a plaque which used to be in the Durham City Comrades’ Club (now disappeared).
Civil Parish: Durham Elvet
Birth date: 1890
Death date: 18-May-1917
Armed force/civilian: Army
Residence: 8 Pit Row, Elvet, Durham (1891 census)
15 Pit Row, Elvet, Durham (1901 census)
5 Church Street, Durham (1911 census)
Employment: Painter & Decorator (1911 census)
Family: Father: Charles Morris
Mother: Margaret Isabella Morris (nee Baxter)
Siblings: Sarah Jane, John, Anthony, Henrietta, Mary Ann & Lawrence Morris
Wife: Christina C. Morris (nee Hutton)
Child: Margaret Jane Morris
Military service:
Enlisted in the 18th Battalion Durham Light Infantry
Service No.: 18/554
Corporal
Medal(s): British War medal
Victory Medal
Memorial(s): Arras memorial, Bay 8
Durham Cathedral Book of Remembrance
Durham City Comrades’ Club 1914-1981 Plaque (now disappeared)
St Oswald’s Church, Durham Calvary Cross 1914-1918
Gender: Male
Contributed by John Edwards
