Samuel Macdonald Morrison (1889-1915)
Birtley man served as leading seaman in the Royal Naval Division
Samuel Macdonald Morrison’s military records give his date of birth as 29 February 1889 although that was not a leap year. His father was Thomas Morrison (1851-1938) who was born in Scotland and worked variously as a pottery foreman, colliery mason and boot repairer. Thomas had married Sarah Stewart (1855-1879), a Scottish labourer’s daughter, in 1874. They had one daughter called Sarah Elizabeth in 1875 before mother Sarah died in 1879.
Thomas married for a second time in 1880. His second wife was Mary Jane Morrison nee Jose, a stone drifter’s daughter, originally from Cornwall. The 1911 census records that during their marriage 14 children had been born of whom 11 were surviving. Samuel was their fifth child. In 1891 the family lived in Heworth Lane, Felling. By the time of the 1901 census they were living in Scotswood Villas, Benwell, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland. The 1911 census records them living in Ritson’s Houses, Holmside. Samuel was a hewer in a local coal mine.
Before the war, Samuel had served four years in the Durham Light Infantry Territorials. Shortly after war was declared he enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery (RFA) on 31 August 1914. He became a private in the 164 Battery with the service number 33161. This episode of his military career was short lived as he was discharged as not likely to become an efficient soldier due to dislocated cartilage in his right knee. He was released from service in the RFA on 6 October 1914.
On 21 October 1914 Samuel enlisted in the Royal Naval Division (RND). He was rated leading seaman with the service number TZ/512. He became a member of Collingwood Battalion, A Company, 4th Platoon. He was drafted to the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (MEF) and saw service in Gallipoli. He was rated leading seaman higher grade on 8 May 1915.
Samuel was declared missing assumed killed in action on 4 June 1915. His body was initially identified by KW/579, able seaman John Fallas, who sent a photo of Samuel found on his body to his next of kin. Subsequently his body could not be identified for burial in a known grave.
Samuel is honoured on the Helles Memorial, Cannakale, Turkey. This is the place of commemoration for 20,885 Commonwealth servicemen who died in the Gallipoli Campaign and have no known grave. He is remembered locally on the Plaque 1914-18 and Book of Remembrance 1914-18, St John the Evangelist Church, Holmside Lane, Burnhope. His name appears on the Garden Memorial 1914-18, Burnhope and on the Roll of Honour 1914-18, Ritson Burnhope and Pontop Collieries.
Samuel Macdonald Morrison was awarded the 1814-15 Star, the Victory Medal and the British War Medal for his service in World War One.
Civil Parish: Birtley
Birth date: 29-Feb-1889
Death date: 04-Jun-1915
Armed force/civilian: Navy
Residence: Heworth Lane, Felling (1891 census)
7 Scotswood Villas, Benwell, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland (1901 census)
Ritson’s Houses, Holmside (1911 census)
4 West Terrace, Burnhope (1914 enlistment record)
Religion: Primitive Methodist
Employment: Coal miner – hewer (1911 census)
Family: Parents: Thomas Morrison (1851-1938), Mary Jane Morrison nee Jose (1864-1931)
Siblings: Sarah Elizabeth Morrison (1875), half sister
William Morrison (1882), Thomas Morrison (1883), Caroline Morrison (1885), Henrietta Morrison (1887), Edwin Morrison (1891), Donald Morrison (1893), Elizabeth Ann Morrison (1895), Richard Morrison (1897), Roderick Morrison (1899), Violet Morrison (1901), Christiana Morrison (1904), Alexander Morrison (1907), Hector Morrison (1910)
Military service:
TZ/512
Leading Seaman, 21 October 1914
Leading seaman - higher grade, 8 May 1915
Royal Naval Division
Collingwood Battalion, A company, 4th platoon
Medal(s): 1914-15 Star
Victory Medal
British War Medal
Memorial(s): Helles Memorial, Cannakale, Turkey
Book of Remembrance 1914-18, St John the Evangelist, Holmside Lane
Garden 1914-18, Burnhope
Plaque 1914-18, St John the Evangelist, Holmside Lane
Roll of Honour 1914-18, Ritson, Burnhope and Pontop Collieries
Gender: Male
Contributed by David D, Stanley, Co Durham
