Lt Douglas George Morrison Australian Flying Corps

[Will O'Brien]

As per CWGC

Name: MORRISON, DOUGLAS GEORGE

Initials: D G

Nationality: Australian

Rank: Lieutenant

Regiment: Australian Flying Corps

Age: 22

Date of Death: 29/10/1917

Additional information: Son of George Cowie Morrison and Edith Constance Morrison, The State Public Service Commissioner for Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Born at Kilmore, Victoria.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: VII. C. 19.

Cemetery: GREVILLERS BRITISH CEMETERY

[Will O'Brien]

& the cemetery info

Cemetery: GREVILLERS BRITISH CEMETERY

Country: France

Locality: Pas de Calais

Location Information: Grevillers is a village in the Department of the Pas de Calais, 3 kilometres west of Bapaume. From Bapaume take the RD929 in the direction of Amiens, turn immediately right onto the RD7, where a signpost indicates the cemetery. After 500 metres turn left at junction onto RD29, where a signpost indicates the cemetery which is on the right after a further 50 metres.

Historical Information: The village of Grevillers was occupied by Commonwealth troops on 14 March 1917 and in April and May, the 3rd, 29th and 3rd Australian Casualty Clearing Stations were posted nearby. They began the cemetery and continued to use it until March 1918, when Grevillers was lost to the German during their great advance. On the following 24 August, the New Zealand Division recaptured Grevillers and in September, the 34th, 49th and 56th Casualty Clearing Stations came to the village and used the cemetery again. After the Armistice, 200 graves were brought in from the battlefields to the south of the village, and 40 from an adjoining cemetery made during the German occupation, which no longer exists. There are now 2,106 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in GREVILLERS BRITISH CEMETERY. 189 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to 18 casualties known or believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials record the names of two casualties, buried in Avesnes-les-Bapaume German Cemetery, whose graves could not be found. The cemetery also contains the graves of seven Second World War airmen, and 18 French war graves. Within the cemetery stands the GREVILLERS (NEW ZEALAND) MEMORIAL which commemorates almost 450 officers and men of the New Zealand Division who died in the defensive fighting in the area from March to August 1918, and in the Advance to Victory between 8 August and 11 November 1918, and who have no known grave. This is one of seven memorials in France and Belgium to those New Zealand soldiers who died on the Western Front and whose graves are not known. The memorials are all in cemeteries chosen as appropriate to the fighting in which the men died. The cemetery and memorial were designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

No. of Identified Casualties: 1940

[Will O'Brien]

The Embarkation Rolls has Lieutenant Morrison leaving Australia from Melbourne on HMAT Ulysses on 25/10/1916

[Will O'Brien]

Here is some info extracted from Douglas Morrison’s service record (it is 78 pages long), courtesy of the National Archive of Australia

Douglas was born in Kilmore, Central Victoria & was a Presbyterian. On his attestation papers he listed his occupation as an Orchardist (I’m unsure what this would have entailed) & nominated his father as his next of kin.. He enlisted on the 5th October 1916. It would appear he initial joined C Flight of the 2nd Australian Flying Squadron. His record indicates he received a course of vaccinations shortly after attesting, the hand writing is a bit faded but I think it was a three course typhoid inoculation.

As previously noted Douglas left Australia on HMAT Ulysses from Melbourne on the 25th October 1916. He landed in Plymouth on the 28th December 1916. On the 15th January 1917 he joined number 69 Squadron, AFC & then went to Number 49 Squadron RFC for ‘Instruction in Elementary Aviation’ in South Carlton.

On the 20th May 1917 he was taken onto the strength of Number 68 Squadron AFC who were based at Harlaxton & on 10th June 1917 was attending the Gunnery School. Douglas was promoted to Lieutenant on the 30th June 1917 & briefly attached to the 24th Squadron during July & August before being sent to France on 29th September 1917 with Number 68 Squadron.

Douglas’ active service career was very short as he was wounded in action on the 14th October 1917. He received medical attention at the 2/1st London Field Ambulance before being transferred to the 3rd Casualty Clearing Station suffering from a Gun shot Wound to the right knee, compound fracture of the tibia & laceration of the axilla. It would appear that his right leg was amputated but he died on the 29th October. He was buried on the 30th October at Grevillers.

Just a quick insight into the personal effects of a young officer – The inventory of Douglas’ belongings sent to his father are as listed – 1 trunk sealed containing 42 Dollars, 20 Hankerchiefs, 1 Automatic Pistol (unloaded & not government property), 3 ties, 12 pairs of socks, 3 pairs of puttees, 3 towels, 1 mirror, books, 2 pairs of leather gloves, 1 flying helmet, 1 shaving brush, brushes, 3 razors, 1 muffler, 1 suit of combinations (whatever one of those is), 2 pairs of underpants, 5 suits of pyjamas, 4 shirts, 1 pair of white flannel trousers, photographs, 2 pairs of breeches, 1 pair of slacks, 2 S.D. Tunics (sent in separate packages), a photo case, loose leaf note book, silver disc, gold cigarette case, gold ring, metal drawing instrument, 4 stars, 4 badges, visiting cards, letters, photos, gold wrist watch & strap, a stretcher, 3 pairs of brown boots, 1 pair of slippers, 1 pair of white canvas shoes, 1 pair of galoshes, 1 Sam Browne belt, 2 Aluminium panikans (what are theses?) 2 pillows, 1 kit bag, 1 dressing gown & 1 British Warm,

There is an interesting note from Douglas’ father dated June 1918 & addressed to the Officer in Charge, Base Records. It confirms receipt of the package containing the effects of his son but notes that the gold watch valued at £10 & the solid gold cigarette case valued at £15 were missing. Mr Morrison requests enquiries be made into where these items have gone. He also asks whether any pay was due to Douglas & if so how he should go about claiming it – I wonder if the missing items had been pilfered at an earlier stage in the process as they were obviously of some value. I also found a response to Mr Morrison confirming that a communication regarding the missing items had been passed to AIF Headquarters in London & that any questions regarding Douglas’ financial affairs would be dealt with by District Paymaster & all communications should be directed there – Personally I think Mr Morrison had just been fobbed off there. Another letter is there from AIF Headquarters dated August 1918 simply stating that the items were listed on the inventory & therefore must have been sent (typical Army logic)

Another little battle is played out with the army in 1923. There are letters from Mrs Morrison claiming Douglas’ medals & plaque after she only received her ‘mother’s badge’, to which the army wrote back advising her that the medals can only be sent to Mr Morrison (I assume because he was listed as the next of kin). The records suggest that his British War Medal was issued to his parents in February 1923 & his death plaque & Victory Medal a month later.

[frev]

Will

Thank you for taking the time to remember Lt Douglas Morrison & tell some of his story.

I'd agree with you that his gold watch & cigarette case probably went missing long before the parcel reached the boat to Aus. Probably some 'entrepreneurial' Aussie clerk financing his 'life after the war'. As you well know, we Aussies have always had a history of 'souveniring'.

The 2 aluminium pannikins - are (metal) drinking cups [we used something similar when camping as kids]

His occupation - Orchardist - simply meant that he grew fruit trees & sold fruit to earn a living.

Lest We Forget

Frev.

[Will O'Brien]

Frev..............thanks for the clarification

[Andrew P]

Thanks for posting that information on Lt Morrison Will & Frev.

It's a shame that some of his effects didn't find their way back to his family.

Regards

Andrew