John Torrington Morris
Second Lieutenant John Torrington Morris – Royal Welsh Fusiliers, 1st Battalion
Early Life
John Torrington Morris was born in 1897, the
youngest son of Sir Robert A. Morris, Baronet, and Lady Lucy Augusta
Cory. He grew up in comfort and privilege, but like so many young men of
his generation, he answered the call of duty when war came.John Torrington Morris
Family
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| 1901 Census |
The 1901 Census provides the only surviving household record of John’s early life. At that time, the Morris family was residing at Sketty Park, Swansea. Sir Robert, aged 52 and born in London, was recorded as “living on own means,” while Lady Lucy, aged 37 and born in Oystermouth, managed the large family household. Their children were Valerie E. (13), Dulcie E. (11), Sibyl R. (10), Tom N. R. (8), and John T. (4).
Also living in the home were their cousin Jessie M. E.
McDowall (40), a governess Agnes J. Grant (46), and six servants: Catherine
Bebington (62), Sarah Evans (42), Elynor Evans (27), Annie
Tucker (29), Catherine Jones (28), Mary J. James (20), and Sybil
A. Sloggett (16).
Military Service
John was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the 1st
Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, a regiment with a distinguished record of
service. By 1915, his battalion was part of the 22nd Brigade,
7th Division, which formed part of the British
Expeditionary Force on the Western Front.
The Battle of Festubert, May 1915
In May 1915, the 1st Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers
took part in the Battle of Festubert, one of the early British attempts
to break through the German defensive lines in northern France. The attack
began on 16th May 1915, when the 22nd Brigade
launched an assault following a short artillery bombardment. The 2nd
Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment) and the 1st Royal Welsh
Fusiliers spearheaded the attack on the German trenches.
The battalion advanced into a heavily fortified sector near Cuinchy
under intense artillery and machine-gun fire. By the afternoon, they held a
line of captured trenches but suffered severe casualties in the process. The
fighting was chaotic and costly—officers and men alike faced continuous
bombardment, counter-attacks, and confusion amid shattered trenches and
mud-filled craters.
Among the battalion’s losses that day was its commanding
officer, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Gabbett, who was killed in action
and buried at Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, Cuinchy. During the same
engagement, Company Sergeant Major Frederick Barter led a daring advance
that captured 500 yards of enemy trench and 20 prisoners; he was later awarded
the Victoria Cross for his bravery.
It was during this same fierce fighting that Second
Lieutenant John Torrington Morris was killed. He was only 18 years old,
one of many young officers who gave their lives in the early, bloody battles of
the Western Front.
Death
Second Lieutenant John Torrington Morris was killed
in action on 16th May 1915 during the Battle of Festubert.
His service record and the battalion’s war history place him at the heart of a
key British offensive that, though limited in territorial gain, demonstrated
immense courage and sacrifice.
Burial
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| John Torrington Morris Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, Cuinchy credit - findagrave |
Legacy
Though born into privilege, John Torrington Morris is
remembered on the St. Paul’s war memorial on equal terms with men of
every class and rank. His life was short but marked by duty and courage. His
sacrifice, alongside those of his fellow Royal Welsh Fusiliers, forms part of
the enduring story of the First World War — a reminder that loss and heroism
touched every stratum of British society.
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