Name
George Rowland Morris
1878
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
19/10/1914
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Serjeant
25533
Royal Garrison Artillery
Clerks Sect.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
KRANJI WAR CEMETERY
37. G. 14.
Singapore
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Hitchin memorials
Pre War
George Rowland Morriss (sometime Roland Morris) was born in 1878 in Hitchin and his parents were William Freeman and Mary Elizabeth Morriss (née Thompson). They married in 1867 in Bourne, Lincolnshire – his wife’s home county, William was from Newborough, Northants.
In 1871, before George’s birth, William (24) and Mary (27) the family were living in Gunton Road, Newborough, Northants. William was a farmer and a church minister. Their children were: Grace (2) and Edward Thompson (1), and they had two domestic servants.
By 1881 the family had moved to Trevor Road, Hitchin. Although Mary was absent from this census and was found visiting her widowed mother in Market Deeping, Lincs. Present were William working as a minister of the gospel and children Grace and Edward, who had been joined by Ebenezer F (10), Lucy (8), Charles W (6) and George Rowland (2) – the last three were born in Hitchin. A George Morriss, believed to be George’s widowed grandfather was boarding with them and one general servant was there.
In 1891 the family were living at 9 Trevor Road, Hitchin. Now present were both parents, William a Baptist minister. Of the children previous listed Edward was absent, Ebenezer was now listed as Frederick, they had been joined by a new sister, Mary E (10). Elizabeth Stonebridge was listed as domestic help.
By George had joined the army and was a gunner listed in 1901 as living at The Camps Shrapnel Barracks and Royal Horse Infirmary, Charlton, Woolwich.
William, George’s father died in Hitchin in 1907.
George married Bella Scrimgeour (belived born in Scotland) in 1910, in Athlone, Ireland. At this time he may have still been in the Army.
By 2 April 1911 George and Bella were living at 16 Ranelagh Street, Athlone, Ireland, and later they had a daughter Gwendoline Bella, born 26 October 1911.
Whether George remained in the Army or had reenlisted is not known. Some research by others suggests that he was a glass & china salesman at some point. However, he was in Singapore in May 1914 and was recorded as a Sergeant in the RGA when he was initiated into the Freemasons, Eastern Gate Lodge there on 21 May 1914 when he was 36.
The Soldiers Died In The Great War database records that he was born in Hitchin, Herts, and he was living there when he enlisted in Stratford, Essex.
Wartime Service
When war was declared he was serving in Singapore and was an Army clerk attached to No. 78 Coy. Royal Garrison Artillery.
He was taken ill and died of heart failure in Military Hospital Tanglin Singapore on 19 October 1914
He was originally buried in Bidadari Cemetery, a cemetery used for civilian & military burials at that time and then reinterred at Kranji when all remains were exhumed from Bidadari Cemetery.
Additional Information
After his death £21 7s 7d pay owing was authorised to go to his widow, Bella and children, on 13 March 1915. Later, a war gratuity of £8 was authorised to be paid to her on 8 September 1919.
His pension cards record Bella Morriss as his widow and dependant, her address was given as C/o Mrs Black, 669 New City Road, Glasgow. It also records their child as Gwendoline Bella (b 26/10/1911). She was awarded a pension of 18s 6d a week from 1 March 1915.
She later remarried and became Bella Cowley and lived in New Zealand with her husband Arthur William Cowley. She died in 1963 Invercargill, New Zealand.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild, https://genealogy.antipole.co.uk/database_public/ps04/ps04_046.html
