Peterborough & The Great War

Biography

W Morris passed through Peterborough East Station on 5 November 1916 and wrote in the visitors’ book:

“I thank those to young ladies for their kindness which they gave me last night.

If you ever get of the staion at Peterborugh call in the soldiers rest for a nice cup of tea.”

His entry reveals he was a Drummer with the 15 Battalion Welsh Regiment.  Despite such a common name, there was only one W Morris in the 15^th Battalion, but regrettably, his service record has not been located.

If  this is the correct William Morris, he attested at Ammanford into the 15^th Battalion Welsh Regiment, also known as the Camarthenshire Pals Battalion.  Born in Rhosammon and resident in Pontardulais he landed at Le Havre in France with the Welsh Regiment on 04 December 1915.  He died of wounds on 27 February 1917 and is commemorated at the Mendinghem Cemetery near West-Vlaanderen Belgium.

An unresolved issue is that of his Rank.  In the book he signed himself as a Drummer which would have equated to Private.  Some records have him as a Private (Personal Effects Register) whilst others have him as a Corporal (Medal Card).  The record for his Commonwealth War Graves Commission gravestone has ‘Cpl‘ but then manually scored through and replaced by Pte.

Extensive information on the 15^th Carmarthen Pals Battalion can be found at http://www.wwwmp.co.uk/local-military-units/15th-battalion-welsh-regiment/.

Please get in touch if you can help further with information about W Morris.