136446 George Morrison enlisted in Toronto with the 74th Battalion C.E.F. (Canadian Expeditionary Force) on 16 July 1915. He had prior service of 18 Months with the 48th Highlanders (Militia) in Toronto. He gave his date of birth as 26 April 1890 and his next of kin as his father, Isaac Morrison at 3 Renfrew St, Belfast, Ireland. He changed this near the end of the war to his wife, Mrs. George Morrison at 1721 Leland Avenue, Chicago, Illinois. He was transferred to the 95th Battalion on 23 March 1916 and embarked from Halifax on the SS Olympic on 31 May 1916 for the UK. In preparation for going to France he assigned to the 5th Reserve Battalion at Sandling on 31 March 1917.
He was sent to France and was taken on strength by the 15th Battalion (48th Highlanders) on 17 November 1917. He was wounded (Shell/gas) on 22 March 1918 and sent to the 1st Field Ambulance. He returned to the battalion on 5 April 1918 for just 6 days and was away from 11 April to 16 September (1st Div Train ?) returning again to the battalion for another 4 days then was given leave to the UK on the 20th. He returned from leave on 19 November then to hospital on the 26th. From there he went to hospital in England and then back to Canada where, after more hospital time, he was discharged on 23 April 1920.
Morrison died on 11 August 1922, and it was declared “death due to service”. His wife and his mother received the Silver Cross (awarded to NOK – spouse and/or mother) and his wife received his Victory Medal.
His time with the 15th Battalion covered;
. 11 November 1917 – the battalion was finally moving out of Passchendaele back to the Lens area. He likely arrived when they were at Red Rose Camp, having baths and general cleanup. The next day they moved to in stages to billets. On 15/16 they moved back into the lines to relieve the North Staffords.
. On 11 December they moved into the lines at Red Mill in Lieven until the 16th. They spent Christmas in that area, in the trenches.
. New Years saw them out of the line until the 7th when they moved to Bruay for training and some competitions. January 23, they went back near the front lines then on the 31st into the lines at Loos. Gas shelling by the Germans was a constant interruption. Raiding the German lines by the battalion was a major activity. This continued, near Lieven and other trench areas, including some German attacks and ongoing gas. They left the front lines on the 13th of February.
. For 5 to 11 April 1918 the battalion was at Dainville near Arras relieving a front-line unit at the River Scarpe.
. For 16 to 20 September the battalion was at Berneville for a period of recuperation.
. From 19 to 26 November the battalion, with the war over, the battalion was moving into German for the occupation.
George Morrison died on 11 August 1922 and it was declared “death due to service”. His wife and his mother received the Silver Cross and his wife received his Victory Medal.
NOK: wife, Mrs. George Morrison at 1721 Leland Avenue, Chicago, Illinois.