Source: April 1918 casualty.
Summary of Service[i] for Company Sergeant Major William Morrison, reg. no. 53707
| Date | Event | Remarks |
| July 9, 1889 | Born | Born at West Bay, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. |
| October 24, 1914 | Enlisted | Enlists with the 18th Battalion at St. Thomas, Ontario. He is a 5’11” tall labourer and has designated his aunt, Florence McNight of St. George Channel, West Bay, Cape Breton as his next-of-kin. He has no prior military experience. On another document he lists his sister, Mrs. William Thompson C/O Morrison 246, West 114 Street, New York, New York as to also be notified. Another card indicates that his father’s address is: Mr. A.R. [Angus Rorie] Morrison, R.R. #1, East Kingston, New Hampshire. |
| November 1915 | Separation Allowance | A separation allowance of $20.00 is assigned to a Miss Myrtle Robillard of St. Thomas, Ontario who is a guardian to his child. |
| November 11, 1914 | Anti-Typhoid Inoculation | Signed by D.H. Hogg. |
| November 22, 1914 | Anti-Typhoid Inoculation | Signed by D.H. Hogg. |
| December 16, 1914 | Vaccinated | Signed by D.H. Hogg. |
| December 31, 1914 | Absent 1 Day | Absent one day per Daily Order (D.O.) 62. |
| January 1915 | Withheld Pay | $1.10 pay withheld per D.O. 62. |
| March 1915 | Withheld Pay | Pay withheld per D.O. 121. |
| April 15, 1915 | Leaves London, Ontario | Leaves to embark S.S. Grampian at Halifax, Nova Scotia for England. |
| April 29, 1915 | Arrives England | Arrives with 18th Battalion at Avonmouth and the Battalion entrains to West Sandling for training with the 2nd Canadian Contingent (2nd Division). |
| July 19, 1915 | To Be Lance-Corporal | Per Officer Commanding, 18th Battalion. |
| September 15, 1915 | Arrives Boulogne, France | Arrives with the Battalion to the Continent for active duty in Flanders. He is a member of “C” Company. |
| March 4, 1916 | Appointed Lance-Corporal | Appointed to the rank of Lance-Corporal as Acting/Sergeant C.P. Smith was promoted. |
| May 29, 1916 | Submits Will | He leaves his entire estate to his father. |
| June 6, 1916 | Promoted Sergeant | Promoted Sergeant as Sergeant R. Cunningham killed. |
| July 6, 1916 | Resubmits Will | Leaves real and estate property to his father, Angus Rorie Morrison. It is witness by Harry Ashton and A. Brown, both of “C” Company. |
| February 1, 1917 | Assigns Pay | Assigns $25.00 per month to his father, A.R. Morrison. |
| September 17, 1916 | Wounded | Wounded and admitted to 3rd General Hospital. He then takes the Hospital Ship St. Denis to England. He was wounded on the second day after the beginning of operations with the 18th Battalion at the Somme during the actions of the Battle of Flers-Courcelette. It is most likely he was wounded on September 16, 1916 as there is a notation in the War Diary about soldiers being wounded that day. The Battalion was relieved and moved back to the “Brickfields” on the 17th. |
| September 23, 1916 | Admitted | Admitted to Military Hospital, Chatham, England due to G.S.W. wound to right arm and back. |
| November 6, 1916 | Discharged | Discharged from Canadian Convalescent Hospital, Shoram-by-Sea. |
| April 25, 1917 | Proceeds to Trench Warfare School | “Ceases to be attached to 2nd C.C.D. upon proceeding to T.W.S. Crowborough 10.2.17” |
| July 17, 1917 | Taken on Strength | T.O.S. 4th Reserve Battalion, Bramshott. |
| November 8, 1917 | Proceeds Overseas | Proceeds overseas to rejoin 18th Battalion. |
| November 8, 1917 | Arrives Canadian Infantry Base Depot | Arrives C.I.B.D. at Etaples, France and T.O.S. with 18th Battalion with the rank of Sergeant. |
| November 13, 1917 | Arrives Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp | |
| November 20, 1917 | Arrives 18th Battalion | Arrives in the field with the 18th Battalion. He arrives just after the engagement at Passchendaele. |
| December 10, 1917 | Promoted Company Sergeant Major | Promoted C.S.M. as A/CoSM W.W. Herd relinquished appointment. On the same day he is promoted Warrant Officer (Class II) As C.S.M. Hessey in invalided to England. |
| April 2, 1918 | Killed in Action | The day prior to C.S.M. Morrison’s death found the 18th Battalion moving into the front-line relieving the 21st Battalion at Neuville Vitasse. They found the trenches inadequate for protection and the war diary entry on this date relates”
“Position as shown yesterday. There was no shelters in any of the trenches for the men, so funk holes were dug and improved as opportunities occurred.
In answer to S.O.S. on our left flank we opened up a heavy barrage on Enemy front and support lines, which drew retaliation from the enemy. We suffered several casualties. Lieut. G.N. TUCKER being wounded. 3 ors. killed in action. 30 wounded.
Owing to erratic shelling by the enemy it was impossible to keep telegraphic communication with each company but this communication was kept up with Brigade H.Q. with the exception of short intervals. Communication to companies was done by Runners working at night but some dangerous trips were made during daylight, part of the way being overland in direct view of the enemy, and over ground continually swept by M.G. fire.” |
| Post April 2, 1918 | Interred | Company Sergeant Major (W.O. II) is interred at Bellacourt Military Cemetery, Riviere. He lies with 430 other men the United Kingdom and Canada. He is not alone as he has 11 other 18th Battalion soldiers interred at this cemetery. |
| May 23, 1921 | Scroll Despatched | Scroll No. Z44779 despatched. To Mr. A.R. Morrison, R.R. #1, East Kingston, New Hampshire. |
| September 26, 1921 | Plaque Despatched | Plaque No. P8835 despatched. To Mr. A.R. Morrison, R.R. #1, East Kingston, New Hampshire. |
| Unknown | Medals and Decorations | To Mr. A.R. Morrison, R.R. #1, East Kingston, New Hampshire. |
[i] The Summary of Service for this soldier is meant as just that, a summary of his service. It is not intended to be an exhaustive biographical relation of his life or his war service. Some information may be deliberately suppressed by the author out of sensitivity to the soldier. Readers are encouraged to reference the actual service records available at the Library and Archives Canada in PDF format if they wish to learn more about this soldier. Such additional information (i.e. hyperlinks etc.) are for informational purpose only and no claim to verification or accuracy is made by the author of this summary.
