Morrison, William: Service no. 53707

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 18^th 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 18^th Battalion at Avonmouth and the Battalion entrains to West Sandling for training with the 2^nd Canadian Contingent (2^nd Division).
July 19, 1915	To Be Lance-Corporal	Per Officer Commanding, 18^th 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 3^rd 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 18^th 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 17^th.
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 2^nd C.C.D. upon proceeding to T.W.S. Crowborough 10.2.17”
July 17, 1917	Taken on Strength	T.O.S. 4^th Reserve Battalion, Bramshott.
November 8, 1917	Proceeds Overseas	Proceeds overseas to rejoin 18^th Battalion.
November 8, 1917	Arrives Canadian Infantry Base Depot	Arrives C.I.B.D. at Etaples, France and T.O.S. with 18^th Battalion with the rank of Sergeant.
November 13, 1917	Arrives Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp
November 20, 1917	Arrives 18^th Battalion	Arrives in the field with the 18^th 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 18^th Battalion moving into the front-line relieving the 21^st 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 18^th 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.

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