1st Regiment, D Company, South African Infantry (South African Army)
Date Of Birth:
11/11/1892
Died:
18/07/1916 (Died of Wounds)
Age:
23
Summary
Robert Walter Morrison was the son of Robert Brown Morrison and Ruth Morrison. He was born on 11 November 1992. Walter was educated at Royal School Dungannon between 1905 and 1907. Walter returned to South Africa, where he was in business in Capetown. He enlisted in the South African Infantry. On 14th July 1916, at the Somme, the 1st South African Infantry Brigade, including Private Morison, were near Delville Wood, near Longeuval. After a week of intense fighting, Private Walter Morrison, who was serving with D Company of the 1st Regiment of the South African Infantry, was shot in the throat and died later. He was 23 years old. Private Walter Morrison is buried in Corbie, which was a medical centre.
Further Information
Robert Walter Morrison was the son of Robert Brown Morrison and Ruth Morrison. He was born on 11 November 1992.
Walter was born in Cape Town. His father, Mr Davis Morrison, formerly of Sligo, was in business there.
He had been sent with his brothers to Ireland to be educated at Dungannon Royal School,. Walter was at the school between 1905 and 1907.
Walter returned to South Africa, where he was in business in Capetown.
He volunteered for active service at the outbreak of the war enlisted in the South African Infantry. His regiment, the Capetown Peninsular Rifles, was one of the first to arrive in England.
By November 1915, the South African Infantry were in England.
Walter took part with the South African Infantry Brigade in the West Egypt campaign against the Senussi in April 1916, and had afterwards returned to France.
On 14th July 1916, at the Somme, the 1st South African Infantry Brigade, including Private Morison, were near Delville Wood, near Longeuval.
After a week of intense fighting, Private Walter Morrison, who was serving with D Company of the 1st Regiment of the South African Infantry, was shot in the throat and died later. He was 23 years old.
Of the 3150 men of the South African Infantry who attacked the Wood, only 750 survived.
From the Tyrone Courier dated 10 August 1916:
Mrs Houston, Market Square, Dungannon, has received intimation that her cousin, Private Walter Morrison, South African Infantry, operating in France, has died of wounds. The deceased soldier, who was a nephew of Mr W J R Orr, J.P. Benburb, was born in Capetown, and had been sent with his brothers to Ireland to be educated at Royal School Dungannon, and having returned to South Africa, volunteered at the outbreak of war.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 12th August 1916: Private Morrison
Mrs Houston, Market Square, Dungannon, has received intimation that her cousin, Private Walter Morrison, 1st Battalion South African Infantry, operating in France, has died of wounds received in action. The deceased soldier was a nephew of Mr W J Orr, Lisnacroy, Benburb, was born in Capetown. His father, Mr Davis Morrison, formerly of Sligo, was in business there. He had been sent with his brothers to Ireland to be educated at Dungannon Royal School, and having returned to South Africa volunteered for active service at the outbreak of the war, and his regiment, the Capetown Peninsular Rifles, was one of the first to arrive in England. He took part with the South African Infantry Brigade in the West Egypt campaign against the Senussi in the spring of this year, and had afterwards gone to France. His brother Norman is also at the European Western Front with the South African reinforcements, while his brother Edward served throughout the German South West African campaign under General Botha, and is now taking part in the operations in German East Africa, where he recently had a very narrow escape from a bursting German shell. The deceased soldier had written to Mrs Houston quite recently.
Private Walter Morrison is buried in Corbie Communal Cemetery (Extension). Corbie is a small town 15 kilometres east of Amiens. The town was a medical centre, where No. 5 and No. 21 Casualty Clearing Stations were based at La Neuville, a suburb across the Ancre, until October 1916.
Walter Morrison is also commemorated on the headstone of the family plot in Maitland Cemetery, Cape Town. South Africa.
His father died was drowned at sea on 3rd October 1918, aged 61. Walter had a sister, Ruth Eleanor, who died in January 1913, aged just 9 years old.
Private Walter Morrison was a cousin of Mrs Houston, Market Square, Dungannon. The deceased soldier had written to Mrs Houston shortly before his death.
At the time of Walter's death, his brother Norman was at the front with the South African reinforcements, while his brother Edward served throughout the German South West African campaign under General Botha, and was by then taking part in the operations in German East Africa, where he recently had a very narrow escape from a bursting German shell.
