Donald MORRISON

17 September 1915

MORRISON – Died of wounds received late in August whilst serving with Kitchener’s Army in Gallipoli. Capt. Morrison, formerly lay reader at St. Margaret’s Church, Bentham.

17 September 1915

HIGH BENTHAM

Captain Morrison, whose death from wounds in the Dardanelles was briefly reported last week, joined Kitchener’s First Army in October last after being rejected three times on account of his health. He gave his whole heart to his military studies and was rewarded by speedily gaining his captaincy. He was a great favourite with the men in his Company, and the few who are left will long lament his loss. When news came that he was to go to the Dardanelles he thought it more than likely that he would never see England again, yet none left these shores with a braver heart.

For over twenty years Captain Morrison was a Presbyterian, but became latterly an ardent Churchman and constant Communicant. He was studying for the Church when war was declared, under the Vicar of St. Margaret’s, Bentham, and he acted as hon. lay reader for about five years at Sacriston, Durham. For a few months be acted at Bentham in the same capacity and made many friends here. Numerous letters of sympathy from all classes have reached the Vicar and his friends at the Vicarage.

In one of the letters he sent from the Dardanelles, Captain Morrison, after recounting some terrible hardships the Battalion had undergone, added, “In spite of all, I feel as happy as a king and buoyant and fit for anything.” On August 16th he wrote, “It has been awful. August 8th and 10th will live in my memory for ever. Major Carnegy died a splendid death; only six officers left besides myself and two thirds of the Company are wiped out. We get no news of anything (yet 20 or 30 letters and newspapers and five or six parcels were sent to him). How we long for a good post from home. For 12 days I have not washed, shaved, or had my clothes off. I look like a wild man. My socks and shirt are stiff and my breeches and putties are in such a condition that no self-respective tramp would wear them. You would all be amused to see my beard. It means death to go and get water. Only at midnight we send out a water party to draw one pint of water for each man to last a whole day in the scorching sun.”

Dated August 27th (received after the news of his death), Captain Morrison sent a few lines stating that he had been very seedy, but had no time to rest. He added, “It has now officially appeared that I am Company Commander. We are preparing for a big fight in two or three days’ time, and expect to come through it all right. If I don’t it will be jolly hard luck after all I have gone through. We’ll hope for the best. Still no wash or shave; we live like animals.”

Captain Morrison was 30 years of age, and came from Sacriston with Mr. Bartley when he was appointed to St. Margaret’s Church. He was a Scotsman.

17 September 1915

HIGH BENTHAM – THE HONOUR’S ROLL

Confirmation is forthcoming of the death of Captain D. Morrison, of the 6th Battalion King’s Own. He is reported as having died from wounds he received in the Dardanelles. Captain Morrison is the personal friend of the Vicar of Bentham, and acted as his lay reader at St. Margaret’s whilst reading for his Divinity Examinations. He was well-known at Bentham, and enlisted there in October last. At the outbreak of the war he applied for a commission and was twice refused as medically unfit, but was accepted on the third occasion. In his platoon as lieutenant there were several of the Bentham boys, in whom he took a personal interest, and all speak of him in the highest terms in the letters which have been received from the Dardanelles.

On Sunday morning last the fellow workmates and pals of the late Private Edward Magoolagan assembled at Pinewood Cottages, where he resided with his parents, and walked in processional order to St. Boniface’s Roman Catholic Church. The procession was headed by his friend, Mr. Fred Smith, who carried a large wreath, and Mr. R. Sanderson and Mr. Major Dickenson. There was no funeral service, owing to the smallness of the chapel, but touching reference was made to deceased by the Rev. Father Morgan, who has taken a great interest in the recruits from Bentham and feels the loss of one of his own boys very keenly. Quite a wave of mourning has passed over Bentham, news of three deaths at the Front having been received last week.

24 September 1915

HIGH BENTHAM – IN MEMORY OF THE BRAVE

On Tuesday last a memorial service was held at St Margaret’s Church for those who from Bentham had fallen in the war. An early communion service was held and was very impressively conducted by the Vicar, about 30 communicants being present.

In the evening, service was held at 7-30 and there was a large congregation. Many had relatives at the Front and several old soldiers were present. The Alter flowers and white cross were a token of loving friendship from the Vicar and his family, the cross being entwined with the colours of ‘The King’s Own,’ blue and orange, and was suspended over the late Capt. Morrison’s seat in the chancel. It acted as a dual tribute, for Private Edward Magoolagan belonged also to the King’s Own, and the same company as Captain Morrison. A magnificent wreath of choice roses was affixed to Capt. Morrison’s stall before evensong as ‘a loyal tribute to a gallant soldier,’ from R.D. and W.E. Representatives from the King’s Own Lancasters expressed their regret at being unable to attend.

The Rev. G.H.C. Bartley, the vicar, took for his text, ‘Fight the good fight and lay hold of eternal life.’ He said it was just three years that night since three friends separated at his last parish, one to go to the far East, he (the Vicar) to come to Bentham, and Captain Morrison to remain at Sacriston. He wished to make mention of the two others who had fallen at the Front, namely Private E. Magoolagan and Private James Bell. They must all sympathise with their relatives and friends, and pray that they might be comforted in this time of their great sorrow. The unselfish faithfulness of Captain Morrison was a very marked characteristic. He was called to serve the church in his last parish. At the outbreak of war he was called to serve his country, and now he was called to the highest service of all.

At the close the National Anthem was sung and Miss Stubbs, the organist, played the Dead March in Saul very impressively.

24 March 1916

HIGH BENTHAM – THE VICAR'S BROTHER KILLED

Following closely on the death of his friend, Captain Morrison, the Vicar of St. Margaret’s has suffered another bereavement through the war, his brother having been killed in France on March 12th. Captain Stanhope Cole Bartley was the youngest son of the late Sir George Bartley, and of Lady Bartley, of Shovelstrode Manor, Sussex. He was born in 1878 and educated at Haileybury, and the R.M.A., Woolwich. He served in the South African War as a lieutenant in the R.F. and Horse Artillery, and received two medals and six clasps. He was present at the relief of Ladysmith, including the actions at Colenso and also at Spion Kop, Vaal Krantz, Tugelo Heights and Pieters Hill. He retired in 1910 and joined the Special Reserve. He was much beloved and respected, as was notified by his Colonel and Chaplains since his death. He was buried in the cemetery at Erquinghem-sur-Lys with full military honours, and "as he had only two days before been given command of D Battery, his loss at this critical juncture is more than ever to be deplored," wrote his Colonel. A widow and two children are left to mourn their loss.

16 November 1917

HIGHER BENTHAM – MEMORIAL SERVICE

The second memorial service for soldiers killed at the Front was held at St. Margaret’s Church on Sunday afternoon. The sacred edifice was well filled by parishioners of every shade of religious and political opinions. The Vicar (the Rev. G. H. C. Bartley) officiated, and the service was choral, commencing with the opening sentences of the burial service, chanted, as a processional with the Union Jack was carried in front, draped with violet. Between the lessons the choir gave the anthem, ‘I heard a voice from Heaven’ very beautifully, and the Vicar read out the names of the fifteen heroes who have laid down their lives from the parish, as well as the three who are missing, and supposed killed, as follows:– Captain D. Morrison; Private Ed. Magoolaghan; Lance Corporal Joe Jackson; Captain S. C. Bartley (the Vicar’s brother); Corporal E. Leeming; Private Tom Wilcock; Captain G. G. Eccles; Private Ezra Stevenson; Private Len Nelson; Captain Pollard; Private Percy Whitfield (N.Z.); Corporal Wm. Robinson; Corporal Harry Smith; Corporal R. Clarke (missing); Private Lancelot Dowbiggin; Private Ed. Briscoe; Private Edwin Smith.

As the names were read out many tears were shed at the memory of the loved ones ‘Gone West’. Then followed an excellent sermon by the Vicar from the words ‘Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend’, at the conclusion of which Miss V. Stubbs played the ‘Dead March’ whilst the congregation remained standing. The recessional hymn was ‘For all the Saints’, and at the close the organist played ‘I know that my Redeemer liveth’ as a voluntary. The entire service was of a very impressive character.

04 July 1919

PEACE SUPPLEMENT TO THE 'CRAVEN HERALD' – CRAVEN'S FALLEN OFFICERS

CAPTAIN MORRISON

6th Battalion King’s Own, formerly of Bentham, died from wounds received in the Dardanelles, aged 30 years.