Private John Morrison

 

John Morrison (left) with his brother William

 

The background of this man is unclear at present, other than that he was born around 1887. Some records suggest that he was the first of two children of domestic servant Catherine Morrison, and therefore probably born in or near Skeoge, near Brookeborough, County Fermanagh. At the time of the 1901 Census he was living at nearby Raw, Grogey, with his brother William at the home of his grandparents John and Catherine Morrison. The Ulster Covenant of 1912 shows him living at Conneen, Grogey, County Fermanagh.

Morrison enlisted in the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron on 6 November 1914 (No. UD/157). He embarked for France with his squadron, which was then serving as divisional cavalry to the 36th (Ulster) Division, on 6 October 1915.

In June 1916 the Inniskilling squadron joined with C and F Squadrons of the North Irish Horse to form the 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment, serving as corps cavalry to X Corps. In August-September 1917 the regiment was disbanded and its men, following training at the 36th (Ulster) Division Infantry Base Depot at Harfleur, were transferred to the Royal Irish Fusiliers, an infantry regiment. Most, including Morrison, were transferred on 20 September and posted to the 9th (Service) Battalion – renamed the 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion – joining it in the field at Ruyaulcourt. Morrison was issued regimental number 41110.

It appears that Morrison fell-ill soon after. He was discharged from the army on 19 March 1918, being 'no longer physically fit for war service' (paragraph 392 (xvi), King's Regulations). He was awarded a pension due to the illness – 'valvular disease of the heart' – which was attributed to his military service. In August 1920 his level of disability was assessed at 30 per cent. (It is possible that his discharge date may have been 19 March 1919, rather than 1918.)

He later applied for a land grant under the Irish Land (Provision for Sailors and Soldiers) Act 1919 - his address at the time was Cooneen, Fivemiletown.

 

Morrison is pictured above with his brother, Sergeant William James Morrison, a regular soldier who served with the 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers and the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. His cousin Private Francis James Morrison also served, in the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons and 9th (NIH) Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers.

 

This image and some of the above information is sourced from Nick Metcalfe's Blacker's Boys (revised).

 

This page last updated 12 April 2023.