Corporal William Morrison

 

The background of this man is not known for certain, but it seems probable that he was the William Morrison born on 17 March 1889 at Knocknabrass, Lisnakea, County Fermanagh, the last of a number of children of agricultural labourer James Morrison and his wife Bessie (née Foster or Forster). At the time of the 1901 Census he was living at Doohat, Kilturk, County Fermanagh, with his parents and three of his siblings. By 1911 he was still at Doohat with two siblings and another relative (his parents having recently died there), William working as a blacksmith,

Morrison enlisted in the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron at Belfast between 23 and 31 October 1914 (No. UD/89 – later Corps of Dragoons No.21236). On 6 October 1915 he embarked for France with his squadron, which was then serving as divisional cavalry to the 36th (Ulster) Division.

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 were transferred to the Royal Irish Fusiliers, an infantry regiment. Morrison, however, was not among them, having by then returned to duty at the Inniskilling Service Squadron reserve at Castle Barracks, Enniskillen.

On 16 August 1918 he married Margaret Irvine of Henry Street, Enniskillen, in the Rossory Church of Irelad Parish Church. The couple had two children over the next two years.

On 1 March 1919 Morrison was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve.

Following his demobilisation he lived at Henry Street and worked as a smith.

 

This page last updated 24 February 2023.