Name
Morris/Maurice Dawes
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
26/04/1918
24
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Second Lieutenant
Essex Regiment
10th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
POZIERES MEMORIAL
Panel 51 and 52.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, St Mary's Parish Church Memorial, Watford, Watford Grammar School Memorial, Watford Grammar School Book of Remembrance, St James' Church Memorial, Watford Fields
Pre War
Son of Alfred Edward and the late Elizabeth Charlotte Ann (nee BIRD) DAWES.
His parents married 2 April 1877 at St Andrew by the Wardrobe, London E.C. Elizabeth died 1897 in the Chipping Norton, Oxon, district aged 43. Alfred remarried 1898 in the Watford district to Sarah ELLIOTT; he died 1922 in Watford aged 69, and was buried 10 November in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Sarah died 1942 in Watford aged 77, and was buried 28 September, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
Morris was born 7 December 1893 in Chipping Norton, and baptised 19 March 1894 at St Mary’s, Chipping Norton. He attended first Victoria Infants’ School, Watford; then Beechen Grove Board School, Watford, from 30 April 1900 to 26 March 1902, when he transferred to Watford Fields School. Then he returned to Beechen Grove Board School from 9 February 1903 to 2 August 1906, when he won a scholarship to Watford Grammar School from 4 September 1906 to July 1911.
On the 1901 Census, aged 7 he lived in Watford, with his father, step-mother and four siblings. On the 1911 Census, at school aged 17, he still lived in Watford, with his father, step-mother and four siblings.
Wartime Service
He attested 26 August 1914 for Short Service (7 years in the Colours 5 years in the Reserves): a packer aged 20, 5’9″ tall, C of E, as a Trooper in either the 9th or 21st Lancers.
He served at Home 26 September 1914 to 17 October 1915; then with the B.E.F. 18 October 1915 to 9 September 1916, during which time he was wounded 17 January 1916, and transferred to the Royal West Surrey Regiment 11 November 1916 Private 8328.
He served at Home again from 10 September 1916, and was discharged to a commission as Second Lieutenant in the Essex Regiment 30 October 1917; but at some time was attached to The Queen’s Regiment, Private S/11496.
Was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 18 October 1915; the medals were sent to his father of Watford, and was missing assumed killed in action.
Additional Information
The published Watford Grammar School Book of Remembrance entry reads:
“DAWES, MORRIS. School period: September, 1906, to July, 1911. Second Lieutenant, 10th Essex Regiment. Enlisted August, 1914, in 9th Lancers; went to France; was wounded and returned to England; went back to France with a draft and was then attached to Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment; recommended on the field for a commission and gazetted to 10th Essex Regiment; killed in action, 26th April, 1918."
His brother Alfred died 2 August 1918 and also features on Watford Borough Roll of Honour.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
