Name
Harold Ewart Morse (MM)
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
18/11/1916
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Serjeant
39633
Gloucestershire Regiment
8th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Military Medal
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CONNAUGHT CEMETERY, THIEPVAL
Plot VIII, Row E, Grave 7.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, Beechen Grove Baptist Church Memorial, Watford, Watford Grammar School Memorial, Watford, Watford Grammar School Book of Remembrance, Not listed on the Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
Son of Benjamin Samuel and Fanny (nee SQUIRE) MORSE.
His parents married 1876 in the Holborn, London, district. Fanny died 2 January 1923 in Watford aged 73, and was buried 8 January at St Paul’s, Langleybury, Herts; Benjamin died 15 April 1932 in Watford aged 78, and was buried 10 January, also at St Paul’s, Langleybury.
Harold was born 24 December 1893 in Watford, and attended first Victoria Infants’ School, Watford; then Beechen Grove Board School, Watford, from 30 April 1900 to 14 February 1902; finally Watford Grammar School from April 1902 to July 1909.
He has an entry in the National Probate Calendar.
On the 1901 Census, aged 8 he lived in Watford, with his parents and three siblings. On the 1911 Census, a motor engineer aged 18, he still lived in Watford, with his parents and two siblings.
Enlisted in August, 1914.
Wartime Service
He enlisted August 1914 in Hertford, and was formerly 2844 Hertfordshire Regiment and later transferred to the Gloucester Regiment. At some point he was made Lance Corporal and the later, after July 1916 he was made Sergeant.
He was wounded at La Bassee, on 14th February, 1915. In 1916, on 22nd and 23rd July, he was awarded the Military Medal: "On 1916, when his Officer and Sergeant had become casualties, Lance Corporal Morse took charge of a carrying party of 25 men and reorganised them under heavy shell fire. He made three journeys with ammunition through the enemy barrage along a road where all units had suffered heavy casualties."
He was killed in action in France on 18th November, 1916 and was entitled to the Victory, British and 1914 Star medals, his qualifying date being 6 November 1914.
Additional Information
The published Watford Grammar School Book of Remembrance entry reads:
“MORSE, HAROLD EWART. School period: April, 1902, to July, 1909. Sergeant, 1st Herts. Regiment, transferred to Gloucester Regiment. Enlisted August, 1914; wounded at La Bassee, 14th February, 1915; killed in action in France, 18th November, 1916; awarded M.M.—" On 22nd and 23rd July, 1916, when his Officer and Sergeant had become casualties, Lance Corporal Morse took charge of a carrying party of 25 men and reorganised them under heavy shell fire. He made three journeys with ammunition through the enemy barrage along a road where all units had suffered heavy casualties."
There are articles about Harold in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 9 December 1916 and 23 December 1916, plus a Death announcement in the issue dated 16 December 1916.
Unfortunately, Harold’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing. Recorded In The Borough Roll Of Honour As Hertfordshire Regiment (a Former Regiment) Attached Glos Regt.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
