Canada, Cef. A Vimy Memorial Family Group To The Morrison Brothers

 

Footnote: Charles Sangster McLeod Morrison was born on September 15, 1886 in Toronto Ontario, the son of Adam Morrison and Mary Morrison. He was a graduate of Harbord Collegiate Institute and later took out a commission at the Military School in Toronto. Morrison was a resident of Toronto when he signed his Officers' Declaration Paper as a Lieutenant with the 204th Infantry Battalion "Toronto Beavers", on April 4, 1916 in Toronto, at the age of 29, naming his next-of-kin as his mother, Mrs. Mary Morrison of Toronto, stating that he belonged to an active militia, the 9th Mississauga Horse, that his religion was Church of England and that his occupation was that of Salesman. In his Form of Will, dated August 25, 1916 at Toronto, before he went overseas, he stated that "I bequeath all my real estate and my personal estate to Mrs. Mary Morrison, 84 Scarboro Rd., Toronto, Ont.". He embarked Canada on September 26, 1916 from Halifax, Nova Scotia, aboard the S.S. Laconia, arriving in Liverpool, England on October 6th and upon arrival, was posted to the 12th Reserve Battalion and detailed to the Canadian Musketry School at Shorncliffe on October 6th. One month later, Lieutenant Morrison was admitted to Cherry Hinton Military Hospital in Cambridge on November 7, 1916, with "V.D.G." (venereal disease, gonorrhea). During his treatment for the Gonorrhea, it was discovered that he had chronic suppuration Otitis Media (a middle ear inflammation of greater than two weeks that results in episodes of discharge from the ear). After twelve weeks treatment at Cherry Hinton, he was discharged from hospital on February 1, 1917. In a Proceedings of a Medical Board report, dated February 5, 1917 at London, the physician noted that Morrison "is recovered from the Gonorrhea. During the latter part of his stay at Cherry Hinton Hospital, where he was from 7-11-16 (November 7, 1916) to 1-2-17 (February 1, 1917) he had an attack of influenza for which he requires a short period to convalesce. He complains of discharge from the left ear which has long been standing (14 years) and which has not been aggravated in any way since enlistment." He was declared "not fit for General Service" and it was determined that he would require one more week to regain his health. In a second Proceedings of a Medical Board report, dated February 13, 1917 at London, the physician noted that "this Officer has now recovered. He complains of some increase in his aural discharge and ill defined pain about the left ear. We have examined this Officer and find he has a chronic suppuration of the left middle war which existed before the war and has been uninfluenced by Active Service. It is not now sufficient to be a disability. We recommend him as fit for General Service." He was then posted to the 12th Reserve Battalion at Crowboro on February 16, 1917, preparing for overseas service. Four weeks later, Lieutenant Morrison was transferred to the 75th Infantry Battalion at West Sandling on March 23, 1917 for service in the French theatre, arriving in France the following day, on the 24th, as part of the 1st Central Ontario Regiment. He left for his new unit on the 28th and joined them in the field on the 31st. Lieutenant Charles Sangster McLeod Morrison, 75th Infantry Battalion, 11th Brigade, 4th Canadian Division had only been with his unit for a little over one week, when he was reported as "Missing in Action" between April 9 and 12, 1917, during the Assault on Vimy Ridge in the area of Berthonval, northwest of Vimy. The previously reported "Missing in Action" was soon changed to "now for official purposes presumed to have died on or before April 9, 1917". Lieutenant Morrison was declared Killed in Action on April 9, 1917 during the Battle of Vimy Ridge, at the age of 30. He is remembered with honour on the Vimy Memorial, in Pas de Calais, France and is commemorated on page 297 of the First World War Book of Remembrance. He is also honoured, along with other fallen members, on a Commemorative Plaque for the 204th (Beavers) Battalion located in Old City Hall on Queen Street in downtown Toronto. He was credited with having served in Canada, England and France and for his First World War service, he was posthumously awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. His mother, Mary, received both his medals, along with his Plaque, Scroll and Mother's Cross. A War Service Gratuity of $240 was also paid to his mother. It was noted by the pay office that Lieutenant Morrison "was not the sole (source of) support prior to the war" and that "two other brothers helped", as they were both at the front also. His obituary appeared in the Toronto Star on April 26, 1917 and it was noted in that obituary that Morrison had been an "eminent inventor". His brother, Major William James Morrison, was born on August 28, 1879 in Toronto and signed his Attestation Paper on January 20, 1915 in Toronto, at the age of 35, naming his next-of kin as his wife, Marg Morrison, stating that he had previous military service with the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles in South Africa from 1899 to 1902, that his religion was Church of England and that his occupation was that of Engineer. 

 

Lieutenant Charles Sangster McLeod Morrison and his brother, Major William James Morrison, jointly invented a machine gun which the United States government was reported as having recognized as so superior to any existing weapon of the kind at the time, that it was willing to purchase the exclusive right to its manufacture and use. During the absence of both brothers for overseas service, its is said that the plans disappeared. Major (then Lieutenant-Colonel) William James Morrison hurried home to investigate in June 1917. He was subsequently placed on leave of absence and went to the United States. It was also reported that the Small Arms Commission of Canada had taken up the matter on behalf of the Canadian inventors and that the American Government was co-operating in kind. His brother, the Major, passed away on November 22, 1944, at the age of 65. Lieutenant Charles Sangster McLeod Morrison was also the inventor of the Morrison thermal alarm (fire alarm) and temperature recorder, widely used in Toronto at the time. George Adam Morrison was born on December 25, 1885 in Toronto, Ontario, the son of Adam Morrison and Mary Morrison. He signed his Attestation Paper as a Private (446252) with the 56th Infantry Battalion, on April 28, 1915 in Calgary, Alberta, at the age of 29, naming his next-of-kin as mother, Mrs. Mary Morrison of Toronto, stating that he had no previous military service, that he was not married and that his trade was that of Clerk. His religion was Church of England. The Battalion was raised and mobilized in Calgary, Alberta under the authority of G.O. 86, July 1, 1915. The Battalion embarked Halifax, Nova Scotia on March 23, 1916 aboard the S.S. Baltic, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel W.C.G. Armstrong with a strength of 40 officers and 1,070 other ranks, arriving in England on April 9th. Forty-five weeks after arriving in England, Private Morrison was transferred to the 10th Infantry Battalion for service in the French theatre, on May 24, 1916, arriving in France on the 26th and joining his new unit in the field on June 6th. He was transferred to the 1st Canadian Cavalry Brigade at Ammunition Park on June 21st, then transferred to the 1st Canadian Divisional Ammunition Sub-Park on July 16th. A little over six months after arriving in France, in early December 1916, he had developed Acute Bronchitis and by about the middle of December, he began to complain of dizzy spells, headache and weakness. Two weeks later, Private Morrison was granted ten days' leave, leaving France and going to London. While on leave to England, he was posted to the Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre at Shoreham and was admitted to Queen Alexandra Military Hospital, Extension at Millbank S.W. on January 9, 1917, with a case of "Neurasthenia" (mechanical weakness of the actual nerves). He was complaining of headache, dizziness and general weakness, along with itchiness of the skin at night and was coughing. The physician noted that Morrison had Diphtheria and Scarlet Fever when he was a child and had developed Pneumonia while in Calgary in 1915. After four weeks at Queen Alexandra Military Hospital, he was transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital at Bromley, Kent on February 5, 1917, where he would recuperate for the next twelve days, before being admitted to Granville Canadian Special Hospital at Ramsgate on February 17th. It was noted upon his admission that he had been in the trenches in France about five months, followed by another six months with a motor transport. The physician reiterated that Morrison had reported "ill" with a general malaise, nervousness and dizziness while in London on a pass, that he was generally "run down" and had bronchitis. Upon examination, it was noted that his heart sounds were "not quite normal", however, his lungs were negative. He was feeling better by February 26th and was on the long road to recovery, obtaining his discharge from Granville Canadian Special Hospital on April 4th. It was five days later that his brother, Lieutenant Charles Sangster McLeod Morrison was Killed in Action at Vimy. Private Morrison was posted to Moore Barracks Convalescent Home at Shorncliffe on April 17th, where his official diagnosis was changed from "Neurasthenia" to "Debility". He would recuperate for the next forty-five days, before being discharged on June 11th. He was invalided to Canada for further medical treatment on June 23, 1917, returning to Canada from Liverpool, England aboard the Hospital Ship S.S. Araguaya. Upon arrival in Canada, his condition was reassessed by a Medical Board at Quebec City, on July 2, 1917. The attending physician stated that Morrison had a forty-five percent incapacity but that was fortunately decreasing by the day. He recommended treatment at a Convalescent Home, to reduce the incapacity further. Private Morrison returned to Calgary, where he was placed under the authority of the Military Hospital Commission Command, "I" Unit, on August 1, 1917. He was subsequently admitted to Frank Sanatorium for his treatment. In his Medical History of an Invalid report, dated September 11, 1917 at Frank Sanatorium, it was noted that, although he had been an in-patient to this point, the Board recommended that he receive three months' treatment as an out-patient, stating that "We consider he will do better at his home than in a hospital or sanatorium on account of general nervousness." He was officially posted to the Frank Sanatorium as an "out-patient" on October 31, 1917 and was residing at 15th Avenue West in Calgary. In his Medical History of an Invalid report, dated January 25, 1918 at Calgary, his condition was attributed to "Exposure in cold inclement weather", that came to the fore in December 1916. The physician described Morrison and his condition: "Large spare man, undernourished, is 6 ft. tall, eats well, sleeps fairly well, states that he has some shortness of breath on exertion. States he gets dizzy after standing on (his) feet for half an hour.", although his lungs and heart checked out, it was noted that he "complains of weakness, states that he cannot write owing to (a) tremor in (his) hand, some tremor in (his) left hand also, patellar reflexes slightly plus, memory is good." It was also stated that he had "been at Frank Sanatorium for two months as an in-patient and three months as (an) out-patient, (since) August 1917". It was noted that his incapacity would be about twenty-five percent, in order to earn a livelihood, but that would be reduced in three months' time. The three Board members, Captain G.E. Leramouth, Captain T. Sanson and Captain B.F. Stevens of the Canadian Army Medical Corps, designated Private Morrison as Category"E" (unfit for service in Categories A, B, C = General Service, Service Abroad, Home Service) and recommended that he be discharged "as unfit for further Military Service." Private George Adam Morrison, Canadian Army Service Corps, was discharged as "Medically Unfit for Further Service on Account of Sickness", from Military Hospital Commission Command, "I" Unit in Calgary, Alberta, on February 28, 1918, his conduct stated as "Very Good". He was credited with having served in Canada, England and France and for his First World War service, he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. He died on October 11, 1966 at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto, at the age of 80. In addition to his two brothers, a brother-in-law to Lieutenant Charles Sangster McLeod Morrison, Sergeant Lorne Gould Oliver (435843), also served overseas. Oliver was born on June 8, 1882 in Napanee, Ontario and signed his Attestation Paper on October 18, 1915 in Calgary, Alberta, at the age of 33, naming his next-of-kin as his father, Allen Oliver, stating that he served a short while in the 103rd Infantry Battalion, that he was Married (to Minnie Oliver) and that his trade was that of Druggist. During his medical examination, it was noted that he had an appendectomy scar. Oliver arrived in England on November 6, 1915 and was attached to the 50th Infantry Battalion. He was with No. 14 Field Ambulance, Canadian Army Medical Corps when he also became a casualty of the war, like his brother-in-law, as he was Killed in Action on August 15, 1918.