Category Archives: Other Regiments

Ernest Victor Morris

Commemorated name/s, Dardanelles, Other Regiments, RFC / RAF

Ernest Victor Morris
Air Mechanic 2nd Class B/40997
56th Kite Balloon Section, Royal Flying Corps.

  Division 18 

 Morris EV photo  CIMG2092

Ernest Victor Morris was the son of Frederick Watson Morris and Louisa Morris, of 27, Castle Street, Reading. The 1911 census Louisa Morris ran a Cornmerchants from the home address with Ernest and his sister Hilda working in the business. Ernest’s father was an overseer at the Post office as did sister Ethel who was a telephonist. He was the husband of Dorothy Mary Harris (formerly Morris), of 59, Blenheim Road, Caversham, Oxfordshire. Born about 1891 Ernest Victor was  aged 27  when he was lost at sea on the 31st December 1917 .  He is commemorated on his parents grave and also the Chatby memorial, Egypt.

From 1914 to 1919, transports and Hospital Ships traversed the seas to and from Alexandria, bringing reinforcements for Egypt, Gallipoli or Palestine and carrying the sick and wounded out of the theatres of war.  Hundreds of men died on the high seas from sickness, wounds or accident and received the same burial as a sailor who dies at sea.  Their graves are the sea itself and the Chatby Memorial records their names.

On the 30th December 1917, the hired transport ship “Aragon” was torpedoed whilst entering the harbour at Alexandria.  The Master, eighteen crew and 380 soldiers bodies were not recovered.  The following day the hired transport “Osmanieh” struck a mine in the same place and sank together with 76 men who sailed in her.  It is not yet known in which of the two ships Ernest Victor Morris sailed.

William Ivor Mitchell

Army, Commemorated name/s, Other Regiments, Ypres

William Ivor Mitchell
Private 267982
Hertfordshire Regiment

 Division 2

Mitchell W I photo

William Ivor Mitchell (Mick) was the husband of Sarah Dove Mitchell, of 144 Southampton Street, Reading.   Before the war he worked for Huntley and Palmers for 12 years.

He was posted missing after last being seen on the 31st July 1917, this was the start of the Third Battle of Ypres.  His wife appealed for information in the Standard of 18th August 1917.  His officer had written: ‘The last sign of your husband was just before we reached our final position…. He was always cheery and most popular among his comrades in the platoon, he will be sadly missed by all.  I can only express to you my deepest sympathy in your sad loss’.

His wife and children acknowledged that he must be dead in the ‘In Memoriam’ published August 2nd 1919. His name is on his wife’s grave.

William Mitchell’s body was never found and he has no known grave.  He is commemorated on the Menin Gate memorial Panel 54 and 56.

H.T. Mills

Other Regiments, Registered War Grave

H. T. Mills
Private 123216 Labour Battalion R.E.
transferred to
(291808) 705th Company Labour Corps.

Division 58

H. T. Mills is buried in the cemetery and his registered War Grave bears a CWGC war pattern headstone.  Grave number 12209.

He died on 15th September 1917 aged 35 years.

For every soldier who fought in the front line the author has read that it took twenty or more men to keep them there.  For this reason the Labour Corps. had a very important function.