Category Archives: Services

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.

Francis Alfred Mills

Army, Other Regiments, Registered War Grave, Royal Berkshire Regiment, St. Laurence's Church

Francis Alfred Mills
Corporal 43319
3rd Battalion Manchester Regiment, formerly 9th Royal Berkshire Regiment

 Division 46

Mills F photo  CIMG2203

Francis Alfred Mills, was the son of Mrs Lucy Mills, of 26, Derby Street, Reading. The 1911 census indicates that he worked as a stage carpenter. At the time he was living with his widowed mother who was a nurse, his sister and two nephews. He married Katie Lovell on 19 June 1916 and they had a daughter Gladys Blanche Olive in November 1916. Originally assigned to the Royal Berkshire Regiment he was transferred to the Manchesters in September 1916. He was promoted twice during his service. His war records are quite extensive and indicate that due to his transfer to another unit his where abouts were not traceable for some time. Records also indicate that he died from a malignant tumour although this was not reported in the newspapers of the time.

His is a registered war grave and has a CWGC war pattern headstone, number 11429.

Corporal Mills died on 8th April 1918, he was aged 38.   He was buried with full military honours

Corporal F. A. Mills had been in the army for two years.  Eighteen months of service were spent in France. Papers reported that he had been wounded and that he was sent home with trench fever to which he succumbed in a hospital in Wales.  He leaves a mother and widow and child of 16 months.  Before joining up he was employed at the County Theatre where he was better known as Tom Viscent.