Mr R. Morrison, Crosby street, Mornington, has been advised by the Defence Minister that his son, Kenneth Morrison, has been awarded the Military Medal for gallantry on the field of action. Private Morrison left the dominion with the 8th Reinforcements. -Otago Daily Times, 22/12/1917.
Kenneth Morrison won his MM on the darkest day for the Otago Regiment - October 12, 1917. The citation for his award reads as follows: "At 7am on 12th October 1917, during the attack on the Bellevue Spur, Private Morrison, a Battalion runner in the forward party carried out his work fearlessly under the most dangerous and adverse circumstances. By his courage and determination, he struggled through a terrific barrage of machine-gun and shell fire right from the forward line to the Headquarters of the Battalion. Although nearly exhausted by the rough and marshy ground across which he had to rush, he stuck to his task and delivered safely at its destination a message of vital importance to the conduct of operations. Immediately afterwards, moreover, he cheerfully returned to the forward line, almost at the enemy’s wire, with orders for the troops there."
Kenneth's luck ran out the next year - or so it seemed. He received a serious gunshot wound in his left forearm during a furious part of the German's attack on Otago's trenches as part of their Spring Offensive. While under treatment in hospital he was found to have tuberculosis. His wound might have saved his life with an early diagnosis - he survived both wound and TB and went home early in 1919.
While shunting Kenneth Morrison, aged thirty-six years, fell off a truck and was run over by the engine. Both legs were fractured, and almost severed. His condition is serious. — Hamilton Press Association telegram. -Evening Star, 27/7/1923.
DEATHS
MORRISON. — On the 27th July, 1923, Kenneth Morrison, aged 36 years, killed by accident, at Franklyn Junction, beloved brother of Mrs. J. Dawson, Roseneath. Interment at Dunedin. -Evening Post, 28/7/1923.
RAILWAY FATALITY.
THE CLAUDELANDS ACCIDENT.
INQUEST ON VICTIM.
The inquest into the death of the railway porter, Kenneth Morrison, who died yesterday afternoon as the result of injuries sustained through being run over by a line of trucks at Claudelands railway station earlier in the day, was opened before the District Coroner, Mr H. A. Young, this morning.
Formal evidence of identification was given by another railway employee, H. A. Campbell.
Dr. Gower, medical superintendent at the hospital, gave evidence of deceased having been admitted to the institution at 8.50 a.m. He had a compound fracture of the right leg and fracture of the left leg, while he was suffering severely from shock. First aid treatment had been given Morrison prior to admission, and at the hospital he was treated for shock. After a few hours his condition showed a slight improvement, and the portions of the limbs that were hanging by the skin were removed. Deceased was conscious, but it was not considered advisable to question him. Later he took a turn for the worse, and died at 1.40 p.m.
The inquiry was then adjourned until Wednesday. -Waikato Times, 28/7/1923.
RAILWAY FATALITY.
FUNERAL OF THE VICTIM.
The first portion of the funeral of the late Kenneth Morrison, who was killed while shunting at the Claudelands railway yards on Friday, was held in Hamilton yesterday. Over 300 railway employees took part in the cortege, which left Messrs Hudner Bros.' premises for the Frankton railway station, where a Presbyterian service was conducted by Rev. Macdonald Aspland. The wreaths, which included a beautiful one from the Railway Service, were handsome and numerous, testifying to the esteem in which deceased was held. The pallbearers numbered six, two from the Returned Soldiers' Association — Major Whyte and Mr H. C. Morris — and one from each branch of the Railway Service — Messrs H. B. Taylor (R.O.I.), Beau Smith (E.F.G.A.), M. Crossan and J Flett (members of the Frankton Junction shunting staff). The body was conveyed South last evening by the Main Trunk express, on the way to Dunedin, where it is to be interred. -Waikato Times, 30/7/1923.
Personal
The remains of Mr Kenneth Morrison, who died as the result of shocking injuries received while engaged in shunting operations at Claudelands, Hamilton, last Friday, were interred in the Anderson’s Bay Cemetery on Wednesday. Mr Morrison was a native of Dunedin, and had resided with his parents at Crosby street, Mornington, till he left for the North Island a few years ago. He served his apprenticeship as a painter with Messrs James Wren and Co., and subsequently joined the railway service. He was 28 years of age, and was the fifth son of Mr and Mrs Morrison. He went to the war in the Eighth Reinforcements, won the M.M. at Passchendaele. and was wounded at the Somme shortly after. His eldest brother John died of wounds in France on July 13, 1916, another brother, Neil, who went with the Seventh Reinforcements, was badly wounded in the right arm, and a fourth brother, William, came through unscathed. The deceased was a keen footballer, and played for some seasons with the Kaikorai Football Club’s team. -Otago Daily Times, 3/8/1923.
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