4499 Private Harry Agnew (1884-14/11/1916) and 53597 Private George Arthur (26/7/1877-18/4/1918) Morris. "somewhere in France"

ROLL OF HONOUR.

MORRIS. — Killed in action, 14th November, 1916. Private H. A. Morris, 11th Reinforcements, Australian Imperial Forces, fifth son of G. and C. and brother of R. Morris, Fair View Farm, St. Andrews: aged 32 years.  -Timaru Herald, 19/5/1917.

Pvte. H. A. Morris (Otama), killed in action.  -Otago Witness, 14/8/1918.

Harry Morris was one of the many casualties of the Battle of Flers, in which Australian soldiers were sent across a quagmire against German positions. The mud was so bad that they were unable to keep up with the "creeping barrage" of artillery which was intended to lift from their target just before they arrived.

PRIVATE G. A. MORRIS. 

Wounded and missing, believed prisoner of war. such is the fate of George Arthur Morris, of the 28th Reinforcements. He was born and educated at Upper Otaio, Canterbury. He is the third son of Mr and Mrs G. A. Morris, of Otama, and was farming in South Canterbury for a few \cars. After disposing of his property there, he came to Southland about 14 years ago and took up land in the Otamita Gorge (Mandeville). He farmed there for several years and after greatly improving his property, he again sold out and bought his present farm on the Black Hills, near Otama. He has been in France since last November. His brother, Private Harry Morris, of the A.I.F., was killed in action somewhere in France in November, 1916.   -Southland Times, 10/5/1918.

George Morris' death is something of a mystery. His Battalion, 1st Auckland, was in the Line when he was taken prisoner but was not in any particular action.  It is possible that he was involved in a trench raid, either being captured by a German one or losing his mates on a New Zealand one. He was captured on April 16 died of gunshot wounds in a German hospital in Bapaume two days later.

FOR THE EMPIRE.

IN MEMORIAM.

MORRIS — No. 4499, Australian Contingent, in loving memory of Private Harry Agnew Morris, Otama, who was killed in action on the Somme in France, November 14, 1916, aged 32 years. Inserted by his parents, brothers and sisters.  -Mataura Ensign, 19/4/1919.

Timaru Cemetery.