Richard Morris was the son of Evan Morris born in Pandyricha (Pandy near Gwersyllt?) and Martha born in Llangollen.

Using www.ancestry.co.uk we can find that Richard was born in 1898 in Ruabon Wales. In the 1901 census he was living with his mother and father in Liscard, Birkenhead and was four years old. His brother Jonathan Griffiths 10, was also with the family.  Evan was 34 and a bricklayer labourer, Martha was 39.

In the 1911 census we find Richard living in lower street Caergwrle. He wass a grocer’s errand boy for Mr Hopwood (who was running his business from what is now the modern day Spar Caergwrle). Richard  was living with his father Evan 44 and a coal miner hewer. Martha his mother was deceased having given birth to 10 children, eight of whom died leaving only Richard and Jonathan. Evan had remarried,  his second wife was Margaret Ellen who was also 44.

Richard was living in Ty Vron, Pontibodkin in 1914 when he joined the colours. From his service record we can see that he was employed at Llay Hall Colliery and that he enlisted at Caergwrle on 4th August 1914 joining the 5th battalion RWF. He subsequently was posted to the 8th battalion RWF on 10th September 1916.  His medal index card lists him as Private 30307 Richard Morris whereas the CWGC listing shows him at L Cpl 30307.

Richard left Devenport on the 10th September 1916 sailing for a month before arriving in Mesopotamia (modern day Iraq). He joined the 8th battalion at Amara on the 21st October 1916, the unit was involved in the battles of Kut al Amara, the Hai Salient and the capture of the Dahra Bend. Robert was listed as killed in action on the 15th February 1917, however his war service record indicates that the place of death was ‘not stated’