On the 1891 census, David Jones Morris was living at 10 Mount Street, Flint, Flintshire.
His father Edward Morris was 35 and a Chemical Labourer and his mother, Hannah was 35. Their children were Lucy 6, David Jones Morris 5, Thomas 3 and Randall F. Morris was 1. The whole family had been born in Flint.
By the 1901 census the family had grown and moved to 17, Chapel Street, Flint. Edward 44 was now a ‘Miller’ at the Chemical Works. Hannah was 44. Lucy was 16, David J 15 and an Iron Worker, Thomas 13, Randall F 11, William 8, Barbara 6, John 3 and Alice was 1.
The 1911 census tells us that the whole family had moved to Shotton and were living at 24 Wellington Street. Hannah Morris was recorded as being married for 28 years but is listed as ‘Head of the Household’. She had given birth to ten children but two had died. Lucy was 26. David 25, Thomas 23, Randall 21 and William 19 were all ironworkers. John was 13 and Alice was 11.
It seems that David Jones Morris survived the war, as he signed his own Flintshire WW1 Index Card, but died later in 1925, too late to be included in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission database, but not too late to be included on the Connah’s Quay & Shotton Cenotaph which was unveiled on the 6th May 1927. I cannot find any service records of him either, but they could have been among the “Burnt Papers” that were destroyed during air raids in WW2.
His index card in the Flintshire Roll of Honour at the County Record Office in Hawarden (Flintshire WW1 Index Card Shotton L177) gives the address 24, Wellington Road, Shotton. It states the regimental details above and adds that he served for 3 years and 9 months. The card was signed by D.J. Morris 19th January 1920.
There is a death registered at Hawarden in the June quarter of 1925:- Morris, David Jones, Hawarden Flintshire (Mold) ( HAW/16A/25)
Relative Cerrie Williams has told us that David Jones Morris had married Mary Ann Griffiths on the 29th December 1917 in Hawarden. The address given at that time was 27 Wellington Street Shotton. There might have been a child – Elizabeth – but Cerrie has been unable to find any information about her.
There is a medal card for David Jones Morris accessible on www.ancestry.co.uk which details his medals and confirms his regimemtal details.
David Jones Morris was the Brother of Randall Foulkes Morris who is also named on the Connah’s Quay/Shotton Memorial and has his own page on this website. Relationships were noted on the copy of the original book of the Connah’s Quay Cenotaph that was loaned to me by a member of the Connah’s Quay & Shotton British Legion, Mr. Butler, Dee Road, Connah’s Quay.
Would be very grateful for any further help with this soldier.