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Morris, Frank (Francis Richard)

Francis Richard Morris (Frank) was born in the June quarter of 1920 in the Hawarden Registration District. (Flintshire (Mold) HAW/26A/48).    He was the son of William Manning and Charlotte May Morris (nee Eyles).   They had married in the June quarter of 1919 in Northampton. (Northampton Vol.  3b Page 272)

Frank’s father, William Manning Morris’s military service is a little mysterious, as he, on the same day, according to Ancestry.co.uk, was in both the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy.   The Royal Air Force information comes from https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=61400&h=237737&tid=&pid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=mYP9303&_phstart=successSource – However the original documents can only be accessed by subscribing to “Fold3” and I do not have the facility, which is an extension to Ancestry.co.uk.    It is a payable site.

William Manning Morris in the UK, Royal Air Force Airmen Records, 1918-1940 https://www.fold3.com/image/615116436?xid=6798&_gl=1*90mnk6*_gcl_au*NjI5NzAwMTgwLjE3MDgxNzAwMzQ.*_ga*MTc3NTQyODE0Ni4xNjkyNDQ2Njcw*_ga_6R6RRSB9ZD*NzM3MmY2MDItZGQ1Yy00ZDRhLThmZTYtYzcxZmIzNzkzNWJlLjMxNy4xLjE3MTEyNzExNzYuMC4wLjA.*_ga_4QT8FMEX30*NzM3MmY2MDItZGQ1Yy00ZDRhLThmZTYtYzcxZmIzNzkzNWJlLjIyNy4xLjE3MTEyNzExNzYuNjAuMC4w

Name: William Manning Morris

Gender:              Male

Age:      29

Birth Date:         20 Mar 1888

Birth Place:        Hope, Wrexham, Flintshire, Wales

Service Date:     25 Jan 1918

Service Number:             247870

Father: John Morris

Next of Kin:        John Morris

Relation to Airman:        Father

 

The Royal Navy information, I can verify as they are at the bottom of this page, William Manning Morris’s Service Records.

Royal Navy, WW1:-

William Manning Morris in the UK, Royal Navy Registers of Seamen’s Services, 1848-1939

Name:  William Manning Morris

Gender:              Male

Birth Date:         20 Mar 1888

Birth Place:        Wrexham Flint

First Service Date:           25 Jan 1918

First Ship Served On:      President II

Last Service Date:           31 Mar 1918 (Trans. To the R.A.F. o the 31st of March 1918)

Last Ship Served On:       Strathbeg

Service Number:             F47870

Occupation – Butcher.

Place of birth – Wrexham, Flint.

Age – 23???

Height – 5 feet 6 inches.

Chest – 36inches.

Hair – Brn.

Eyes – Grey.

Complexion – Fresh.

There is a query though as the first day of service in both was 25th January 1918 and with the Royal Navy his last day of service was 31st March 1918. According to Find a Grave he was transferred to the R.A.F. o the 31st of March 1918.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/220708858/william-manning-morris?_gl=1*11kq23h*_gcl_au*NjI5NzAwMTgwLjE3MDgxNzAwMzQ.*_ga*MTc3NTQyODE0Ni4xNjkyNDQ2Njcw*_ga_4QT8FMEX30*NzM3MmY2MDItZGQ1Yy00ZDRhLThmZTYtYzcxZmIzNzkzNWJlLjIyNy4xLjE3MTEyNzA2NTYuNTkuMC4w*_ga_6R6RRSB9ZD*NzM3MmY2MDItZGQ1Yy00ZDRhLThmZTYtYzcxZmIzNzkzNWJlLjMxNy4xLjE3MTEyNzA2NTYuMC4wLjA.

Probate – Died at The War Memorial Hospital, Wrexham.
Last address of Stoneleigh, High Street, Caergwle.

Served as F47870 with The Royal Navy at HMS Strathbeg (seaplane base) at Aberdeen from 25th January 1918 until transfer as 247870 to The RAF on 31st March 1918.

Father of 1113272 Flight Sgt Francis Richard Morris RAFVR of No.2 Torpedeo Training Unit who is buried with him. Sgt Morris was killed when the Bristol Beaufighter JL831 of No. 2 TTU (Torpedo Training Unit) in which he was flying crashed on take-off at Stevenson’s Farm, Glenluce Road, Castle Kennedy near Stranraer.

Francis (Frank) Morris is also buried here with him and from census returns appears to be his brother.

Many thanks to Find a Grave.

The 1921 census, which was taken on the 19th of June 1921, shows the family living in Caergwrle, Flintshire with William Manning Morris, age 33 years and 3 months, born in Caergrwle, Flintshire, as head of the family.  He was a Butcher on his own account at home and an Employer.   His wife Charlotte May Morris was now 32 years and 1 month old and had been born in St. Edmunds, Northamptonshire.  She was doing ‘Home Duties.’   Francis Richard Morris was 1 year and 2 months old and had been born in Caergwrle.   Charlotte May’s mother, Mary Eyles was 71 years and 5 months old, a widow and had been born in Moulton, Northamptonshire., also doing ‘Home Duties,’

I do not know anything about Frank’s early years, except for his time in the Hawarden Grammar School:-

Hawarden Grammar School Admissions Register E/GS/1/10

Page 441626/2271 MORRIS, Francis Richard date of birth – 16.4.20, Stoneleigh, High Street, Caergwrle, father – Butcher, date of entry – 13th September 1932, Hope Council, £6 Rly Trav., Date of leaving – 2nd October 1936 – Clerk.

Frank’s twin siblings, William John & Alice Maisie also went to Hawarden Grammar School: –

1792/2623 MORRIS, William John.  Date of Birth – 3rd August 1924 “Stoneleigh,” High Street, Caergwrle.   Father’s Occupation – Butcher. Date of Entry – 17th September 1935.   Previous School – Hope Council El.  Date of leaving 24th July 1942 – Manchester University. (William John, I believe, went on to become a Physisist.)

11554/2921 MORRIS, Maisie Date of Birth – 3rd August 1924 “Stoneleigh,” High Street, Caergwrle.   Father’s Occupation – Butcher. Date of Entry – 16th September 1937.   Previous School – Hope Council.  Date of leaving 24th July 1941 – Clerk.

According to the Newspaper cutting from the Chester Chronicle 21st August 1943, Frank, after leaving Hawarden Grammar School was appointed to a Clerical position under Flintshire County Council.    He was a lieutenant in the Boy’s Brigade in Caergwrle and had been a teacher in the Castle Street Methodist Church.   Early in 1940 he joined the R.A.F. and received his “wings” in Canada

From the website – https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/transformingsociety/private-lives/yourcountry/overview/conscriptionww2/#:~:text=On%20the%20day%20Britain%20declared,had%20to%20register%20for%20service : –

On the day Britain declared war on Germany, 3 September 1939, Parliament immediately passed a more wide-reaching measure. The National Service (Armed Forces) Act imposed conscription on all males aged between 18 and 41 who had to register for service.

The next time we see Frank’s parents is on the 1939 National Register which was taken on the 29th of September 1939.   Although Frank is not on it.  They were living at Stone Leigh, High Street, Caergwrle, which was under Hawarden R.D., Flintshire, Wales.   This source gives us dates of birth. William M. Morris was born on the 20th March 1888 and was a Butcher.    Charlotte M. was born on the 1st of May 1889 and as most women on this register, who did not have a job was described, was doing “Unpaid Domestic Duties.”    Their daughter Alice M. Morris* was born on the 3rd of August 1924, her twin brother, William John Morris was also born on the 3rd of August 1924, and they were both still at school.

*I believe that Alice Maisie was to marry Noel G. Davies in the Methodist Church, Castle Street, Caergwrle, in 1951. (Flintshire (Mold) A107/01/E14).

So Frank was to find himself training to be a Flight Sergeant (Pilot) and eventually finding himself in Scotland at R.A.F. Castle Kennedy:-

https://www.secretscotland.org.uk/index.php/Secrets/RAFCastleKennedy

RAF Castle Kennedy was a World War II airfield located in Dumfries and Galloway. The site lies approximately five miles east of Stranraer, on the north side of the A75.

World War II

The airfield returned to active service during World War II, and like many Scottish locations, become a training establishment, home to facilities displaced from the south as they were within easy reach of German bombers. The west coast of Scotland saw a number of gunnery and bombing ranges being created in its quiet waters and shores, and Castle Kennedy became a Gunnery School

A concrete perimeter road, hangars, and administration facilities were added to the field prior to the arrival in June, 1941, of the Central Gunnery School from Warmell in Dorset, via RAF West Freugh. This marked the beginning of No 3 Air Gunnery School Castle Kennedy, operating Blenheim, Hampden and Wellington aircraft, with Defiant and Lysander aircraft towing target drones.

Gun crews, and those on refresher courses, began training in gun turret operations with ground classes and simulators, then moved on to towed drones. Waterlogging of the runway forced operations to move to West Freugh in the autumn, leaving only the accommodation in use. The field closed in December, allowing two new concrete runways, a hanger, and nine blister hangars to be added over the next four months. Blackburn Bothas were added for operations, with Fairey Battles for towing, and the aircraft tally reached 73 during August. In an unfortunate coincidence, a Botha and Battle collided during an official visit by Lord Trenchard, first Marshal of the Royal Air Force, resulting in a number of serious injuries.

December 1942 saw the Air Gunnery School move to North Wales, with No 2 Torpedo School moving in to take its place. The Torpedo School was responsible for training Coastal Command crews operating in the firth of Clyde, and flew modified Bristol Beaufighters. A number of crashes were recorded, include a neat miss at Lochinch Castle to the north. The Torpedo School soon moved to RAF Turnberry, and No 3 Air Gunnery School returned to Castle Kennedy, now operating Ansons, with Martinets towing the drones. The school continued to operate for a further two years, training crews from around the world until the end of the war.

The school was disbanded in June 1945, when the airfield was taken over by 57 Maintenance Unit (MU) based at Loch Ryan, after which it was used for the storage of surplus aircraft such as Wellingtons and Mosquitos, until they were modified and sold, or scrapped. The airfield was finally closed in November 1946, after which it lay abandoned and unused.

 http://www.rafcommands.com/database/wardead/index.php?qname=&qcntry=&cur=0&qunit=2%20TTU&qnum=&qmem=&qdate=

RAF and Commonwealth Air Forces Roll of Honour – The Unaccounted Airmen Project

http://www.rafcommands.com/database/serials/details.php?uniq=JL831

Beaufighter  JL831

Aircraft Accident / Loss Entry

Date of Crash    08 Aug 43           Aircraft Name    Beaufighter VI   Serial Number              JL831

Unit       2 TTU    Operating Airfield                         Country

Aircrew details

Details

Source  Coastal Command and Fleet Air Arm Losses Forum Henk Welting’s Database

Casualities in the CWGC Register for Beaufighter VI JL831

RankSort by Rank            Name, Number, Trade & DetailsSort by Last Name              DateCurrently Sorted by Date     UnitSort by Unit              CountrySort by Country Cemetery/Memorial & Loc Ref

Flight Sergeant  Francis Richard MORRIS (1113272) Pilot Beaufighter JL831  Forum PostRAF 1943-08-08        2 TTU    United Kingdom              Hope Cemetery

According to the Newspaper reports, Francis Richard (Frank) died in Scotland – Frank’s death certificate:-

https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/record-results?search_type=People&surname=morris&forename=francis&forename_so=exact&from_year=1943&to_year=1943&surname_so=exact&record_type=stat_deaths

1 ResultShowing 1-1 of 1 (1 page)

Surname            Forename          Age at death      Year      Ref        RD Name

MORRIS   FRANCIS RICHARD      23                           1943    886/ 15    Inch (Wigtown)

I bought vouchers and was able to download his Death Certificate. (In Folder): –

Page 5 No. 15 Francis Richard MORRIS, Flight Sergeant, Royal Air Force, Single.1943 8th August , 11h 51 m A.M.   Field on Kirminnock Farm, Usual Resident R.A.F. Station, Castle Kennedy.  Male, 23 years.   William Manning MORRIS, Master Butcher, May MORRIS, Maiden Surname EYLES.  Due to War Operations, Multiple Injuries Following Aircraft Accident (Flying Accident), Death Instantaneous.  As Certified by Dr. Mallet MORGAN S/L  M.R.C.S.,  L.R.C.P. A.T. Percival.    T.W. Adjutant, R.A.F. , Castle Kennedy.    August 9th 1943 at Stranraer

It appears from the Newspaper reports that Frank saved his 2 companions from death by his actions in bringing his plane down.  Chronicle 21 Aug 1943 (In the Folder).

http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/showthread.php?11516-430808-Ynaccounted-airmen-airwomen-8-8-1943&highlight=MORRIS&p=67251#post67251

Henk Welting said:

12th September 2011 13:47

Default 430808 – Unaccounted airmen/airwomen – 8-8-1943

What were the places of death registration for:-

A – Killed on active service:

F/Sgt (Pilot) Francis R. MORRIS – 1113272.

Frank’s body was brought down from Scotland and he was buried at Hope Cemetery after a service   which describes the Funeral  and burial.    His Commanding Officer, in a letter to his parents stated – “Your son was a brilliant Pilot and his skill in bringing his plane down undoubtedly saved the lives of his two companions.”

There is a Probate for Francis Richard Morris (Frank): –

Francis Richard Morris in the England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966, 1973-1995

MORRIS, Francis Richard of Stoneleigh, High Street, Caergwrle, Flintshire died 8th August 1943 on War Service.    Probate Llandudno, 3rd December to William Manning MORRIS, Butcher.

Frank’s father, William Manning Morris died on the 14th of October 1961 according to his Probate: –

William Manning Morris in the England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966, 1973-1995: –

MORRIS, William Manning of Stoneleigh, High Street, Caergwrle, Flintshire died 14 October 1961 at War Memorial Hospital, Wrexham, Denbighshire.    Probate London, 8th February to William John MORRIS, Physicist and Joseph William LLOYD, Solicitor.

His mother Charlotte May Morris was to live 22 years longer and died  on the 28th of January 1983, again, according to her Probate: –

Charlotte May Morris in the England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966, 1973-1995: –

MORRIS, Charlotte May of Stoneleigh, 54, High Street, Caergwrle, died 28 January 1983.  Probate Manchester, 15th March.

So they would have been alive to be able to see their son’s name on the Hawarden Grammar School Roll of Honour which was dedicated at Hawarden Grammar School on the 3rd of February 1951 with a Remembrance Service for the 47 former pupils who died in the 1939 – 1945 World War.   Recorded in the Chester Chronicle Saturday 10th of February 1951.

Frank (Francis Richard) was loved and missed so much, but his name will be remembered for perpetuity for his sacrifice.   His Inscription on his Gravestone tells us how much he was loved.

“HE WENT ABOUT DOING GOOD BELOVED BY ALL ALWAYS SMILING”

 

 

 

 


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