Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Michael Patrick Morris, a shoe trade laster, born 10th August 1872 in Leicester and his wife Sarah Jane Morris (nee Mason, married in the 4th quarter of 1893 in the Leicester district) a worsted wool spinner, born on the 7th May 1874 in Leicester. Samuel James was born in the 1st quarter of 1895 in St. Leonard’s, Leicester, his siblings were, Harold Spencer, born on the 29th October 1896, Alice Elizabeth, born on the 9th July 1898 and Arthur, born on the 20th November 1900, all his siblings were born in St. Leonard’s, Leicester, in March 1901, Samuel was absent from the family home at Newton Yard, 4, Northgate Street, Leicester. In April 1911 Samuel was employed as a shoe trade pressman and was residing in the family home at 68, Mill Street, Barwell, Leicestershire, together with his father, a shoe trade foreman, his mother and siblings, Harold, a shoe trade clicker, Alice, a schoolgirl, Arthur, a schoolboy, Alfred Herbert, a schoolboy, born on the 10th February 1902, Walter, a schoolboy, born on the 17th August 1905 and Ada, born in the 4th quarter of 1909, the latter three siblings were all born in Barwell. Samuel had two further younger siblings, Albert, born on the 6th April 1911 and Phyllis, born on the 20th January 1914, both siblings were born in Barwell. Samuel’s father was officially recorded at birth as Michael Patrick Morris, however in later life he adopted the Christian name of William.
Samuel’s Army enlistment documents do not survive, all that is known of his military service is that he enlisted into the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, being allotted the service number 4916, and was posted as a Private to that Regiment’s Depot for training, subsequently being posted to the 9th Battalion.
He embarked from Avonmouth with his Battalion on the 24th June 1915 landing in Gallipoli in July, he was officially recorded to have first entered the theatre of war on the 13th July 1915, and it therefore follows that this would have been the date that he first saw action on the Gallipoli Peninsula. Nothing further is known of his military service until he was killed in action on the 9th August 1915, his body was never recovered and he is commemorated on the Helles Memorial to the Missing. He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Allied Victory Medal.
The War Diary records: 9 Aug-15 – AGHYL DERE GULLY & VICINITY KURIJA DERE. At “Stand to” 3.30am, “D” Company were withdrawn from the trenches dug during the night as it was found impossible, owing to the incompleteness of the trenches, to keep them there with rifle and Machine Gun fire playing upon them from above. Lookouts were posted and an “Outpost” placed in front of the trenches. A body of forty men were kept close at hand and the remainder of “D,” one platoon of “B” and part of “C” Companies were kept nearby in the Gully as support. About 6.00pm the WORCESTERSHIRE REGIMENT relieved the ROYAL WARWICKSHIRE REGIMENT in this position. “A” Company under Major R. G. SHUTTLEWORTH, held a position at THE FARM. About 3.00pm all of “B” Company took up a position to the left of “A” Company and “C” Company moved to the left and rear of “B” Company. During the day the following casualties occurred:- Killed: officers 1, other ranks 4, wounded: officers 2, other ranks 9. Total Officers 3. Other ranks 13. Leaving the effective strength:- Officers 10, Other ranks 572. Officer killed. 2nd Lieutenant F. H. GRIGSON. Officers wounded. 2nd Lieutenant H. S. BOKER and Lieutenant W. J. SLIM.
On Wednesday September 8th, 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – LOCAL CASUALTIES. – KILLED AT THE DARDANELLES. – Official intimation has been received from the War Office by his parents at Spring Terrace, Barwell, of the death in action at the Dardanelles of Private SAMUEL JAMES MORRIS. Morris was 20 years of age last February, and joined the 9th Battalion Warwick Regiment in September last. Previous to this he was employed as a shoe hand at Messrs. Geary’s factory. On the 5th August he wrote to his parents stating how lucky he had been whilst in the trenches, and four days later, viz. on the 9th of the same month, he received his death blow. The official notice was received on Friday last. Deceased was the eldest of a family of nine.
On Thursday September 9th, 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – LOCAL CASUALTIES. – Official notification has been received of the death of Private SAMUEL JAMES MORRIS, of the 9th Royal Warwickshire Regiment, which occurred from wounds received in action on August 9th, at the Dardanelles. He was 21 years of age, son of Mr. W. Morris, of 68, Mill-street, Barwell, and enlisted on Sept. 4th, 1914. Formerly he was employed at the boot factory of Messrs. Geary Bros., Barwell.