Harold Morton
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Harold was born on 21st April 1894 at Bradford, Yorkshire, and was the son of Frederick and Ada Morton née Cowley His father was born in 1858 in Tynemouth and his mother Ada was born in 1865 in Codnor Park, Derbyshire. They had the following children all of whom were born in Bradford; Florence b1888, Emily b1889, Fred 1891, Harold b1894 and James b1896. In the 1st quarter of 1901 his mother Ada died in Bradford; she was 36 years of age. Within a year her son Fred aged 1 year also died in Bradford. In the 1901 census the family are living at 18 Westminster Road in Bradford, Frederick was shown as a widower and a printer, he was living with his 4 children Florence, Emily, Harold and James. In 1903 his father Fred also dies in Bradford; he was 45 yrs of age. His children, now left as orphans, are taken in by his father's brother Samuel, who is living in Nottingham and although he himself is single he brings up the 4 surviving children. In the 1911 census we find Harold and his siblings living at 43 Broad Oak Street, Hunger Hill, Nottingham, with their uncle Samuel Morton 45 who is single and a bobbin carriage maker in the lace trade. He is shown living with Florence Morton 23 yrs a niece and blouse machinist, Emily 22 yrs a niece and a lace pattern girl, Harold 17 yrs nephew and printer and James 15 yrs an errand lad in the shoe trade.
Corporal Harold Morton enlisted in Nottingham on 19th September 1911 and served with the service number 11810 in the 4th Special Reserve battalion Sherwood Foresters Regiment. He was discharged on 20th February 1912 in order to join the regular army. On 21st February 1912 he enlisted and was posted to the 2nd battalion Sherwood Foresters. He gave his age as 17 yrs and 10 months and that he was a printers labourer. He gave his next of kin as his brother James Horton of 57 Pym Street, Nottingham. His army service record contains a letter received on 21st February 1912 from Samuel Morton of 43 Broad Oak Street, Nottingham, stating that he was the uncle and sole guardian of Harold Morton, and that he gave his permission for his nephew to join His Majesty's Army, and that he would be 18 yrs of age on 24th March 1912. He served with the 2nd battalion and was promoted to Lance Corporal on 15th July 1915. He landed in France on 8th September 1914 with his battalion 2nd Sherwood Foresters where he served with the British Expeditionary Force until 30th June 1916, when he returned to England. On 12th July 1917 he was promoted to Corporal and on the same day returned to France. He was twice wounded: on 1st December 1917 with a gun shot wound to the heel and on 24th December 1917 with a gun shot wound to the knee when he was treated in No 3 Stationary Hospital in Rouen. He was discharged from hospital on 21st March 1918 and transferred to the 12th Company Machine Gun Corps. He was killed in action on 27th March 1918. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on The Pozieres Memorial.
Obituary published in the Nottingham Evening Post dated 27th March 1919 :- “MORTON. – In affectionate remembrance of Corpl. Harold Morton, M.G.C., killed in action March 27th, 1918. One of the best. – Still remembered by Milly and family.” Above obituary courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
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