George Ernest Morris

Sherwood Yeomanry (Sherwood Rangers) George enlisted at Retford where he gave his place of birth and residence as Retford. He first served in theatre in Egypt on 7th December 1915 but was later posted to Salonika. George was killed in action ten months later on 7th October 1916. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Doiran Memorial, Greece. He qualified for the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - Dorian Memorial (extract): The memorial 'stands roughly in the centre of the line occupied for two years by the Allies in Macedonia, but close to the western end, which was held by Commonwealth forces. It marks the scene of the fierce fighting of 1917-1918, which caused the majority of the Commonwealth battle casualties. From October 1915 to the end of November 1918, the British Salonika Force suffered some 2,800 deaths in action, 1,400 from wounds and 4,200 from sickness. The campaign afforded few successes for the Allies, and none of any importance until the last two months. The action of the Commonwealth force was hampered throughout by widespread and unavoidable sickness and by continual diplomatic and personal differences with neutrals or Allies. On one front there was a wide malarial river valley and on the other, difficult mountain ranges, and many of the roads and railways it required had to be specially constructed. The memorial serves the dual purpose of Battle Memorial of the British Salonika Force (for which a large sum of money was subscribed by the officers and men of that force), and place of commemoration for more than 2,000 Commonwealth servicemen who died in Macedonia and whose graves are not known.'

Trooper Morriss Retford Times 10th November 1915 ORDSALL SOLDIER MISSING "As will be seen from the following letter which has been received from Major Tallents, hopes are still held out for the safety and well being of Trooper Morris, Sherwood Rangers (reported missing) whose parents reside at High Street, Ordsall:- "You will have heard that your son is wounded and missing, but we hope that he is alive , because the Bulgars retired on the day after your son fell and we went all over the ground where he fell and searched for him thoroughly. We could find no trace of him or any new grave. From that it seems probable that the Bulgars carried him in. You need have no fear of the Bulgars treatment of him, as they are behaving very well in that respect, men of our brigade who are wounded and prisoners, have written to us that they are well cared for , and also several instances have occurred lately where they have been dressed and left food and water beside our wounded, whom we were able to get in later. When your son fell he was riding close to the enemy's trenches, our task being to find out how far they had retired in the night, he was so close up that we could not possibly get up to help him, but one man galloped past and saw him lying on the ground. Apparently he was wounded after his horse had been killed. I cannot tell you how we shall all miss your boy, he was so cheery and full of courage and he had done some very good work previously. I only wish that I could tell you something more definite, as I know how anxious you must be. Please accept the sympathy of the officers and men of the squadron and of myself in your loss. "George S Clark sends similar particulars of Trooper Morris's fate. In the course of his letter he says:- " Jimmy' as we all called him, was a general favourite with all who knew him, chiefly on account of his cheerful manner and devotion to duty. He was always ready to help a pal, and we fell that we have lost one of the best, I wish to express my deepest sympathy with you in your great loss, and if the worst has happened you will have the consolation of knowing that he met his fate whilst doing his duty."