Morris, Arthur Stanley

5751 Private Arthur Stanley Morris - 16th Battalion AIF

Arthur Stanley Morris was born in Hurstville Sydney NSW in 1889 to Robert and Emma Morris. He was one of several siblings, Mabel (1879), Percival (1881), Olive (1884), Harold (1886), Albert (1888) and Selina (1892).

The family moved to Western Australia in the early 1900's, though sadly Emma Morris died in Fremantle in 1906.

In 1912 Arthur was living at 112 South Street Fremantle.

Arthur married Maggie D'Alton in Fremantle in 1914. He was working as a bricklayer and they were living at 99 Hampton Road Fremantle.

On the 21st February 1916 in Fremantle, Arthur enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was found to be fit with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 6 & 1/4 inches tall;

Weight - 130lbs;

Chest Measurement - 31-33 inches;

Complexion - Fair;

Eyes - Grey;

Hair - Dark.

After his successful enlistment Arthur was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp. He was initially assigned to No.56 Training Depot where he was taken through the basics of infantry work. On the 4th April 1916 Arthur was transferred into the 18th Reinforcements to the 16th Battalion AIF.

He trained in WA with this group for the next few months. On the 18th July 1916 Arthur and his group travelled down to Fremantle Harbour where they boarded the transport ship Seang Bee. The ship then set sail for England and after the long sea voyage they disembarked at Plymouth on the 9th September 1916.

The men were then sent to the 4th Training Battalion at Rollestone Camp on the Salisbury Plains. Arthur had a month in England, but on the 14th October 1916 was put into a draft of men for France.

After arriving at Etaples on the 15th October 1916 Arthur was sent to the 4th Australian Division Base Depot. He spent over a week there before being officially taken on strength of the 16th Battalion on the 24th October 1916.

The 16th Battalion was then heading back from Belgium to the Somme battlefield where they would spend the 1916/17 French winter. Unfortunately for the soldiers it was the coldest French winter in decades and they had to put up with horrendous conditions in the front line. Many men became sick due to the freezing conditions, but it appears that Arthur came through this period unscathed.

In February 1917 Arthur served at the Battle at Stormy Trench where Harry Murray was awarded the Victoria Cross for the capture of the German trench. The 16th Battalion was then withdrawn from the line for a rest but this did not last long as due to the German retirement to their pre-prepared defensive position known as the Hindenburg Line.

The 16th Battalion, as part of the 4th Brigade, were to attempt to capture the French village of Bullecourt on the 11th April 1917, with no supporting artillery, just with the use of a few tanks, which at that stage of the war were very technically unreliable.

In the face of extremely heavy German fire the Australians managed to capture sections of the first two German trenches, but without supporting artillery, the Germans were able to cut off any help getting to these men, with the result that the men could either try to withdraw through the heavy German fire back to their own lines, or stay behind to protect the wounded. The Germans surrounded the survivors, and they were taken prisoner of war.

Arthur was one of those men taken prisoner in the battle. He had somehow got into the Germans trenches unwounded but without ammunition was soon forced to surrender.

Arthur was taken with the other captured men to the German Prisoner of War camps. There is not much information regarding his prisoner of war experience except that he was interned for a time at Limburg. There is one note he was able to send home still in the Red Cross records which was received in February 1918, 

I and the rest of the Australian boys with me are well. I have not been very fortunate with my parcels. I have had none for a month now.

It appears that Arthur may have been initially reported as killed in action as his wife was referred to as a widow when she was granted a war pension, but this was cancelled when news came through of Arthur being a Prisoner of War.

After the war was over Arthur was repatriated to England, arriving there on the 18th December 1918. After a fitness and medical examination Arthur was given leave so at least he was able to enjoy Christmas and New Year. On the 22nd January 1919 Arthur was sent to No.2 Command Depot Camp where he remained until the 12th February when he was transferred to No.1 Command Depot Camp.

On the 3rd March 1919 Arthur boarded the transport ship Euripides at Portland England for the long sea voyage home, disembarking in Fremantle on the 10th April 1919. He discharged from the AIF on the 29th May 1919.

In the 1920's & 30's Arthur and Maggie were living on the corner of Dalgety and Marmion Street East Fremantle. He was working as a bricklayer during this time.

Sadly Maggie Morris died in Fremantle on the 30th October 1942. At the time they were living at 'Arismor' 126 Marmion Street East Fremantle.

Arthur re-married to Norah Collins in 1944 and they lived at 126 Marmion Street Fremantle.

Arthur Morris died on the 13th August 1954 and he is buried at Fremantle Cemetery Plot Anglican Mon A6 0108.