Military History

Theatre

Action/Battle/Other

Battle of St. Quinten (German Spring Offensive)

Place of Death

near Beaumetz-les-Cambrai

 

Medals

Medal Citation (if app)

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Enlisted Date/Place

May 1916 at Southam

Previous Regiments/Units

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Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)

The March 1918 section is missing from the war diary. On 21 Mar 1918 the Germans mounted a huge spring offensive and Albert died 2 days later. The following is taken from The Story of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment by C.L. Kingsford.

"The experience of the 10th Royal Warwickshire was not less arduous or prolonged on the morning of March the 21st they were in camp near Basatre, but in the afternoon was sent forward to a position N.E. of Velu. That day the enemy had taken Lagnicourt and Doignes.  At nightfall the 10th Royal Warwickshire was put under the 154^th Brigade of the 51^st Division. Orders were to hold to the last. For them the next day was only one of constant shelling but elsewhere the line was being gradually forced back. On the 23rd in the morning the Germans broke through at Beaumetz, one unit after another was forced to give ground but the royal Warwickshire not till afternoon. Even then Captain J. R. Gribble [VC], with his company on the right would not yield. His orders were to hold on and he did not withdraw, though he might easily have done so when the rest of the battalion was forced back to the secondary position.

When his right flank was in the air owing to the withdrawal of the neighbouring troops, he sent a runner to the left with a message that he would stay till ordered to retire,  this resolution he inspired his men to accomplish, and when last seen he was still fighting [he was then actually taken prisoner], surrounded by the enemy at close range. By his splendid example Captain Gribble was instrumental in preventing for some hours the enemy from obtaining a complete mastery of the crest of the ridge, and by his own magnificent self sacrifice he enabled the remainder of his own brigade to be withdrawn. His heroism won him the Victoria Cross".

In short the battalion were in the lines to the South and South East of Beaumetz (blue pins) as the German army continued its massive attack (Spring Offensive - Operation Michael) on allied lines. Despite attempting to hold out the Germans broke throught the lines to their left (west) and went through Beaumetz and then captured Velu Wood and Lebucquiere (red pins). The battalion was forced to withdraw towards Bertincourt (blue pin) and once there was ordered to march to Bancourt (blue pin). These actions took place between 2am and 7pm.

Map of operations	Arras Memorial

Birth Date & Place

Baptism Date & Place

Parents

William and Mary of Denbigh, Wales

Wife & Marriage

Children

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Occupation(s)

• Pre 1916 - Groom at Stoneythorpe (Roll of Honour Book)

Schools & Colleges

 

Address History

1917 - Bascote Heath

Other Information

On his pension record it notes that his Guardian was Mrs. S. Hopkins of Bascote Heath and in his register of effect the guardian is Alfred Hopkins.

The Memorial at Bascote Heath contains the name W.W. Morton however a newspaper report in the Warwickshire Advertiser on Saturday, February 19th, 1921 lists the names on the memorial and all the names match the memorial except that W.W. Morris is listed instead of W.W. Morton. Given the information above it is clear that the name Morton has been mistakenly added instead of Morris.

Therefore for the below listed reasons we firmly believe that the W.W. Morton listed on the memorial is in fact W.W. Morris

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