213446 Rfn. Charles Henry Morrisson British Army 17th Btn. London Regiment from:Poplar East, London My grandfather was Charles Henry Morrison, Rifleman, Regimental Number 4466. He was a volunteer and joined the 17th Battalion (Poplar and Stepney), London Regiment. He died after the war in Fulham Military Hospital from lung damage caused by shrapnel. We knew he went abroad but until now saw no proof because the Blitz on London in WW2 destroyed all evidence.
He left 5 children and my grandmother received just 10 shillings a week war widow’s pension. It was not enough to keep 5 children and they lost their home. They moved from relative to relative sleeping on the floor.
One son named Charles was then deemed an imbecile and was sent to St Lawrence’s Hospital for the Insane in Surrey at the age of 5. Can you imagine that? He never saw his mother or siblings again.
Wars cause lots of misery and tragedies for those left behind. Every man who fought in both World Wars must never be forgotten.
My grandfather’s name is on the Wall Screen in East London Cemetery and I go there every year to remember him.
Additional Information: | My grandfather fought on The Western Front with thousands of young men, he was just a Rifleman but I'm so proud of him. He marched from day one when he landed in France. He and his comrades had their feet rubbed in whale fat before they were given fresh socks, their meals were rationed as they had no lorries to carry supplies, just the poor war Horses. The 17th London Regiment got 4 meals a day and the drinks were rationed. Charles did well because we know that in 1916 the enemy had machine guns and our men were mown down, Charles survived for 10 weeks before he was hit by shrapnel. colleen bennett
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| The 17th London Regiment fought at Albert, Highwoods Bressle, Mametz, the daily War Diary gives the names of those who were awarded medals, they all deserved them. One man had 'shell shock' but went back into battle the next morning. My g/father's dates in France were from early September until late November. He came back and died in Fulham Military Hospital in 1924 from his injuries to the lungs. R I P g/dad.colleen bennett
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