Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Memorial: | Reigate Cemetery | I. 3885A. | |
| 2. Book: | The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918 | Pg.130 | |
| 3. Memorial: | The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour | 46A GQS | |
Awards & Titles: | |||
Family :
Husband of Leslie A. Morris, of Breezepoint, Reigate, and second son of the late Arthur Morris and of Mrs. Morris. Dungate Manor, Reigate.See also: London Remembers.
Andrew Behan has researched Morris: "Captain Norman Preston Morris, R.A.F., was born on 30 August 1876 in Streatham, the second son and fourth of the seven children of Arthur Morris and Anne Morris née Groves. His father was a Hop Merchant. He was baptised on 28 September 1876 at St Leonard's Church, Streatham. The 1881 census shows him living at Ashfield, Leigham Court Road, Streatham, with his parents, five siblings, a cook, a housemaid, a head nurse and an under nurse. The 1891 census confirms that both he and his elder brother, Harold Arthur Morris were attending Charterhouse School, Godalming, Surrey, as boarding pupils. The 1901 census shows him, his parents, four siblings, a cook, three housemaids and a kitchen maid living at Court Green, Leigham Court Road, Streatham. His occupation was recorded as a Hop Merchant. Electoral registers from 1904 show that he, his father and his elder brother were registered to vote in local elections, being registered at their business premises of 9 Southwark Street, Southwark.
On 6 July 1905 he married Leslie Anne Dixon at The Parish Church of St Marylebone. Her address was given as Ravensthorpe, Darlington and he was shown to have two addresses, Dungate Manor, Reigate Heath and 50 Weymouth Street, St Marylebone. He continued to be shown as a Hop Merchant. Electoral registers from 1904 show that together with his father he was still at Dungate Manor, Reigate, but those from 1907 show he had moved to Kingsley, Crossland Road, Redhill.
He and his wife had two children, Gerald Arthur Morris who was born on 29 February 1908 and baptised on 4 April 1908 and Ronald Charles Morris who was born on 15 January 1910 and was baptised on 13 February 1910, both baptisms taking place at St Matthew's Church, Redhill, Surrey, when the family were living at Kingsley, Crossland Road. The 1911 census confirms him and his family at this address, together with a cook, a house parlourmaid and a nurse (sick). Electoral registers for 1913 show that he had moved to Breeze Point, 18 Furzefield Road, Reigate, Surrey."
Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: Administrative Officer, Bude Air Station |
| Action : Accident |
Accidents were a minor factor in the casualty list. Our definition is deaths resulting from activities that were not directly associated with 'active service'. We have excluded Naval Accidents which are seperately identified because of their numbers and impact. Many accidents involved the aviators, operating at the the limits of technology.
Detail :
Captain Norman Preston MORRIS, R.A.F., who died on September 17th 1918 as the result of an accident, aged 42.
"He joined the newly formed Royal Air Force and as a Captain was serving as an Administrative Officer at Bude Air Station, Cornwall, when he was killed, aged 42 years, by a falling tree at Langford Hill, Marhamchurch, Bude, on 17 September 1918. He was buried on 21 September 1918 in Plot I, Grave 3885a, at Reigate Cemetery, Chart Lane, Reigate, RH2 7RN. Probate was granted on 9 November 1918 and his effects totalled £31,247-0s-11d. On 28 August 1919 his service effects totalling £169-13s-1d were sent to the executors of his estate followed by a further payment of £3-0s-3d on 6 August 1920. He was posthumously awarded the British War Medal 1914-1918."
Clearly pilots, operating at what was then the cutting edge of technology, had a significant risk of death in flying accidents. Norman MORRIS was killed by falling tree. David Barnes: Actually he was not the only Masonic Brother to be killed by a falling tree - See also: Arthur Henry LAIRD.
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Charterhouse Deo Dante Dedi No. 2885 E.C. | London |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
18th December 1912 | 19th March 1913 | 24th May 1913 |
On 18th December 1912, as Old Carthusians, both he and his elder brother, also a Hop Merchant, were initiated as Freemasons in the Charterhouse Deo Dante Dedi Lodge, No. 2885. He was 36 years of age at the time of his initiation. The contribution record records "Killed in Action 1918."
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley