First World War in Headington
Roll of Honour of Holy Trinity Church, Headington Quarry

(George) Richard MORRIS (1881–1917)

(middle initial wrong in newspaper)

George Richard Morris (usually known as “Richard”) was born in Headington Quarry in 1881, the son of James Richard Morris (born at China Lane, Headington Quarry and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 26 July 1857) and Matilda Elizabeth Goodgame (born at Headington Quarry and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 14 August 1859).

His parents were married at Holy Trinity Church on 16 April 1881 and had four children:

• George Richard Morris (born in Headington Quarry in 1881, registered third quarter and baptised at Holy Trinity Church, Headington Quarry on 25 September 1881)
• Matilda May Morris (born in Headington Quarry in 1883, registered second quarter and baptised at Holy Trinity Church, Headington Quarry on 24 June 1883)
• Frank Morris (born in Headington Quarry on 6 October 1886 and baptised at New Inn Hall Street Methodist Chapel on 5 January 1887)
• Walter Morris (born in Headington Quarry on 13 August 1890 and baptised in New Inn Hall Street Wesleyan Chapel on 8 October 1890).

Young Richard’s father (who also appears to have been known as Richard) was a builder’s labourer. The 1891 census shows the family living in Quarry: young George Richard was then a schoolboy of nine.

Their home is specified as “The Pits” in the 1901 census (probably 38 Pitts Road, where they were definitely living after the war). George (19) and Frank (14) are each described as a gardener (“not domestic”), and may have worked for Mattock’s Roses in New Headington; Matilda (17) was working in the home; and Walter (10) was at school.

♥ On 7 May 1904 George Richard Morris (22) married Florence Annie Cooper (21) at Holy Trinity Church, Headington Quarry and they appear to have had six children (the first four are definite, and the last two extremely likely, as the mother’s maiden name is correct):

• Gertrude May Morris (born in Headington Quarry on 23 June1905, and baptised at the Wesleyan Chapel in Tyndale Street, East Oxford on 25 July 1905)
• Arthur Richard Morris (born in Headington Quarry in 1906, registered fourth quarter)
• Frederick Morris (born on 14 November 1908 at 20 Harpes Road, Sunnymead and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 5 March 1909)
• Charles Edward Morris (born in 1911, birth registered in Headington district (included north Oxford) fourth quarter)
• Likely: George W. Morris (born in 1913, birth registered in Headington district (included north Oxford) second quarter)
• Likely: Florence E. M. Morris (born in 1915, birth registered in Headington district (included north Oxford) third quarter).

George Richard and his wife began their married life in Quarry, but between 1906 and 1908 they moved to 20 Harpes Road in north Oxford. By the time of the 1911 census they were living at 42 Hayfield Road in St Margaret’s parish, and George was now a domestic gardener.

Their eldest daughter Gertie spent the 1911 census night up with her grandparents in Quarry, who were still living at The Pitts. Her grandfather was still working as a builder’s labourer, and George’s two younger brothers were still at home: Frank (24) was a nuseryman gardener and Walter (20), who worked at a cricket ground. Matilda

George Richard Morris volunteered to serve In the First World War and was a Private in the ill-fated 2nd Battalion of the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (Service No. 24691). He was killed in action in France at the age of 35 on 28 February 1917.

He has no known grave, but is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, on the stone plaque in the porch of Holy Trinity Church in Headington Quarry, and on the memorial outside St Margaret’s Church in north Oxford.

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Postscript

George Richard Morris’s parents

• James Richard Morris died at the age of 77 at 14 Pitts Road (shortly afterwards renumbered 38) and was buried at Holy Trinity churchyard on 4 May 1935.
• Mrs Matilda Morris died at 38 Pitts Road at the age of 79 and was buried with her husband on 30 May 1939.

George Richard Morris’s widow

• Mrs Florence Annie Morris married her second husband, James Phipps, in the second quarter of 1922 in the Headington registration district. They continued to live at 42 Hayfield Road for the rest of their lives. James Phipps died at the age of 50 around the beginning of 1936, and Florence died at the age of 63 in 1945 (death registered Oxford third quarter).

George Richard Morris’s children

• Charles Edward Morris (24) was living at 42 Hayfield Road with his mother and stepfather when he married Dorothy May Thomas (26) of 65 Cardigan Street at St Margaret’s Church on 3 August 1936. Both were shop assistants. His father who was killed in the war is recorded as a “deceased gardener”.

George Richard Morris’s siblings

• Matilda May Morris (born 1883) married the blacksmith Owen V. Stimpson in the Headington registration district in the third quarter of 1910. At the time of the 1911 census they were living at 4 Westbourne Terrace (now 113 London Road). Their daughter Violet May Stimpson was born on 5 July 1911 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 27 August 1911.
• Frank Morris (born 1886) married Ethel M. Phipps in the Headington registration district in the third quarter of 1923. Their daughter Daphne Frances Morris was born on 25 May 1925 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 28 June 1925. They were then living at Quarry High Street, and Frank was a rose gardener, probably with Mattock’s Roses in New Headington.