King’s Shropshire Light Infantry
Albert Edward Morris was born in the first quarter of 1890 at Bilson Green, Cinderford. He was the youngest of nine children of James and Sarah Ann Morris. His mother died in March 1890, aged 38 years: her death was probably related to his birth. As a result he was entrusted to the care of his grandparents Charles and Mary Rodway of Dockham Road, Cinderford.
Further tragedy struck the family when his father, James, was killed, aged 45 years, on 7 February 1891 in an accident at Foxes Bridge Colliery, Cinderford. Thus Albert was an orphan, and barely one year old. Some of his siblings continued to live as a group in the family home, near their grandparents, their ages ranging from 16 down to two years.
In due time Albert Edward Morris followed the example of one of his older brothers, Tom, who had served in the Gloucestershire Regiment in the Boer War, and joined the Army. At the 1911 census he was stationed at the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry Depot at Atcham, Shropshire – Private 9635.
He was serving in 2nd Battalion in India, stationed at Secundarabad, at the outbreak of war.
The battalion was recalled to England in October 1914; and as part of 80th Brigade, 27th Division, 2nd Battalion KSLI landed in France on 21 December 1914.
Private Albert Edward Morris was killed in action at St Julien on 25 April 1915, aged 25 years, during the Second Battle of Ypres. He has no known grave, and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres. He is also remembered on the Cinderford town War Memorial.