Pte 52054 Samuel John Morson

• Age: 23
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• D.O.W Monday 9th April 1917
• Commemorated at: St Martin Calvaire Brit Cem
  Panel Ref: I.A.25

Samuel John Morson was born on the 08th September 1893 in Liverpool and was the son of Samuel Harper Morson and his wife Mary Ellen (nee Fleming) who were married in St Stephen the Martyr Church, Edge Hill in November 1892.

The 1901 Census records the family living in court housing in Chapel Lane. Samuel senior is 33 and a plumber, Mary Ellen is 28 and they have four children: Samuel John aged 7, Robert aged 6, Maud 4 and Alfred 2.

Mary Ellen died at the age of 37, and was buried in April 1910.

Samuel senior, married Nellie Maud Roffey, a widow, on the 21st September 1910 in St Nicholas' Church, Liverpool.

Samuel John and his brother Robert are not to be found in the 1911 Census, but his father and stepmother, his sister Maud, brother Alfred and stepsisters Dorothy and Evelyn are living at 106 Leeds Street, Liverpool. 

Samuel John enlisted in Liverpool originally as Private 5589, 10th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment (Liverpool Scottish) but following a transfer, he was serving in the 17th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 52054 when he died of wounds on the 09th April 1917, aged 23.

Samuel’s sweetheart, Mabel, placed the following notice in the Liverpool Echo on the 26^th April 1917:

Morson – April 9^th (Easter Monday) Killed in action aged 23 years, Private Samuel John Morson K.L.R. (late Liverpool Scottish) Sadly missed by his sweetheart Mabel, and all at 11 Kempton Road.

Samuel John now rests at St Martin-Calvaire British Cemetery, France. The inscription on his headstone reads:

“THY WILL BE DONE” 

The village of St. Martin-sur-Cojeul was taken by the 30th Division on 9 April 1917. It was lost in March 1918 but retaken in the following August. St. Martin Calvaire British Cemetery was named from a calvary which was destroyed during the war. It was begun by units of the 30th Division in April 1917 and used until March 1918. Plot II was made in August and September 1918. The cemetery contains 228 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, five of them unidentified. There are also three German graves within the cemetery. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

Soldiers Effects to his father Samuel.

His family placed a notice in the Liverpool Echo on the 09^th April 1918, on the first anniversary of his death :

In sad and loving memory of Samuel J. Morson K.L.R. killed in action April 9th 1917.

Let us press on in patient self denial

Accept the hardships, shrink not from the loss

Our portion lies beyond the hour of trial

Our crown beyond the cross

Sadly missed by Father and all, 7 Berkley Street, Liverpool.  

Samuel is commemorated in the Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall at Panels 27 & 28.  

We currently have no further information on Samuel John Morson, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.