John Charles MORRIS,
Pte 56827,
25^th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers
Formerly 1583, 25th (Mon. and Welsh Horse Yeomanry) Battalion

Born - Tredegar, Monmouthshire
Enlisted - Newtown, Montgomeryshire
Residence - Nelson, Glamorgan

Died - 24^th April 1917 Gaza, Israel
Died of wounds aged 26 yrs

Buried at Gaza War Cemetery, Israel
Grave number XIX.E.7

Grandson of John and Catherine Morris. Born at Knucklas, Radnor.

The details of John Charles MORRIS may be recorded in the Parish War Memorial register at St Mabon's Parish Church, Llanfabon under the name of C MORRIS.

Tracing the history of John Morris’ family has provided some unclear results. The 1901 census reports shown that John was one of three children that were living with their grandmother Catherine Morris. Catherine Morris at this time was a housekeeper for Thomas Bishop, who was living at Bwlchplain, Beguildy, Radnorshire. At the time, John was shown as seven years old. His sisters were:

Catherine Morris - born in 1884 and
Rose - born in 1890

Going back in census searches I have found that John’s grandmother Catherine was indeed married to a John Morris and they lived in Knucklas, Radnorshire.

On 1871 census reports, Catherine and John were shown as having a number of children, but only one son, named Jonathan who was born in 1865 at Llanbister, Radnorshire.

The 1881 census report shows Jonathan as a 16 year old boy was a servant at Little Moelfra, Llanbister. I cannot find an trace of Jonathan on 1891 census.

On 1891 census, Catherine and Rose are shown as living with their grandmother, Catherine. There is no mention of grandfather, or parents of the children, yet some three or four years later, John Charles Morris was born. Jonathan Morris b. 1865 does not appear on Wales or England census reports for 1891.

Could Jonathan Morris be the father of John Charles, Catherine and Rose Morris, or did Catherine Morris (the grandmother) have more sons? Either way, who was the mother of the three children that at such a relatively young age were living with grandparent(s).

News:

March 23^rd 1918.

Official news has been received of the death in action some months ago of two more Nelson men.
Private Morgan Martin and Private Charles Morris of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Both men resided at Warren Terrace, Trelewis and were employed at Treharris.

Private Morgan Martin, 54391, 19^th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, formerly 1584, Welsh Horse died from wounds on 26^th November 1917.
Private Charles Morris, 56827, 25^th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, formerly 1583, Welsh Horse, born in Tredegar. Enlisted at Newtown, Montgomeryshire, died of wounds on 24^th April 1917.

[Source: Merthyr Express]