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Murdered on way to Beggars Brook Barracks to summon reinforcements. Killed 21/11/1920 aged 24. He had been a lieutenant in the 6th Middlesex Regt and lived in Micham.
1896 Oct 13. born Marylebone
1901 census living at 26 Fullerton Rd, Croydon with family. His father is a Life Insurance Agent.
He was three months old when he was brought by his parents to Addiscombe.
He went to Woodside School at first, and afterwards to Christ Church School.
1911 census Cecil Augustus Morris, aged 14 living with parents at 192 Mitcham Road, Croydon. His father has changed jobs to that of a Hairdresser.
He took over his father's business of a hairdresser at 92,Mitcham road,Croydon,which he managed on behalf of his mother until he enlisted.
Joined Middlesex Regt as Private PS/3038 The PS prefix would indicate a Public School Battalion.
1916 Jul 18. Landed in France
1916 Jan/Mar married Lizzie Lathwell in Croydon. (She died Oct 18 1968 Aged 73 years)
1917 Jun 27 commissioned.
1917 Nov 28 Army List 20th (Service) Bn Middlesex Regiment. 2nd Lieutenant (Temporary) Morris C A
1918 Nov 28. Army List. Machine Gun Corps Infantry. 2nd Lieutenant (Temporary) Morris C A
1918 Oct/Dec child born Cecil D Morris at Romford (mother Lathwell)
1919 Nov 29 Army List 29 Nov 1919 Machine Gun Corps Infantry 2nd Lieutenant (Temporary) Morris C A
1919 Jan Opened a business at his old trade as a hairdresser at 234,Mitcham road, but soon disposed of this business as it "did not suit him". He became a tram conductor in the South Metropolitan Tramway Co, a position he held during the summer season. The reduction of staff for the winter service necessitated him looking for a fresh field of employment,and so he joined the ADRIC
1920 Oct 12 joined the Auxiliaries, with service no 756, at the same time as Garniss and they both were in 'L' Company.
1920 Nov 21 Shot in Dublin. His medals sent to Mrs CA Morris (Widow), 13 Mayday Rd, Thornton Heath, Surrey
Two members of the Auxiliary Cadet Division, Temporary Cadets Frank Garniss and Cecil A. Morris were among a patrol of 17 Auxiliaries who responded to the scene of one of the attacks, armed with .45 caliber Webley revolvers and a carbine. The Auxiliaries had been alerted by the screaming of the maids. Garniss and Morris, were sent to Beggar’s Bush barracks for reinforcements.
But they were met by some of the IRA guards as they were crossing the Canal Bridge, brought to the garden of 16 Northumberland Road and shot. Both men were shot through the head but Garniss was also shot through the chest. The officer who found them testified ‘ I saw wounds in their heads which must have been fired at close range as their hair and skin was burnt.
Hansard report says The maid opened the door at 22 Lower Mount St and twenty men rushed in, and demanded to know the bedrooms of Mr. Mahon (Angliss) and Mr. Peel. Mr. Mahon's room was pointed out. They entered, and five shots were fired immediately at a few inches range. Mr. Mahon was killed. At the same time others attempted to enter Mr. Peel's room. The door was locked. Seventeen shots were fired through the panels. Mr. Peel escaped uninjured. Meanwhile another servant, hearing the shots, shouted from an upper window to a party of officers of the Auxiliary Division who had left Beggars Bush Barracks to catch an early train southward for duty. These officers at once attacked the house, after despatching two of their number, Temporary Cadets Morris and Garniss, to their depôt for reinforcements. They chased the assassins through the house and captured one whom their fire had wounded, and three others, all of whom were armed. Reinforcements on arrival were asked the whereabouts of Morris and Garniss, but replied that they knew nothing, and that the cadets had never arrived at the depôt. The reinforcements had arrived, of course, after hearing the firing. Search was made, and the bodies of Cadets Morris and Garniss were found by a Red Cross nurse lying in a neighbouring garden. They had apparently been intercepted by the murderers' pickets, taken to the back of the house, placed against the wall, and murdered. Both these officers had seen considerable service in the recent war in France.
The grave of Cecil Morris is in Bandon Hill Cemetery, Surrey. His widow got £2500 compensation
