Officer's Tribute to Corp. Wm. Morris, M.M.
Many friends have expressed their sympathy with Mrs. Morris of 53 Travis Street, Hyde, on the death of her gallant husband. Corporal William Morris, M.M., who was killed in action on the western front on the night of the 4th inst. Mrs. Morris received official news of the sad event on Tuesday in last week, and by the said post there arrived a very fine and touching letter from the Corporal's commanding officer. Dated January 10th, the letter was as follows:
Dear Mrs. Morris,
I deeply regret having to inform you that your husband was killed in action on the night of the 4th January, I cannot express to you my sorrow and sympathy. He was engaged on dangerous and highly important work in No man's land. Word of this nature could always be entrusted to him. He feared nothing, and was the bravest man in my company. I have known him for nearly two years, and always recognised his worth. I put his name forward for a decoration after our October attacks and as you know, he obtained the Military Medal. I would asure you his loss is irreplaceable in the Company, and I beg to share your sorrow. I personally shall always miss him, whatever was happening he was always cheerful and smiling. I beg of you, therefore, to accept my deepest sympathy, and also that of every officer, N. C. O. and man of my Company in the grievous loss you have sustained. He died doing his duty,
yours sincerely,
Wm. Corrigan Captain.

The last letter Mrs. Morris received from her husband arrived on the afternoon of the 4th inst., only a few hours before he met a brave soldiers' death. Corporal Morris enlisted 1st March 1915, in the King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, and went out to France on the 22nd June of the same year, after only three or four months training. In civil occupation he was a hat finisher, and for some time up to emitting he was in the employ of J. Moores and Sons, Denton, having previously worked at one of two other hatshops in Denton, where also well-known. In fact, he was a native of the hatting centre, but had lived in Hyde a long time. He was brought up at Denton St. Lawrence's, where his name is on the church roll of honour, and the St. Lawrence's people have sent him parcels. His age was 27. He was twice promoted on the field, last April he was wounded at Arras, and after about five weeks in hospital returned to the front. Corporal Morris had been in France all the time since June 1915, except the few weeks in hospital and brief leave in March 1916, and August 1917. As already stated, he was awarded the Military Medal for gallant conduct in October last, and a card message dated 22nd of the month, from the Major General commanding the 4th Division, said: The Major-General commanding the 4th Division has received a report of the gallant conduct of Lance-Corporal W. Morris, 1st King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, and he wishes to congratulate him on his fine behaviour. On many occasions corporal Morris had been in action: indeed there was hard fighting and perilous duties he was sure to be in there, and he had his numerous narrow escapes. He was a member of an Ashton-under-Lyne lodge of the [illegible]. Mrs. Morris, who is left with one child, a girl aged four years, is the younger daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Wood, who carry on a mixed business in Mottram Moor, at the end of Carr House lane, and who formerly for many years had a similar business at 59, Travis Street, Hyde, the family being held in his esteem in the town.