Dawes, M
MORRIS/MAURICE DAWES
Remembered with honour Pozieres Memorial: Panel 51 and 52.
He attested 26 August 1914 for Short Service (7 years in the Colours 5 years in the Reserves): a packer aged 20, 5’9″ tall, C of E, as a Trooper in either the 9th or 21st Lancers. He served at Home 26 September 1914 to 17 October 1915; then with the B.E.F. 18 October 1915 to 9 September 1916, during which time he was wounded 17 January 1916, and transferred to the Royal West Surrey Regiment 11 November 1916 Private 8328. He served at Home again from 10 September 1916, and was discharged to a commission as Second Lieutenant in the Essex Regiment 30 October 1917; but at some time was attached to The Queen’s Regiment, Private S/11496. Was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 18 October 1915; the medals were sent to his father of Watford, and was missing assumed killed in action.
Son of Alfred Edward and the late Elizabeth Charlotte Ann (nee BIRD) DAWES.
His parents married 2 April 1877 at St Andrew by the Wardrobe, London E.C. Elizabeth died 1897 in the Chipping Norton, Oxon, district aged 43. Alfred remarried 1898 in the Watford district to Sarah ELLIOTT; he died 1922 in Watford aged 69, and was buried 10 November in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Sarah died 1942 in Watford aged 77, and was buried 28 September, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
Morris was born 7 December 1893 in Chipping Norton, and baptised 19 March 1894 at St Mary’s, Chipping Norton. He attended first Victoria Infants’ School, Watford; then Beechen Grove Board School, Watford, from 30 April 1900 to 26 March 1902, when he transferred to Watford Fields School. Then he returned to Beechen Grove Board School from 9 February 1903 to 2 August 1906, when he won a scholarship to Watford Grammar School from 4 September 1906 to July 1911.
On the 1901 Census, aged 7 he lived in Watford, with his father, step-mother and four siblings. On the 1911 Census, at school aged 17, he still lived in Watford, with his father, step-mother and four siblings.
- 1st S.W. Herts Scout Troop [in St Mary's Parish Church Watford] (4)
- Abbot's Langley Herts War Memorial (17)
- Aldbury Herts War Memorial (1)
- Aldenham Herts War Memorial (located in Letchmore Heath Herts) (8)
- All Saints Church Croxley Green Herts (12)
- All Saints Church Harrow Weald Middx (2)
- All Saints Church Hertford (1)
- All Saints Church King's Langley Herts (1)
- All Saints Church Leavesden Herts (31)
- All Saints Church Witham Essex (3)