A Poppy
A Poppy

Memorials & Monuments
on the Isle of Wight
- CWGC Headstones -
- Bonchurch : St Boniface (new) Churchyard -
- Robert Graham Morris -

Location

In St Boniface (new) Churchyard, Bonchurch, Isle of Wight
 
Description

Private headstone. Air Transport Auxiliary badge in bronze relief.
Headstone

Bonchurch St Boniface : Morris
 
Inscription


IN BELOVED MEMORY OF
ROBERT GRAHAM MORRIS
1ST OFFICER A.T.A.
DIED SERVING HIS COUNTRY JAN 3RD 1945 AGED 34


 
Further Information

Robert Graham Morris

Son of Alfred Edward Morris and Elizabeth Marion Morris (née Turner) of Luccombe, Isle of Wight.

Born : 1911, Epsom, Surrey.

Married : 28 January 1939, Barbara Kate Mew, at St Peter's Church, Seaview. One son, Robert, born 1945.

Census information :

1911 : Alfred and Elizabeth Morris with their children, including Robert aged 3 months, are at The Nook, Ashley Road, Epsom, Surrey. Alfred Morris is a Surveyor.

Electoral Register information :

1929 - 1938 : The family are at Dunnose, Luccombe Village.

Service information :

First Officer Robert Graham Morris, Air Transport Auxiliary.

Casualty information :

Died 3rd January 1945, when his aircraft, a Taylorcraft Auster V, registration no. TJ222, crashed at Gatwick, Surrey, while on a delivery flight to Belgium.

His death was registered in March Qtr 1945 Surrey S E Registration District.

CWGC record ...

Commemorated at :

Bonchurch War Memorial

Documents and newspaper cuttings :

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, January 19, 1945 Page 4

Shanklin Airman Buried at Bonchurch.
Much sympathy has been extended to Mr. and Mrs. A.E. Morris, Dunnose Cottage, Luccombe, on the great loss they have suffered by the death of their only son, Flying Officer Robert Morris, A.T.A., who lost his life in a crash when flying from this country to the Continent.
Keen on aviation, he was for a period with the I.W. Flying Services at Lea Airport, and later went to Hamble. He had been engaged in flying throughout the war and was a very efficient and capable officer. His many friends will regret to learn of his untimely death.
Flying Officer Morris leaves a widow and baby son. His wife was formerly Miss Barbara Mew, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Horace Mew, of Shanklin.
The body was brought from the mainland on Tuesday week to Bonchurch Church and was interred in the Church graveyard on the following morning.
The Rector of Bonchurch, Rev. H. Haworth Coryton officiated at the service. The coffin was covered with the Union Jack. Five brother officers attended as an escort.
The chief mourners were Mrs. R. Morris, wife; Mr. and Mrs. A.E. Morris, parents; Mr. and Mrs. J. Cureton and Mr. and Mrs. H.F. Fleming, sisters and brothers-in-law; Messrs. R. and H.M. Mew, uncles; Mrs. R. Mew; Mr. Ken Mew, brother-in-law; Mrs. Cureton, senr.; Mr. and Mrs. H.E.A. Fleming, Mr. T. F.H. Pethick, Mr. S.J. Ball and other friends from Shanklin, including Messrs. W. Lasman, F. Holden, A. Abell, W. Bartlett, A. Dunkinson and C. Perkins (also representing C. Cassell). There were many beautiful wreaths.


National Probate Calendar 1945

Other links

Circumstances of Death (Aviation Safety Network)

Flight Magazine January 1945 (last name on page)

Air Transport Auxiliary

Air Transport Auxiliary

ATA Casualties - RAF Lichfield Association

Sandown Airport History

Sandown Airport Photo gallery

Acknowledgments :

Janet Griffin for newspaper and other research.
Page last updated : 12 May 2014 (added biographical information)


 
 

 
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