Galway family bridges a century of history on the Green Fields of France

On September 1 1914, Galway man George Henry Morris – in command of the Irish Guards – was killed in France within two weeks of his arrival as part of the British Expeditionary Force following the declaration of the First World War.

by Redmond Morris, Lord Killanin

Last week, on September 1 2014, a family group of grandchildren and great grandchildren travelled to France to mark the centenary of that occasion.

It was an emotional and uplifting moment to stand, 100 years to the day, where George had been killed, and to stand by his grave.

George was born in Spiddal in 1872. He was the second son of Michael Morris, who was to become Lord Chief Justice of Ireland and subsequently the first Lord Killanin.

He was destined for a career as a soldier and having served with distinction in India and South Africa he was transferred to the Irish Guards in 1906.

George took command of the 1st Battalion in 1913. He was a popular soldier, by all accounts, and spent some time as a lecturer in tactics at the staff college in Camberley. He was thought by some to be the most brilliant teacher of his day.

In 1912, he had met Dora Hall from Melbourne, Australia, at the Galway Races. They married in London in 1913 and came to Spiddal later in the year.

With war clouds looming, my father, Michael, was born in London on July 30 1914.

War was declared on August 4, and George was able to visit his newborn son, probably infrequently, as he mobilised his troops in Wellington Barracks. He left for France with his regiment on August 12.

Landing at Le Havre he and his men travelled by train towards Belgium where they spent three days at a town called Vadencourt.

The only photograph existing of George in France was on his horse with other officers on a street corner in the town. We found that nothing had changed – it became our first photo opportunity!

They continued towards Belgium until they became part of the Retreat from Mons, following the defeat of the British in the battle there which had begun on August 23.

George’s last letter to Dora on August 28 said: “I expect you know far more about this war than I do. I know nothing. But I know I love you very, very much immensely. Love to Michael.”

Three days later he was dead, killed in the Forest of Retz where the Brigade had formed a rearguard.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.