MORRISON, Howard Clive

Howard Clive Morrison (known as Clive) was born on 5 July 1889.  Clive, in one set of enlistment papers, gave his birth place as Surrey Hills, on another set, dated nine months later, he gave it as Melbourne, however the official record has it as Box Hill.  He was the eldest son of Henry Howard Morrison (known as Howard and his wife, Esther, nee Mack (or Mark), and a grandson of Dr. Alexander Morrison headmaster and principal of Scotch College from 1857 to 1903. Howard was tea merhant with premises in Flinders Lane.  The Morrison family moved to East Melbourne about 1894, first renting at Hazelhurst, 4 George Street, and then in 1898 buying Rossmoyne, 30 Powlett Street.  Clive was educated at Scotch and was stroke of the rowing team in 1907 and 1908, when Scotch won Head of the River.  Obviously a tall and strongly built young man he went on to play football for Fitzroy. Esther died in 1904 when Clive was fifteen.  Howard then married Margaret Ann Younie Walton in 1906.  He died two years later and Rossmoyne was sold.

Clive first enlisted on 3 June 1915.  He described himself as a manufacturer and gave his sister, Marjorie Morrison, as his next of kin.  He had had eight years' military experience with the Scotch College Cadets.  He was just over 5ft 11ins., had a sallow complexion, brown eyes and black hair.  He was appointed to the 58th Battalion, 2nd Reinforcements.

For some reason there is a second set of enlistment papers dated 28 March 1916.  It does not appear that Clive was knocked back the first time because his service record begins with the earlier date, including promotion to 2nd lieutenant on 17 January.  The second lot of papers give a different birth place and a new next of kin:  his wife, Dorothy Vera Morrison (nee Fergie) of 88 Nicholson Street, Fitzroy, who he had married only a month before on 29 February.

He embarked on the Euripides on 4 April 1916 and disembarked at Alexandria on 8 May.  He left there on 13 June and arrived at Plymouth on 23 June.  On 16 October he joined the Reinforcements in Etaples from England and on 25 October he was taken on strength of 5th Battalion from Reinforceements.  He was wounded in action with a gunshot wound to the head (mild) on 6 November 1916 and evacuated to England.  He marched into No. 1 Command Depot ex hospital on 20 December 1916 and proceeded overseas to France on 10 January 1917 and resumed duty on 16 Janaury.  He was wounded in action a second time with a bullet wound to his left arm (slight), and admitted to hospital on 10 February.  He rejoined 5th Battalion on 18 February.

On 20 March 1917 at Mametz he was wounded accidentally.  A court of enquiry investigated the matter.  A witness stated, 'I was alongside 2/Lieut Morrison in the trench when he was training a party of about 6 in bombing.  All bombs were thrown on the whistle blast and after my seeing my own bomb clear the parapet I noticed another bomb rolling back.  It was too late to attempt to seize the bomb and throw it away as 2/Lieut Morrison shouted to the party to run.  He ran with them and was about 12 yards from the bomb when the explosion occurred, when he exclaimed "I am hit"'.  The result of the enquiry was that Clive was considered to be on duty and in no way to blame for the accident.

He was taken to hospital with multiple wounds (mild) and evacuated to England on 29 March 1917.  During this time he was promoted to lieutenant (24/3).  On 28 May 1917 he was discharged from hospital to No. 1 Command Depot, Perham Downs.  He resumed duty in France in June 1917.  On 30 August 1917 he was attached to headquarters from 5th Battalion as adjutant 1st Divisional Wing, Anzac Reinforcements Camp until 10 January 1918 when he resumed regimental duty.  On 3 May 1918 he was wounded in action a third time but remained on duty.  On 10 August 1918 at Harbonnieres, France, he was reported missing in action and found to be a prisoner of war in German hands.  This was the day after his brother, Lt. Herbert Fraser Morrison of the same battalion was killed in action.  Herbert's files tell more of the story.  When Clive learnt about his brother' injuries he went to visit him in the 20th Clearing Casualty Station where he later died.  On returning to his quarters late at night he mistook the path and ended up behind enemy lines. The file also reveals that he was nicknamed Rooster on account of his height. On 4 December 1918 he embarked at Calais for UK after being repatriated from POW.  He returned to Australia on 20 December 1918 and was discharged on 9 March 1919.

After the war Clive opted for a quieter life and he and Vera moved to the relative peace of Mount Waverly, giving their address as The Wattles, May Road.  Here he established himself as a fruit grower.  They were still there at the time of Vera's death in 1955.  Clive died at Caulfield South on 1 February 1960.