Ernest Luke Morrell
Rifleman, London Irish Rifles
Ernest Luke Morrell, the son of Luke and Arnie Morrell, was born on the 25th July 1895 in Lambeth, lived with his parents and three sisters (Mabel, Rachel and Cecily) at 125 Casewick Road, West Norwood. He attended Alleyn’s School between 1905-1910, leaving at the age of 14.
During the war he served as a Rifleman in the London 18th
Regiment (London Irish Rifles), where he was awarded the Victory Medal. At the
time of his death, the London Irish Rifles were positioned west of Rancourt
(still in enemy hands at the time) to Bouchavesnes-Bergen Road with the
objective of seizing higher ground. The Battalion he was stationed with were
attacked at 5.30am but suffered heavy casualties after coming under heavy fire,
with 60% of casualties caused by their own barrage. Heavy shelling and machine
gun fire from an enemy counterattack had come against the Brigade with heavy casualties
being sustained.
Ernest Morrell was killed in action in France, Flanders August
31st, 1918; aged 23. He is now commemorated at the Commonwealth War
Graves, Vis-en-Artois British Cemetery and Memorial in Nord-Pas-de-Calais,
France; it is unclear whether he was buried or not.
For more information re. London Irish Rifles: https://www.londonirishrifles.com/index.php/first-world-war/1-18th-battalion-in-the-first-world-war/august-september-1918