Remembered With Honour

MORRISON, Flying Offr. (Pilot) Samuel Cecil – 115396. R.A.F. (V.R.).104 Sqdn. Prot. Sec. (Men’s). Plot F. Coll. 

MORRISON, Flying Offr. (Pilot) Samuel Cecil -  115396. R.A.F. (V.R.).104 Sqdn. Prot. Sec. (Men's). Plot F. Coll.

MORRISON, Flying Offr. (Pilot) Samuel Cecil –
115396. R.A.F. (V.R.).104 Sqdn. Prot. Sec. (Men’s). Plot F. Coll.

Samuel Cecil Morrison (Cecil) was the son of Samuel Morrison and Charlotte Rebecca Wilson (Cissy) and the eldest of six children.  He was born on 22 Jun 1920 in the Creggan Road in Londonderry, Co. Londonderry, Ireland and baptized in the Great James Street Presbyterian Church.

Cecil with his parents and sister Beryl

Cecil with his parents and sister Beryl

The Morrison family where very involved with their Church; including Cecil’s father, Samuel, who was a Scout Leader at the Church.

Great James Street Scouts

Great James Street Scouts: Scout leader at the top left – Samuel Morrison; who married my great aunt Charlotte Rebecca Wilson. First row right – his wife Charlotte Rebecca Wilson; to her left their daughter Charlotte (Beryl) Morrison and just behind Beryl is her brother Cecil.

During the Second World War, Cecil joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in 1940 or 1941; I’m unsure of the dates as I have yet to discover much about his very short life.  About 1940 Cecil arrived in California, USA to start training for the Royal Air Force.

Arriving in California Cecil is in the front row, first on the left

Arriving in California
Cecil is in the front row, first on the left

On May 27, 1942 in Runcorn, Cheshire, England he married Margaret Elizabeth Barclay.  Known as Betty, it would seem that she too was in the military.

Cecil & Betty Photographed on their Wedding Day

Cecil & Betty
Photographed on their Wedding Day

Less than six months after their wedding, on 7 November 1942; Cecil was killed in action in Malta.  This is an excerpt from the Morrison/Wilson Family Bible penned by his mother, Cissy.

Excerpt from Morrison-Wilson Family Bible

Excerpt from Morrison-Wilson Family Bible “F/O. S.C. Morrison died on Active Service 1942. Laid to rest in Malta 11th 1942. God makes no mistakes he knew the way others would have to tread; and took him in his manhood to be with him forever. Safe from this worlds mire.”

He is interred at the Capuccini Naval Cemetery in Malta; and Remembered with Honour; Commemorated in perpetuity by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Flying Officer Pilot, 115396, 104 Sqdn, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.  Remembered with Honour, Malta (Capuccini) Naval Cemetery.

Flying Officer Pilot, 115396, 104 Sqdn, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Remembered with Honour, Malta (Capuccini) Naval Cemetery.

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About CJ Murdoch

Looking For "Dead People"! My Journey Back In Time - Tracing my ancestors and researching the counties, cities and towns where they resided. Taking a “Glimpse” into their lives and stories and the times in which they lived; all in an effort to learn about their “Dash”! “I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of his friend. He referred to the dates on her tombstone from the beginning – to the end. He noted that first came the date of her birth and spoke of the second with tears, but he said that what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.” I have always been interested in researching my family tree and “hanging out” in cemeteries. Like most of us... I didn't ask enough questions when elderly family were still living. Oh, what I would give for 24 hours and a camera with my ancestors… just to sit and listen! I'm researching many family lines, including: Murdoch, Wilson, Berry, Love, Scott, Beattie/Beatty, Hendren, Sweeney, Robinson and Elvin; just to name a few. My families are predominantly from counties Antrim, Donegal and Londonderry. However, it seems that many of them, both maternal and paternal lines, originally hailed from Co. Donegal. I was born and raised in Northern Ireland and now live in Ottawa, Canada, making frequent trips back home to visit with my family. Of course those visits also include treks to the many burial grounds of my ancestors. My most recent trip back home was during the summer of 2019! Looking forward to August of 2020 when I will return. If you are interested in help tracing your ancestors I’d love to hear from you!
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2 Responses to Remembered With Honour

  1. J tosh says:

    Cecil Morrison was my great uncle, his sister was my grandmother, I have that bible in my house now, beryl’s daughter was my mother, rosemary rosslyn sherrard, Cecil and beryl had another brother called Ivan, they are all now sadly deceased

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