PTE. L. MORRISON

FIRST NAMES: Leslie

NUMBER: 1799892

RANK: Private

UNIT: 5th Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry

DOB:1922

OCCUPATION: Factory Worker

STATUS: Killed in Action

DATE OF DEATH: 26th September 1944

WHERE BURIED: Oosterbeek, Arnhem

MEDALS: France and Germany Star, 1939-45 Star, Victory Medal, Defence Medal

Photo of Pte. L. Morrison

Leslie Morrison was born in 1922 and was the only son of Mr and Mrs Andrew Morrison of 83 High Street Northallerton. Leslie attended the National school and was a keen footballer, helping the school to win the Millbank Junior Cup Competition.

On leaving school Leslie worked at the Vale Of Mowbray bacon factory at Leeming Bar. In early 1941 he volunteered for the army and joined the Royal Army Service Corps. He stayed in England with his regiment until he was sent overseas in 1944.

In September of that year Operation Market Garden the airborne landings at Arnhem took place. The desperate fighting and heavy losses meant that other units had to go to the aid of the beleagured paratroops at Arnhem. Among those regiments sent was the 5th Battalion Duke of Cornwalls Light Infantry. The 5th DCLI had been decimated in the initial battles losing 350 men out of a strength of 650, so clerks drivers and cooks were seconded from the RASC and the RA into the DCLI to fill the ranks of riflemen. Leslie Morrison was one such man. Until 1944 he had served as a clerk with the RASC but was transferred to the DCLI as an infantrymen and despatched to Arnhem. On the 26th September during the heavy and desperate fighting to relieve the airborne troops Leslie was killed in action.

Leslie Morrison lies buried in Oosterbeek War Cemetery, Holland, Plot 8, Row B, Grave 18. The message on his headstone reads;

"Too Dearly Loved
Ever to be forgotten."
Mother
Aunties Uncles & Cousins.

He is also remembered on the Northallerton War Memorial and the All Saints Parish Church Memorial. His name is engraved on the headstone with those of his parents in Northallerton Cemetery.

Leslie died aged 22 years.