Image 1 Photo of panel 44 at Menin Gate – inscription of Richard Morrissey’s name. Image 2 Photo of Matthew Morrissey’s grave and headstone in Flanders. Image 3 Photo of Mary O’Reilly and her brother at their grandfather’s (William Morrissey) grave in Rouent, France. || My grandfather, William Morrissey, came from Fermoy in Co Cork, Ireland. He was born c. 1884. Fermoy was a garrison town and the Morrissey family home was situated beside the barracks. William was the eldest of three boys and had a big interest in horses. Both his brothers had enlisted in the British Army before the war. As a young man William immigrated to Cape Town in South Africa. He married an Irish lady (maiden name Smyth) in 1907. They returned to Ireland and are recorded in the 1911 census as living in Fermoy and having three children. William signed up on 3rd November 1914 in Newcastle, England to the Royal Army Service Corps as a foreman in charge of horses. He was stationed in Rouen, base Depot No 1. In 1916 William was sent home on compassionate leave as he had sustained an injury. He recovered and was sent back to fight once again, but sadly contracted Spanish Flu and died on Armistice Day 1918 in hospital in Rouen, aged 34. His widow, Henrietta Smyth from Waterford, received a war pension. William’s brother Matthew Morrissey was a drummer in the Leinster Regiment and was stationed in India when war broke out. He was involved in several battles in France. He was employed as a stretcher-bearer and participated in a regimental band. He was killed in action in West Flanders on 5th April 1916. Another brother Richard was a cavalry solider with the 8th (King's Royal Irish) Hussars in Ambala in India when war broke out. His regiment was moved to Marseilles in France in November 1914. He was killed in action in July 1917 and his body was never found. His name is on panel 44 of the Menin Gate. Shortly before he died he requested a transfer to join his brother Matthew in the Leinster Regiment

There were four Hanton brothers altogether that joined up for the war. Thomas was the eldest, then Patrick, then Robert, and the youngest was my grandfather, Peter. Their parents were Thomas and Elizabeth Hanton of Emmet Place, Wexford. Patrick and Robert were in the navy and Peter and Thomas were in the army. Thomas served in France and Robert served as a Stoker on board the HMS Prince Edward, a packet steamer called into service during the war as a net-layer to protect ports against submarines. Patrick was also a Stoker in the Royal Naval Reserve, Anson Battalion and died in Malta on 2 January 1916 as a result of injuries received during operations in the Dardenelles. My grandfather, Peter was injured in the war but recovered and was sent back. He lived to a good old age. I got Patrick's and Peter's medals when my father died but the fact that family members had fought in WW1 was not really talked about. || Newspaper article 'Sons of the Empire.; Patrick's memory card; Patrick's medals; Peter's medals || || Western Front || Other || Thomas, Patrick, Robert and Peter Hanton || The four Hanton brothers || || Patrick Hanton || Official document || Battalion memorial card for Patrick Hanton || || Patrick Hanton, 1914 Star || Medal || Patrick Hanton, Star Medal || || Naval Warfare || Patrick Hanton, 1914 Star, reverse || Patrick Hanton, Star Medal, reverse || Medal || || Patrick Hanton, British War Medal || Medal || Naval Warfare || || Patrick Hanton British War Medal, reverse || Patrick Hanton, British War Medal, reverse || Naval Warfare || Medal || || Patrick Hanton, Victory Medal || Naval Warfare || Medal || || Medal || Naval Warfare || Patrick Hanton, Victory Medal, reverse || || Peter Hanton, 1914-15 Star || Peter Hanton, Star Medal || Medal || Western Front || || Peter Hanton, 1914-15 Star, reverse || Medal || Peter Hanton, Star Medal, reverse || Western Front || || Peter Hanton, British War Medal || Medal || Peter Hanton, lBritish War Medal || Western Front || || Peter Hanton, British War Medal, reverse || Medal || Western Front || || Western Front || Peter Hanton, Victory Medal || Medal || || Back || Peter Hanton, Victory Medal, reverse || Medal || Western Front

Fitzmaurice Family