Fonds high-1343 - Pte. Earl (Edward) David Morris fonds

Earl David Morris was born on 1 November 1893 in Clinton, Ontario. He enlisted in the 10th Canadian Infantry Battalion on 23 September 1914 at which time he changed his name to Edward which was his brother's name. His brother, Edward, who was born on 17 March 1899 was too young to enlist and it is believed that there was a verbal agreement between Earl and Edward to switch names in an attempt to have Edward fake his age and try to enlist as Earl Morris. The result was an unsuccessful attempt on the part of Edward to enlist, even as late as 1918. On 23 April 1915, Earl was the last man at a machine gun post and was taken prisoner after suffering bullet wounds to his left leg and right wrist. It is believed that he also suffered from exposure to the poisonous chlorine gas that was being used by the Germans at that time, as in later years he blamed his ongoing ill health on that fact. Earl was taken prisoner on 23 April 1915 at the battle of St.Julien and subsequently spent remainder of the war a prisoner. He plotted to escape from the P.O.W. camps and did escape from several, but was unfortunate enough to get caught each time. Fortunately the Germans who caught him each time chose not to kill him, but to return him to prison camp. Earl David Morris was discharged on 17 May 1919 and moved to Oakland, California, where he worked in naval shipyards until his death on 21 February 1958 after a lengthy illness.