The Soldier's Details

Morrison enlisted AIF Nov 1940 and later joined 2/4th’s ‘A’ Company.

Lt Johnny Morrison was Commanding Officer of 6 Platoon. Evacuated to 2/13th Australian General Hospital on 11/12/1942 with a high temperature,  was diagnosed as dengue fever. Discharged to unit on 21/2/1942. Replaced by Lieutenant G. Branson during his absence and the fighting in battle of Singapore.

Johnny Morrison was selected in Singapore to work in North British Borneo (Sabah) with ‘B’ Force Burma.

At the end of the war, Morrison was recovered from Lintang Officer’s Camp, Kuching – where all the officers had been sent before beginning of 1945, a Japanese plan to remove leadership from the men at Sandakan.

You can read further about ‘B’ Force

And see photographs of all West Australians who perished at Sandakan.

Appointment Terminated 4/2/1946.

 

 

 

 

Johnny was from Floreat Park.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Above:  From Beattie Collection.  John Morrison and Joe Beattie were members of 28th Militia in 1938 and both joined 2/4th.

 

John was second son with 3 sisters, born to parents Hilda Rebecca Spurling and James de Burgh Morrison who married 1901 Guildford.  His older brother Eric Reginald also enlisted in WW2 and came home safely.  His sisters were Clara born 1906, Hilda born 1910 and Adelaide born 1911.

 

John’s father volunteered to fight Boer War, South Africa, having earlier spent 3-4 months with Guildford Rifles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

James Morrison was an Aunctioneer.

 

Johnny’s grandfather died in 1927.  His grandmother was Clara de Burgh of Caversham, Guildford.  They married 28 March 1870 at Guildford.

 

 

Below:  A happy family wedding when John’s sister Clara was married in 1927.  John was best man.

 

Johnny played lacrosse and was a dedicated member of Como Team as were several members of the Shenstone family.  Above he has roll of Hon. Secretary.

 

 

 

Below:  Johnny and Elsie are guests at Mavis Hayward’s 21st birthday party.  She is daughter of Seybert Hayward above, with whom Johnny enjoyed a very close relationship.

Johnny wrote a letter from Morotai 20 Sep 1945 to Mr and Mrs Hayward.   Below are some of excerpts from this letter.

He writes he has spoken with Elsie on telephone and so thankful and excited to be free  – “it is like a dream come true, I am at last really writing to two people I love and  two people who I feel sure love me.  Two people who have treated me as though I had been a son.”

“Say Boss!  Elsie writes to say you have been retired owing to ill-health.  I hope you are fully recovered.  I only received (?7) letters from Australia since 1941, so am behind with the news.”

“Have done a lot of lecturing as a POW and S.J.H. is pretty well a household word.  WA could reap a harvest out of ex-POWs on leave.  They will have plenty of money and I’ve done my best to swing some of it  West.  Who runs our old Bureau now?”

“Wanganella was hospital ship which brought us from here (Morotai) from Kuching.
After we left Sandakan in Oct 1943, I was in an Officer’s Camp of 150 odd AIF from all parts of Australia.  I’ve had some arguments too-but I’ve still plenty of friends.  There are five ‘Sandgropers’ in the Team . –
Major Fred Lewis (PWD), Capt. Jack Throssell (Dentist) Lieut. Clive Boundy (Mines – oreman) Lieut. Brian Walton (Solicitor, Narrogin) and little me.  Lewis, Boundy and Walton know of you well.  If you didn’t know of Boundy  – then he knows of you now as we got stuck with him!”

Johnny writes many words about food! Lastly he mentions he met Keith Moore at Sandakan – who was also at Kuching.  It seems Keith Moore and his wife knew of the Hayward family and had visited their hone many times.  Johnny couldn’t believe they hadn’t met previously.  Johnny knew his wife Jean.

(We have not been able to identify Keith Moore and which battalion he served with).

 

 

John married 1935 to Elsie May Shenstone.  They had three daughters Janet, Judith and Kay.

 

 

 

John’s mother died Inglewood in 1949.   His father died 1958 at East Perth.  Both are buried Guildford Cemetery.

Johnny Morrison died in 1 June 1985 aged 75 years.  He was cremated Karrakatta Cemetery.  Elsie Morrison died 19 Dec 2011 aged 98 years at Subiaco.  She was also cremated Karrakatta.