Charles Roy Monckton Morris was born in Thame on the 9th October 1895 to Henry William George and Anna Morris (nee Munckton), and baptised at St Marys on 20th October 1895. His father was a pharmacist who had a chemist shop at 11 High Street, Thame.

Over the next few years the family moved to Charlbury, Chipping Norton and, finally, Abingdon upon Henrys retirement in 1913. Charles had an elder brother, Cyril George, who was also born in Thame and served in the Great War as a Captain in the Royal Berkshire Regiment.

In early 1916, whilst he was working in the Godalming, Surrey branch of Capital & Counties Bank (now Lloyds) Charles enlisted into the 30th Battalion Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regt.). This was a reserve battalion for the 23/24 Sportsman’s Battalions – hence his service number SPTS/4826, but by 1917 he was serving with the 9th Battalion, part of the 36th Brigade, 12th Division.

Early July 1917 the Battalion was in trenches at Monchy, near Arras.  Although this was a relatively quiet period after the Battles at Arras earlier in the year – much of the time being spent “cleaning up and improving trenches” – there was nevertheless a good deal of shelling, and it was probably during one of these attacks that Private C R M Morris was killed on 4th July 1917.  He left £164-12s to his father in his will.

SPTS/4826 Private Charles Roy Monckton Morris is buried in Monchy British Cemetery, Monchy le Preux, Pas de Calais, France. His name is to be added to Thame war memorial.