Morrow, Robert Clark

Robert Clark Morrow was born on 28 June 1894 in his family home  at 93 Blackburn Street, Govan, Glasgow. His parents Daniel and Mary (née Clark) Morrow had married on 31 December 1891 in Govan. Daniel’s occupation was given as sailmaker and Mary’s as domestic servant. For the 1901 Scotland census the Morrow family was still living on Blackburn Street, house #46. By then the couple had two children as Robert had a younger brother Joseph who was born  on 21 February 1896.

Robert and his father Daniel set sail for Canada aboard the Pretorian, arriving in Quebec on 27 June 1912, final destination given as Winnipeg. The following May, Mary and Joseph joined the family, arriving in Quebec aboard the Hesperian on the 18th. For the 1916 Canada census for Manitoba, Daniel, Mary and Joseph were living at 1051 Sherburn Street in Winnipeg. Daniel was working as a tent maker and Joseph was employed as a clerk with the Canadian Pacific Railway. Robert was not living with the family so had perhaps already moved to nearby Kenora, Ontario  by then and was working with the Canadian Pacific Railway.

Robert Clark Morrow enlisted in Winnipeg on 16 January 1917. Gray-eyed with black hair, he was 22 years of age. His occupation was given as timekeeper. He embarked from Canada on 22 October 1917 aboard the Scandinavian, arriving in England on the first of November, taken on strength at Witley. While training in England, Robert married Jeanie Hayes, daughter of William and Mary (née Smith) Hayes of Glasgow. Jeanie had been working as at a shell factory at the time of their marriage on 21 December 1917. The marriage took place at St Matthews Episcopal Church on Ardoch Street in Glasgow, district of Possilpark. Robert left Witley on 16 January 1918, proceeding overseas to the Canadian Field Artillery Pool. He left the base for the Canadian Reinforcement Camp on the 21st of January, taken on strength with the 3rd Brigade Canadian Field Artillery on 11 March 1918.

Gunner Robert Clark Morrow  died of his wounds in the field on 1 October 1918. ‘Whilst taking part in operations near Arras-Cambrai Road, 1 mile west of Raillencourt, he was severely wounded. He was given immediate attention but died shortly afterwards.’ The CEF Burial Registers record has him listed as Driver with the 3rd Brigade, Canadian Field Ambulance. However, the War Diaries for the 3rd Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery  lists his death  as Gunner of the 10th Battery. Robert is interred in the Raillencourt Communal Cemetery Extension.

Robert’s brother Joseph was conscripted on 23 April 1918 but was later found medically unfit for service on 6 September, possibly because he had a glass eye. Robert’s widow Jeanie was found on the passenger list of the Tunisian that arrived in Canada on 7 May 1919. She was listed as travelling to Winnipeg to go to her mother-in-laws. Robert’s mother Mary was found on an UK Incoming passenger list for the  Pretorian, arriving in Glasgow on 20 July 1920. She was then found on a passenger list for the Corsican  that was returning to Canada, arriving 24  October 1920 in Quebec. It stated that the reason she had left Canada was to visit her son’s grave. Robert’s service records contains two cards for the dispatching of medals and decorations, plaque an scroll (1921), and Memorial Crosses (15 June 1920). The original card had all going to Jeanie and Robert’s mother Mary in Winnipeg, while  the second card listed the medals and decorations, plaque and scroll going to Jeanie at 32 Balmore Road, Possilpark, Glasgow, and the Military Crosses dispatched to Jeanie and Mary in Winnipeg.

Robert Clark Morrow is commemorated on the Next of Kin Memorial in  Winnipeg, Manitoba and on the Canadian Pacific Railway Roll of Honour where he is listed as a timekeeper in Kenora.

by Judy Stockham

gravemarker photograph: courtesy of Doris Snyder on findagrave.com
research note: Robert gave his birthdate as 24 June 1893 on attestation but his birth record shows the actual date of 28 June 1894 (#438, page 146, Births in District of Plantation, County of Lanark)

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