Princess Royal Fortress Military Museum > Records

Handwritten Letter to Mrs Ida MORLEY from Lieut. E.W. DIXON Advising of the Death of her Husband, Trooper Harold (Harry) Endrick MORLEY, 2819

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Lieutenant E. W. DIXON

1917

Overview

One-page handwritten letter, from Lieut. E.W. DIXON advising Mrs Ida MORLEY on the death of her husband, Trooper Harold (Harry) Endrick MORLEY, 2819, Camel Corps. The letter is written in pencil on writing paper, with 2 crossed flags of UK and Australia, (blue and red) printed in the top left corner. Small wear hole at bottom left and a rip on crease line bottom left.

Historical information

This one-page letter handwritten by Lieutenant E.W. DIXON, dated 25/11/1917, was sent to Mrs Ida MORLEY, wife of Trooper Harold (Harry) Endrick MORLEY, 2819. The letter advises her of her husband’s death, killed in action, near Beersheba on the 06/11/1917. Harry enlisted on 12/02/1917 at the age of 23 years and was attached to the Camel Corps, he was 24 years of age at the time of his death.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-12-2025.12.3

Item type

Letters

Themes

War and Conflict > World War 1

Material

Writing Paper

Width

198 mm

Height or length

255 mm

Weight

1 g

Inscriptions and markings

“25.1.17 / Dear Mrs Morley / It is with regret that / I write & inform you of the death of / your husband 2819 Tpr Morley H.E. / on the morning of 6-11 we were fighting / against a strong Turkish position some / 10 miles N of Beersheeba. While / repulsing a counter attack at break / of day your husband was killed / instantly by a.g.s.w. in the head. / The body was buried with a few / others by a clergyman & the site / of grave marked for further doing / up. Tpr Morley was a most popular / man, in the coy. & we all mourn / the loss of so gallant a soldier. / His personal belongings effects / will be forwarded by the official / at the base in the usual manner. / The men of the coy all join / me in expressing our heartfelt / sympathy at your sad loss & / trust that the fact of his end coming / while so gallantly performing his / duty in the face of the enemy will in some / way console you. / Palestine near Jaffa / I remain / yours truly / E.W. Dixon / Lieut. / c/c No 11Coy”

Keywords

Palestine WW1

First World War

Camel Corps

Notification of Death

Place made

Palestine, Palestinian Territories

Year

1917

Primary significance criteria

Artistic or aesthetic significance

Historic significance