People Australia

James McLaren Morris, n.d. photographer unknown

from Bank of NSW Roll of Honour

JAMES McLAREN MORRIS was born at Dunfermline, Scotland, on 1 st October, 1886, his parents being Mr. James and Mrs. Helen Morris. He was educated at the Dunfermline High School, Scotland, and Palmerston North High School, New Zealand, and entered the service of the Bank at Palmerston North on 20th April, 1904, being promoted to ledger-keeper on 1 st July, 1907. He was transferred to Brisbane, Queensland, on 26th June, 1911; to Townsville on 25th March, 1912; to Charters Towers, as teller, on 17th February, 1913; and to Cairns, as accountant, on 13th July, 1914.

James McLaren Morris enlisted on 6th February, 1915, as a private in the A.I.F., being allotted to the 2nd Light Horse Regiment, and later to the 4th Divisional Artillery. Subsequently he was promoted to the rank of corporal; then to sergeant and to sergeant-major, and in October, 1915, he was gazetted second-lieutenant. He joined his regiment in due course, arriving in Egypt in January, 1916. In June of the same year he was transferred to France, receiving his commission as first-lieutenant on 17th August, 1916. He remained on duty there until December, 1917.