My great-uncle William Ewart G Morris was killed on 31st October 1914 at the battle of Gheluvelt. He was already a serving soldier when the First World War broke out. The 1911 census records him as a Private in the Worcestershire Regiment stationed at Albany Barracks, Isle of Wight. I was recently on holiday in England and by coincidence was in Worcester on the 31st October, being the 97th anniversary of the battle and my great-uncle's death. I visited Gheluvelt Memorial Park and was disappointed by the fact that it is almost impossible to read the inscriptions on the memorial plaques. I thought perhaps that the memorial plaques were old and had weathered, but an old soldier also paying his respects on that day told me that they have been there for just a few years. Does anyone know if there are plans to do something to make the inscriptions legible? Obviously a lot of time and money has been spent to up-grade Gheluvelt Memorial Park so it is a pity that the names of the soldiers killed in action are not highlighted from the background of the metal plaques.
Also, I would be grateful to know if anyone has any information on William Morris. I do know, via the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, that he has no known grave but has a plaque at Menin Gate.
Ann Woods, Melbourne, Australia.