In Memory of
GORDON, MORLEY, T R
Corporal, B/73446
48th Highlanders of Canada, R.C.I.C.
who died 22 age
25th July 1943
Remembered with honour
AGIRA WAR CEMETERY, SICILY
AGIRA WAR CEMETERY, SICILY
Born 17 Set 1920, Toronto, Toronto Municipality, Ontario, Canada;
Son of William and Unity Gordon, of Toronto, Ontario;
Husband of Violet R. Gordon, of Toronto; Enlisted
Commonwealth War Graves Commission, 2018-08-15
Morley officially enlisted on the 21st of November 1939 in Toronto after serving in the active militia with the Royal Regiment of Canada from July 1936 until October 1938. After his basic training he was added to the Highlanders and went overseas in 1940. He was involved in the Expeditionary Force which went overseas to France from 13-16 June 1940.Morley landed on July 10, 1943 on the Pachino beaches and was killed in action on Nissoria Hill (objective Grizzly). According to a newspaper article by Ross Munro Morley was killed during the following action:
"Sergeant Pete Birnie led the centre thrust and went forward with Corporal Morley Gordon and Corporal Bill Lennon. They drove the Germans out of a couple of MG nests along the stone walls. There was guerilla hand to hand fighting all over the hillside. Men under Corporal Len Burt and Corporal Watling went around to the left to organize a bomb and grenade attack. They rushed MG posts in the way overrunning a 88mm gun with a crew of 15. This was not achieved without losses, for the fighting was heavy."
According to Dileas by Kim Beattie the price the Canadians had to pay for Nissoria Hill were big. The 48th Highlanders had 53 battle casualties from where 15 were fatal. The RCR had 45 battle casualties, one third was killed in action and the Hasty P's had 80 battle casualties, heaviest loss in 1 day on Sicily.
Morley was buried together with Corporal Bill Lennon, Sergeant Pete Birnie and others near Nissoria Hill and later reburied at Agira.
Morley was married with Violet Rose Jones of Morden, Surrey, England.
Together they had two daugthers, Carole Eileen and Diana. Carole was born when Morley was still in England and Diane was not even born when Morley died. His wife was expecting to have her. Morley's mother gave up her job as a laundress when she heard of the death of her son. She joined the war industry and did the grave yard shifts. She lived separated from her husband who was in Christie Hospital. Morley had one older brother and sister.
Find Grave, 2024-12-07
Information courtesy of the 