Cur (Curzon Morrow)
Close friend
Mentioned: 1916 only
McGill & friends from home Lieutenant James Curzon MacDonald Morrow: "Cur" to Robertson in the diary and in personal letters, "Morrow" in more formal references. Born 1 May 1894 at Halifax, Nova Scotia, a student engineer (McGill Applied Science, 1913–14) and the son of Mrs James Morrow of the North West Arm. He was appointed a lieutenant in the 5th Royal Highlanders of Canada on September 23, 1914, and later transferred to the 3rd Field Company, Canadian Engineers. A March 1916 McGill Daily letter from a fellow officer names "Curzon Morrow" among the McGill men who crossed to France with Robertson's own draft that winter; Robertson's own letter to the McGill Daily that October, describing the death of "Morrow ('15)," gives the identical account (hit by a rifle grenade while taking Robertson's own turn in the line) as the diary and his letter to Doris give for "Cur," killed April 26, 1916, at Second Ypres. A close friend and roommate, he is buried in Reninghelst New Military Cemetery and commemorated at St Paul's Cathedral, Halifax.
Appears in the diary · 26 entries
1916
- 8 January 1916… ing station + road. They also registered hits on R.C.H.A. battery. - Ted transferred to 1st Field Co’y + Morrow sent up here. 42nd & R.C.R’s going into trenches tonight. - Shelling kept up fairly well …
- 9 January 1916Fine & Clear. Went up with Pepler + Morrow - 42nd + R.C.Rs went in last night. - Pat’s in reserve at Wood Camp. Saw McHaffy + Louis. …
- 1 February 1916… ccessful. 5 prisoners. - To be repeated on our front I fancy shortly with the aid of the “wire torpedo.” Morrow dug into some ancient Hun casualties tonight. “All the perfumes of Arabia” etc.
- 13 February 1916… ble engine battle plane. - Good night for working. - Party finished task 9 P.M. - Too early - Waited for Cur. at Dr. Stn. - Called at Heavy Batty. J.C.M. played havoc with the chips and sold the R.E …
- 15 February 1916… Robertson and Harrison go to England. - Pepler will get the Captaincy here and Macdonald with the 1st. - Morrow & I will get out Secs I suppose. Letter from Hazel today. - Harry Beatly was over. - Up t …
- 21 February 1916Clear. - Cold - Too cold to get up - Had a bath + went back to bed till Cur. came in at 12.30. Woke me.- A bit of strafing going on up north. - More air raids in Eng …
- 24 February 1916… 4” paces per min. - Dropped in at Heavy Battery. 8” How. moved out from Anti A. fm. last night . - Alex, Cur, Pepler & self went into Baileuil for bath this aft. - Met Mk.III Pope & John Gwynn. - Fo …
- 26 February 1916… ed South. Milder - Snow going. - Wagons got up O.K. tonight. - Feeling rotten - Stayed in bed all A.M. - Cur says “we may recover but we’ll never be the same again” - O.C. laughs at us & is working …
- 29 February 1916… n.- In spite of last nights conflagration and subsequent inconvenience I slept till noon. At least after Morrow & Turner got out. Found the bed extra hard. - Due to Gilbert being a novice I guess. - Go …
- 2 March 1916… up this morning for a while - McCarthy doesn’t see much good on morning party. Rode into Bailleuil with Cur. Purchased supplies for mess. Tea’d at 21 Rue de College. - Met Underhill. - Had a bath - …
- 10 March 1916… and splashed me on the leg. - Tore coat and breeks but outside of that it’s alright. - Came home & found Cur. writing letters, so wrote some too, while Lee White & Teddy Gerrard entertained us. - Co …
- 14 March 1916… olor. last night & this A.M. - Went down to the baths this aft. with Alex & got some of the color off. - Cur & I caught a wild horse in the field tonight.
- 21 March 1916… S.W. Cold & raw. - Five officers from Corps who went up to look over new position, wounded. Cheer up. - Morrow says we are going to take the Wytchaet-Messines ridge. Brigade thinks things around here …
- 24 March 1916… with the C.R.E. - Is on a tour getting material for instructional work. - MacDaonald is instructing him. Cur & I took him up tonight. - After visiting Ring 35, took him for a stroll up around Delta …
- 25 March 1916… - Harvey and Casement got back last night. Two of the R.E. chaps came in this morning. - Some houseful. Cur & I had a pleasant surprise on parade this aft. when Harvey & Bevan were appointed to sec …
- 26 March 1916… o 3 & 4, the sec. officers being otherise occupied. - Arr’d rest billets 2.45 - Located in farm at R.21. Cur & I have a jake billet in an estaminet halfway up Mont des Cats. A beautiful view. - Room …
- 27 March 1916… ving to go back to Dranoutre for a day - Harvey is 2nd I/c - He’s alright, but it is hardly pleasant for Cur. & I - Morning spent cleaning & checking up pontoon stores. Route march this aft. - Came …
- 28 March 1916Cold wind. - 8 A.M. parade being delayed 10 min. to get respirators. Cur & I managed to make it. - Pep exercised us vigarously. - Still handling #4 - - Morning in …
- 31 March 1916Warm. Barometer away down. - Good weather to take over new line. Morrow sick. - Orderly officer. Inf. Drill & washing vehicles. - Took a walk thro’ the monastery …
- 4 April 1916And didn’t get up very early. - Pete had to go into billets so Cur. came up with Pep at lunch time - Was going over to have a look at Grand Fleet St. this a …
- 17 April 1916Rainy. - Bevan, Morrow & Peerless back last night. - Rather crowds the place. - As we are out in rest everyone h …
- 25 April 1916… the 3rd F.C.C.E. with Haigh, for most of the aft. - Taylor blew in to 2nd A.T. to be o.c. trench wardens Morrow Killed
- 26 April 1916… Chidley killed Hot. Dry. Writing in the morning. - Went up to the Co’y after lunch to get particulars re Cur. - Was hit by rifle grenade. - Heavy art. fire on front this eve. - Fritz retaliated on s …
- 27 April 1916letter… ile before I get back to it again. – This time the interruption was a message saying that my chum had been killed and I went out to make enquiries. – He was hit by a rifle grenade while w …
- 7 May 1916… rom Hazel. – Papers from Charley – Letter from Sam. A few hands of showdown with Mac & Haigh. – Wrote to Cur’s mother & it took all evening. – Sam’s letter related chiefly to leave – I sure hear eno …