Morrison was a golfer, a general and an editor — all in one

Re: Former Citizen editor saw a life of ink and blood, Nov. 28.

Sir Maj.-Gen. Edward Whipple Bancroft (Dinky) Morrison, KCMG, CB, DSO, was a founding member of the Ottawa Hunt Club (1908) who rode the grounds of our club from 1908 until 1914. While it is unclear if Morrison remained a member following the end of the First World War, descendants of Morrison are current members of our club.

During the lead-up to the war, Doug Fischer's book on the history of the Château Laurier,

100 Years, 100 Notable Guests, indicates that Morrison was the only editor of The Citizen to have been knighted. Fisher describes Morrison setting up shop in the château to recruit the staff he would take to Europe.

“To treat his men on the last night of a twoweek stay, he ordered more than 100 flagons of red wine from the hotel cellar for a party. It was noted later that the amount was … sufficient to summon the police wagon.” It was observed that “Morrison paid for the damages himself.”

Before engaging Willie Park Jr. to design our 18-hole course in 1920, the Ottawa Hunt Club constructed a nine-hole golf course over the land we still retain. It is unclear whether Morrison took up golfing, but a photo of him in golf attire that exists would seem to indicate that he had.

A knight, a Citizen editor and a golfer: who could have left a better mark on the nation's capital?

Bruce A. McDonald, chair, heritage committee, Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club