Why John Morrison is not an unknown soldier

In 2014 the body of an unknown soldier was discovered in a field near Arras in France. Along with the remains were a variety of personal effects including a spoon which would prove instrumental in discovering the soldier’s identity.

The Ministry of Defence’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC) believed the remains may have been those of a Black Watch soldier.

The spoon found with the soldier’s body had been stamped with the regimental number 5181.

Black Watch Museum curator Hope Busák explained: “Using historical documents, our archivist Richard McKenzie was able to confirm that a 1st Battalion Black Watch soldier with the regimental number 5181, called Lance Corporal Morrison was reported missing and presumed dead in that area on January 25 1915.”

Following the discovery of the spoon in 2014 the full investigation took two years.

The main challenge was in narrowing down which regiment the 5181 number belonged to. Once this was achieved and a name uncovered the JCCC were able to contact Morrison’s 90-year-old nephew who provided a DNA sample.

This confirmed that the remains did belong to Lance Corporal John Morrison, 1st Battalion, The Black Watch.

The museum has been able to include the spoon stamped by Morrison in an exhibition detailing the story.

Hope adds: “I find it fascinating that something as simple as a spoon provided the initial clue which lead to the identification of this Black Watch soldier.

“Morrison could never have imagined that the simple act of stamping his spoon with his service number would lead to his discovery and story being told 100 years after his death.

“As a curator, it is the stories we tell that bring our collections to life.

“Although this exhibition is the story of one man, it is a story that reminds us of the thousands of soldiers who remain lost and the sacrifices they made. ”

Incredibly, Morrison’s last moments have also been uncovered in a letter written by a man whose life he helped to save.

Morrison was helping the wounded soldier, a Second Lieutenant Willet, take his backpack off when he came under fire.

Willet called out to Morrison and reached back. He heard no response only to find that Morrison had died.

Morrison – The Man, The Search, The Discovery is at The Black Watch Museum, Perth until June 6. www.theblackwatch.co.uk

The spoon which helped to identify the remains of Black Watch soldier Lance Corporal John Morrison.