Trevor Haig MORRIS

Serial Number: NZ401813
RNZAF Trade: Air Gunner, then Pilot
Date of Enlistment: 20th of July 1940
Rank Achieved:
Flying Hours:
Operational Sorties:

Date of Birth: Born on the 16th of August 1916
Personal Details: Trevor was the son of John Leyland Morris and Gwendoline Morris of Cambridge. He was the brother of Jack Morris and Margaret Morris, who both joined the RNZAF, and Bob and Grace Morris. Incidentally Grace married RNZAF pilot Graham Ronayne.

Trevor was educated at Matamata School and Cambridge Primary School, and possibly Cambridge District High School, before going farming on his father's farm at Morrinsville. From 1937 he was employed as a linesman with the Thames Valley Power Board. He left their employment to join the RNZAF.

Service Details: Trevor trained as an Air Gunner in New Zealand. Upon completing his training he spent his final leave in Cambridge, at which point he was farewelled by the Cambridge Patriotic Committee and friends at a function in the Council Chamber on Friday the 13th of September 1940.

Present were his mother, Gwendoline Morris, along with the Major, Edgar James; the Deputy Mayor, Mr A.H. Nicholl; and RSA president Dick Newcombe. The Mayor's wife also presented Trevor with an engraved wallet as a going away gift from the committee.

Also reported as present was a Miss V. Morris, however this may have been a typing mistake as his sister Grace Ronayne cannot recall any member of the family with the initial 'V'. It was possibly his other sister, Margaret Morris. Following the farewell in Cambridge Trevor headed for Auckland and embarked on the Tamaroa for Britain on the 14th of September 1940.

Trevor initially served as a gunner on Boulton Paul Defiant fighters, in which he served with some distinction. He was later sent to Canada to retrain as a pilot.

Details of Death: 20th of June 1975
Buried at: Hamilton Park Cemetery

Connection with Cambridge: Trevor grew up and lived in Cambridge before the war and his family remains in the town till this day.

Waikato Independent reports that mention Trevor Morris
RNZAF 2 Sept 1940
Farewelled 16 Sept 1940

Thanks to: Grace Ronayne, Margaret Morris and Errol Martyn for supplying information on Trevor's life and service details.