Incident
After being sent early on Sunday morning to apprehend three poachers on the Hare Estate at Newnham, Sergeant Morris and a police constable located them in the neighbourhood of Viney Hill, in the Forest of Dean, but were confronted by the men and struck down by stones.
When the constable regained consciousness he found William dead, with a fractured skull and a broken neck.
All three poachers were later arrested.
Sergeant Morris had served with the Constabulary for eleven years and left a wife and three children.
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- August 2, 2026
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- August 2, 2026
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Tributes
131 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Sergeant Morris served with the Gloucestershire Constabulary.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Gloucestershire Constabulary has lost 18 officers; 2 of them killed feloniously.
William is one of 691 officers killed feloniously in ENG, 24.8% of the 2,786 remembered there.
William is one of 1,170 officers killed feloniously in United Kingdom, 30.9% of the 3,791 remembered there.
William is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1895, 3 officers in ENG were killed feloniously, the 22nd heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1941, with 147.
In 1895, 3 officers in United Kingdom were killed feloniously, the 53rd heaviest of 216 years on record. The heaviest was 1941, with 167.
In 1895, 77 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 95th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
William was 32. Of the 620 killed feloniously in ENG whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 44; the middle age was 36.
William was 32. Of the 1,048 killed feloniously in United Kingdom whose age is recorded, half were between 28 and 44; the middle age was 36.
William was 32. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38.
When
November holds 8.8% of these deaths in ENG; May holds the most, 12.4%. Sundays: 15.3%.
November holds 8.8% of these deaths in United Kingdom; May holds the most, 12.6%. Sundays: 15.1%.
November holds 8.2% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Sundays: 15.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 11.1% of all 18 deaths at Gloucestershire Constabulary, the 3rd most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 24.8% of all 2,786 deaths in ENG, the 3rd most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 30.9% of all 3,791 deaths in United Kingdom, the 2nd most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause.
His people
Gloucestershire Constabulary has 18 officers remembered here, William among them.
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Samuel Beard Aug 24, 1861
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George Phillips Jan 11, 1872
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Maurice Selby Feb 5, 1874
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Edward Thomas Chipp Jul 12, 1892
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William Morris Nov 10, 1895
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Frederick Hale Jun 1, 1904
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Frederick George Treasure Nov 26, 1915
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Ernest Albert Cooper Nov 8, 1916
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Walter Henry Hayward Jul 26, 1920
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Hubert Jesse Phillips May 16, 1940
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Ronald Walter Clement Smith Aug 19, 1940
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Fitzroy Frederick Taylor
May 23, 1942
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Wilfred Kenneth Clarke Jan 28, 1946
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Morton John Chappell Apr 16, 1964
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Paul James Pursehouse
Mar 15, 1967
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Kenneth William George Rogers Nov 28, 1989
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Steven Terence Jeffreys-Jones Feb 26, 2007
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Ian Minett
Jun 21, 2025
Where the Name Is Cut
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