Gordon Morris Carling was born in South Shields to Alexander Hamilton Carling, photographer, and his wife, Jenni Oliver.

The family had initially lived in South Shields, but then moved to Stockton-on-Tees, and Gordon went to Ayresome school, Middlesbrough.

The family moved back to South Shields some time around 1910, and Gordon entered Westoe Secondary School, leaving in July 1911, to be a clerk in a Shipping Office.

Morris served with the 16th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers and was wounded in action on 1-Jul-1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme in an attack on Thiepval, and subsequently died from his injuries.

His memorial is at Thiepval, in the Somme.

NB: Although the Roll of Honour records him as Morris Carling, his full name on entry to the school was Gordon Morris Carling, and he was recorded in the censuses as Gordon Carling.