The employees of the “Temuka Leader” gathered round the stone on Monday to say farewell to Mr W. S. Morgan, who has been accepted for the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Mr Presland, on behalf of the staff, presented Mr Morgan with a wristlet watch, and referred to the many good qualities of the recipient, and the regret with which they parted with him. -Lyttelton Times, 22/10/1914.
Mr W. S. Morgan, of Temuka, who has joined the reinforcements of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, was before leaving presented by Mr. Presland, on behalf of the "Leader" staff, with which ho had been connected, with a wristlet watch. Mr. Morgan, and Mr R. Moore, another young man who has left Temuka to join the Expeditionary Force, were also honoured by the members of the Temuka Hockey Club at a social held in the Coronation. Tea Rooms. -Timaru Herald, 26/10/1914.
Mrs M. Morgan, Milford, received a cable yesterday, stating that her son, Sergeant Archie Morgan, had been killed in action in France on June 7th. Sergeant Morgan left with the 9th Reinforcements. On the pay book which Mrs Morgan, received, the following message is written by the Captain of the 2nd. Australian Tunnelling Corps. "Sergeant Morgan displayed excellent conduct during the evening raid." -Timaru Herald, 27/5/1917.
SOLDIER'S LETTER.
In an interesting letter to his Parents, dated Soldiers' Christian Association Home, Rest Camp, Le Harve, France, July 4th, Private W. S. Morgan states that he has left Salonika for good, and is hoping soon to get to England. Just before he left Salonika he was sent out to Langazer Plain (16 miles from Salonika) for a "rest" with a Survey Party, and had been with them exactly a week when his marching orders arrived, and he had exactly an hour to report to the Artillery Landing Officer. He was wet through to the skin, but the "boss" lent him his car, and by leaving half his belongings behind he with two others arrived in time.
Private Morgan continues: "We were put on an Italian transport, and left on Sunday morning. Just before we got to ____ we were nearly hit by a submarine. It was fired on by our escort and disappeared. Left ____ that evening, and arrived at Toranto (Italy) the following morning, after passing in close proximity about a dozen enemy submarines, and missing a floating mine by about 30 feet. On account of several cases of sickness on board our boat was put into quarantine at Toranto for several days, no one being allowed off. Finally, we landed on the Monday morning, and went into a rest camp there. Went aboard the train at 6 p.m., Tuesday evening, and arrived at Le Harve on the following Sunday night at 10.30, after travelling through both Italy and France, and being in the train for 124 1/2 hours. Are now in a rest camp at Le Harve waiting to get a boat to go across the Channel on. It is now Wednesday evening, and I don't know when we will be leaving. You will be thinking that the train journey must have been terribly monotonous, but it wasn't. We were the first British troops who have come through Italy (about 100), and the country is marvellous. For the first two days we travelled through a country which was practically one big field of vineyards and olive groves, broken here and there by crops of wheat, oats, and barley. It appeared to be autumn when we left Toranto, as the majority of the harvest was cut and stacked, but as we got further north the climate got colder, and at Le Harve it is just like early spring. The crops around here are still green. The most interesting part of the journey was crossing the Alps on the border between Italy and France. Before the train started climbing the hills our steam engine was taken off, and we were shunted on to an electric railway, with an electric engine on each end. These engines are very low-geared, and the way they go up the inclines on the hills is simply marvellous. In a few minutes after starting from the level ground we were up amongst the snow, and if we went through one tunnel we went through fifty before getting on to French territory. You will no doubt have heard of the Mount Cenis tunnel, the longest in the world, 15,400 yards long, or 8 3/4 miles. Just after coming out of the tunnel wo got into the station of Modane, which is very comical, one half of it being French and the other half Italian. We changed into a French train there at 11.30 p.m., and started for Le Harve, and arrived here all right after a very pleasant trip.
At this point Private Morgan says he will finish the letter when he gets to England, and in due course on the 13th July, he writes from London: —
Left Le Harve last Monday night, and arrived at Southampton on Tuesday morning, but not without incident. We were escorted across the Channel by 11 destroyers, but had the bad luck to run into a patrol boat, and as we were travelling at about 25 knots at, the time we practically cut it in half, and it sunk in less than a minute. There were 17 of a crew aboard, and eight of these were drowned. Our boat was a bit knocked about, but we managed to get to port all right . . . Reported to our Headquarters here, and they gave us 14 days' leave, and a free railway pass to anywhere in the British Isles. I've got mine made out to Brighton, and am going there for a few days soon. When our leave is up we have to report to our Headquarters again.
In a subsequent letter, dated Christchurch, Hants, England, July 30th, 1917, Sapper Morgan writes that he was finished with the Infantry, and was with the Engineers. With two companions from Salonika he had reported to Headquarters in London, on the previous Wednesday, after finishing leave. Here note was taken of the work they had been doing in Salonika, and they were then transferred to the Engineers, and sent to the Reserve Depot at Christchurch. Sapper Morgan says they expected to be transferred to the printing section later on. The place they are at is within a few miles of a lovely seaside place called Bournemouth, on the south coast. Christchurch is only a small place, but there are several fairly big towns close handy. There are about 200 Engineers and a lot of Maoris, here, chiefly 24th and 25th Reinforcement men, but there are a few of the old boys here. The weather has up till yesterday been a treat, but to-day it has been very wet and cold. There is every convenience a soldier wants here — canteens, Y.M.C.A.s, Soldiers' Clubs, etc., and at the back of the camp there is the Avon river, where a chap can get any amount of swimming and boating. I saw Fred Surridge and Scotty Auld while on leave, mid they are both doing all right. Have no idea how long we shall be in England. -Temuka Leader 2/10/1917.
William's letter writing, though undoubtedly a comfort to those at home, got him into trouble while on Salonika. His army record shows he was deprived of seven days' pay for "disobeying of orders, i.e. writing matters of military nature in his correspondence." In September, 1917, he was also punished for being AWOL and for breaking into camp. That got him 7 days Confined to Barracks.
He was transferred to the 1st Battalion of the Canterbury Infantry Regiment in August, 1918, and killed the following month.
Sapper W. S. Morgan, who was killed in action in France on 4th September, was the eldest son of Mr and Mrs W. Morgan, Milford, Temuka, and was 25 years of age. He was born in Temuka, and was educated at the Waimataitai Public School, where he showed much ability. On leaving school he went to work for a short time with the Bristol Piano Company, and then served an apprenticeship to the printing business with A. A. Ware and Co. He then came to work in the "Temuka Leader" office, and on attaining his majority four years ago, he enlisted, and went away with the 3rd Reinforcements, and in Egypt was drafted into the printing section, being chosen from thirty volunteers. He was on Lemnos Island for a considerable lime. He was granted a fortnight’s leave while there and spent it in the trenches in Gallipoli. He then went to England, where he went into training as an engineer. In July last, he was drafted to France, where he was killed, as stated above. He was a prominent member of the Star Junior Football Club in Timaru, and after coming to Temuka, joined the Hockey Club. He was a keen sport with gun and rod. He was a fine young follow, and made friends wherever he went. He is the second member of the family to give his life for his country, a brother, Sergeant Archie Morgan, who enlisted when only 18, (having been killed in France, some 15 months ago. -Temuka Leader, 21/9/1918.
MORGAN. — In loving memory of Sergeant Archie Morgan, 3rd Batt. N.Z.R.B., killed in action at Messines, June 7th, 1917.
Not now, but in the coming years, It may be in the Better Land,
We'll know the meaning of our tears, And then, some time, we'll understand.
— Inserted by his loving parents, brother and sister. -Timaru Herald, 7/6/1919.
IN MEMORIAM.
MORGAN. — In loving memory of Private W. S. Morgan, 2nd Reinforcements, killed in action at Havrincourt Wood, near Bapaume, September 4th, 1918; aged 25 years.
Not dead to us, we love him still, Not lost, but gone before;
He lives with us in memory still, And will for evermore.
— Inserted by his loving parents, brothers and sister.
MORGAN. — In loving memory of Sapper W. S. Morgan, 2nd Reinforcements, killed in action in France, 4th September, 1918.
He died that we might live in peace, He fought for freedom, not for fame,
Yet on New Zealand's Roll of Honour, Stands inscribed my dear pal's name.
— Inserted by his sincere mate, Bert Hutchins, Longburn. -Timaru Herald, 4/9/1919.
ROLL OF HONOUR.
MORGAN. — In loving memory of Sapper W. S. Morgan, killed in action in France, September 4, 1918, also Sergeant Archie Morgan, killed in action at Messines, June 7, 1917.
At rest, until the dawn breaks and the shadows flee away.
Inserted by their loving father, mother, sister and brothers.
MORGAN. — In loving memory of Sapper W. S. Morgan, killed in action in France, September 4, 1918.
Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
Inserted by his pal Bert Hutchins, Wanganui. -Timaru Herald, 3/9/1921.
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