Sapper, 4/558, Garland Oswald Morgan (22) – Killed in Action

3rd New Zealand Engineers, 11th May 1915 

Garland Oswald Morgan

De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour

Extract from the above publication :- MORGAN, GARLAND OSWALD, Sapper, No. 4/558, New Zealand Expeditionary Force, only son of Tom Henry Morgan, of Hawera, New Zealand, by his wife, Mary, daughter of Daniel Nuttall; born Hawera, New Zealand, 14 December 1902 (Edit – This year of birth is incorrect, it should be 1892); educated there; was Head Clerk in the Old Age Pension Department, Christchurch; enlisted 18 August 1914; left with the main body for Egypt the following October; proceeded to Gallipoli 25 April, 1915, and was killed in action at Monash Gully by a sniper 11 May following. Buried in the Monash Gully . At about 4 a.m., 11 May, 1915, a squad including Sapper Morgan was sent out to lay a loop on the line. Sapper Morgan had been on duty all night, and was really entitled to a rest, but he practically begged to be allowed to carry out this dangerous mission. He had only been away about 20 minutes when a member of the squad tapped the wire with his portable telephone, and intimated that Morgan had been shot through the heart by sniper. An officer wrote “Sapper Morgan was always ready to tackle any work at any time. He was equally good as a Sapper or Driver, and was very highly thought of by the officers commanding the company.”

Obituary – Public Service Journal

The following extract is from the Public Service Journal dated 20 July 1915 – The name of Sapper Morgan appeared in the list of those killed in action at the Dardanelles on the 11th May. Sapper Morgan was employed in the Pensions Officer at Christchurch, and was one of the earliest volunteers to join the Main Body.  About twenty-three years of age, he was the son of a Maori War veteran who now resides at Hawera.  Born and educated in Taranaki, Sapper Morgan joined the Postal Department on leaving school and some two years ago was transferred to the Pensions Department. He was a very promising young officer, and was also an athlete of some ability, having represented Taranaki in hockey.  As a swimmer he was well known and took a keen interest in life-saving work. His frank, pleasing personality and adventurous disposition made him a representative of whom the Service should be proud, and his death is deplored by everyone with whom he came in contact. Public Service Journal, 20 July, 1915.

Further Military and Civilian Research

  • 14 August 1914 – Garland Oswald Morgan was a single man when he enlisted into the New Zealand Divisional Signals Company, New Zealand Engineers at Christchurch. At the time, he was approaching his 22nd Birthday and he had been employed as a Clerk, working for the New Zealand Government. At this time he was described as :-
  • 5’8″ Tall.
  • Weight – 148 lbs.
  • Chest Measurements 33 – 38 inches max.
  • Hair – Brown.
  • Eyes – Eyes.
  • Complexion – Dark.
  • Religion – Methodist.

Following his death from a snipers bullet he was buried at Quinn’s Post Cemetery, ANZAC, Turkey.

Garlands Memorial Stone at Quinn’s Cemetery, ANZAC, New Zealand – © NZ Online Cenotaph.

Queen Elizabeth II Army Memorial Museum, Waiouru, holds the 1915 Diary of Garland Morgan.

Family

Garland Oswald Morgan was born on 14 December, 1892.

His family is shown as follows :-

  • Father – Tom Henry Morgan, born c.1845, died 24 July 1918 (Drowned).
  • Mother – Mary Amelia Ann Everitt or Morgan, born 18 January 1864, died 14 December 1935.
  • Sister – Hilda Linda, born 30 July 1894.

Garland had a further 2 sisters but I have been unable to ascertain their names.

Family Grave at Hawera Cemetery, New Zealand , the Crucifix on the Ground has Garlands Service Number on it – © Steve Smith (Find a Grave)

Addresses

  • 1914 (August) – Bealey Street, St. Albans, New Zealand.
  • 1915 – (Mothers) – 43 Wilson Street, Hawera, 4610, New Zealand.

Medals

Garland Oswald Morgan was awarded the 1914-15 Star, Victory and the British War Medals for his service in the Great War.

Memorials

Garland Oswald Morgan is also honoured and remembered on the family grave at Hawera Cemetery, Taranaki, New Zealand.

Links to Additional Information

References

  •  Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
  • De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour.
  • New Zealand Service Record.
  • Find a Grave.
  • New Zealand Online Cenotaph.

Groups

Contributors:-

  • Vincent Stuart
  • Steve Smith (Family Grave Photograph)
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