Pte 17433 John Morgan

• Age: 21
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 4th March 1916
• Commemorated at: Cerisy-gailly Mil Cem
  Panel Ref: II.D.26

John (Jack) Morgan was born on 06^th June 1894, he was the youngest child of John Morgan, a ship’s steward, and his wife Amelia Louise (nee Dickison) who were married on 16th February 1873 at St Nicholas C. of E. Church in  Liverpool. Amelia ( who appears as Louisa Amelia on many records) was born in Leamington. His parents had eleven children, four of whom died young.. John had siblings Thomas Charles, Charlotte Louisa, John Arthur Dickison (who died in infancy), Frank William (died at age 2), Elizabeth Jane, Leonard John, Marian Emma, William Frank and Harold Ernest (who both died at 1 year old), and Amy Gertrude.

In 1881 his parents were living in Vronhill Street, Toxteth.

John was baptised in St. Peter's Church, Liverpool, on 05th August 1894, his parents living at the time in Chalmers Street.

In 1891 the family had moved to 44 Eversley Street and by 1901 were living at 4 Maitland Street, off Kingsley Road, when John senior was presumably away at sea and Amelia lived with five of her children, including John junior, aged 6. 

In 1911, with John senior still absent, she lives at 18 Dacre Street, off Earle Road, declaring that she has been married for 38 years and had 11 children of whom 7 were still alive. John, aged 16 is said to be a junior clerk with a produce broker. Three sisters are still at home, Elizabeth, 28, a chocolate dipper in a sweet works, Marion, 22, no occupation, and Amy, 18, a stationer’s clerk.

On 14^th September 1914, John Morgan enlisted at Liverpool joining the 19th Battalion as Private 17433, giving his age as 20 years 60 days, his occupation as clerk and his next of kin as his father of 20 Holt Street, Edge Hill. He was described as being five feet four inches tall, weighed 115lbs, 35" chest, with a fresh complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. He stated his religion as Wesleyan.

Formed on 07^th September 1914 the 19^th Battalion trained locally at Sefton Park and remained living at home or in rented accommodation until November 1914. They then moved to the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 19th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France, with his battalion on 07^th November 1915.

John was killed in action on 04^th March 1916, aged 21 years.

The 19th Battalion War Diary for March 1916 records -

1st - In billets (Etinehem). Battalion resting.
2nd - In trenches. Relieved 17th KLR in Z.1. subsector (Maricourt). No. 19/21765 Private Foulds wounded.
3rd - Very wet and difficult to work ..?
4th - In trenches. Private Morgan 17433 wounded, died of wounds.
5th - In trenches. Funeral of Private Morgan.

His loved ones placed notices in the Liverpool Echo on 14th March 1916 -

"March 4, killed in action, aged 21 years, Private Jack Morgan, 19th King's (Liverpool Regiment).
  No loved one stood beside him to hear his last farewell,
  No words of comfort could he have from the girl he loved so well.
(Deeply mourned by Nellie.)"

"March 4, killed in action, aged 21 years, Private John (Jack) Morgan (17,433), 19th King's (Liverpool Regiment) (3rd City), the dearly-loved and youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. John Morgan, 11, Garmoyle Road "He gave his life for us." (Deeply mourned by us all.)"

"March 4, killed in action, aged 21 years, Private John (Jack) Morgan,  19th King's (Liverpool Regiment) (3rd "Pals"), the dearly-loved and youngest son of John and L.A. Morgan, late of Dacre Street, Liverpool. (Deeply mourned by his Father.)"

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on 16th March 1916.

"ALWAYS READY AND WILLING"

"Private J. Morgan, of the 19th Service Battalion King's (Liverpool) Regiment (3rd "Pals"), who resided at 11, Garmoyle-road, Wavertree, Liverpool, has been killed in action in France. He joined the "Pals" soon after the outbreak of the war,and went to the front in October. He was a prominent scholar of the Chatsworth-street Board School,and also Aigburth-street Wesleyan Sunday School. He was twenty one years of age. Before the outbreak of war he was employed by the firm of Pearson and Rutter, of Stanley-street, Liverpool. A letter from his officer says:-"He was always cheerful and willing to undertake any task entrusted to him, and was a man in whom I had the utmost confidence, and was a good example of what a British soldier should be".

John was buried initially at Maricourt Military Cemetery which  was at the South-East corner of the village, 10 kilometers south-west of Albert.  It was begun by French troops in December 1914, and was known by the name Ferme Caudron.  It was taken over by British troops in August, 1915, and used until July 1916.  It contained the graves of 887 French, 260 U.K, and 6 German soldiers.

Soldiers Effects, including a War Gratuity of £6, to his father John, Pension to mother Louisa Amelia. She was awarded 6 shillings a week, increased to 12/6d, adjusted to 10 shillings.

John's personal effects returned were as follows:- disc, packet of letters, prayer book, steel mirror, tin box, wrist watch, stamp, envelope, paper book, pipe, lighter.

 
At some time prior to his death, his mother had lived at 49 Vandyke Street as a letter sent to her at that address requesting the sworn declaration was returned to the military marked ‘Gone Away’.

The sworn declaration regarding  relatives in 1919 shows that John senior lived at 20 Holt Street, Liverpool whilst his mother, Amelia nee Dickinson, lived at 11 Garmoyle Road. Other surviving siblings were Thomas Charles, aged 44 years, 20 Holt Street; Leonard John, aged 34 years, 85 Smithdown Road; Elizabeth Jane Lloyd, 31 years, 53 Kenmare Road; Marian Emma and Amy Gertrude, both living at 11 Garmoyle Road.

John earned his 3 medals. 

His father died in 1931 aged 80, and his mother in 1935 at the age of 81.

John is commemorated in Liverpool’s Hall of Remembrance, Panel 17.

And on the family gravestone in Toxteth Park Cemetery -

             In Loving Memory of
                  JOHN (JACK)          
THE DEARLY LOVED YOUNGEST SON OF
        JOHN AND LOUISA A. MORGAN           
   KILLED IN ACTION 4TH MARCH 1916
               AGED 21 YEARS
           He gave his life for us.

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