Sergeant William Arthur Morgan Welsh Guards and Royal Army Ordnance Corps
The Man William Arthur Morgan was born on Wednesday 19th June 1901, in Abertillery, a town in Ebbw Fach valley, Monmouthshire, son of Arthur, who in 1902 married Florence Edith Birch, but it is unknown if this is William’s biological mother. They had a daughter Lillian Louisa born in 1905 and she and William were baptised together on 25th May 1905 in Monmouth.
In about 1918 aged 17, William enlisted into the Welsh Guards, in 1920 a block of numbers 2730001- 2744000 were issued and he was allocated No 2730734. He appears to have been a keen swimmer as he was awarded a medallion for 3rd place in a Battalion championship in 1932.
On 1st April 1929 aged 27 at St Mary the Virgin Church, Great Warley Essex, he married Katherine Jane Cutler, in uniform by which time he was a Sergeant. They had two sons, David Edward Arthur born on 3rd June 1934 at Woolwich and John Harold William 15th February 1938 at Llanfyllin, Montgomeryshire, Wales.
William served in the regular army for 18 years and awarded the Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct (Military), (Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal) in about 1936, appearing in Army Order 75 of 1939
At about the same time, he retired from the regulars aged 35 and transferred into the Territorial Army with the same service number and rank. In September the same year at the outbreak of World War II he was embodied and transferred at some stage into the Royal Army Ordnance Corps.
In about 1918 aged 17, William enlisted into the Welsh Guards, in 1920 a block of numbers 2730001- 2744000 were issued and he was allocated No 2730734. He appears to have been a keen swimmer as he was awarded a medallion for 3rd place in a Battalion championship in 1932.
On 1st April 1929 aged 27 at St Mary the Virgin Church, Great Warley Essex, he married Katherine Jane Cutler, in uniform by which time he was a Sergeant. They had two sons, David Edward Arthur born on 3rd June 1934 at Woolwich and John Harold William 15th February 1938 at Llanfyllin, Montgomeryshire, Wales.
William served in the regular army for 18 years and awarded the Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct (Military), (Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal) in about 1936, appearing in Army Order 75 of 1939
At about the same time, he retired from the regulars aged 35 and transferred into the Territorial Army with the same service number and rank. In September the same year at the outbreak of World War II he was embodied and transferred at some stage into the Royal Army Ordnance Corps.
Arthur saw service in Northwest Europe following the D Day invasion and at the end of the war awarded the 1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45 and in Army Order 20/46 of 1946 the Efficiency Medal ‘Territorial’, having qualified in about 1943.
Katherine died on 6th October 1970 in St Pancras, Middlesex. William became friendly and later lived with Zita Maria Caroline Harris at The Close, Main Road, Bredon, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire. He died on 21st October 1987 aged 84 and was cremated. Zita died on 21st June 1995.
Katherine died on 6th October 1970 in St Pancras, Middlesex. William became friendly and later lived with Zita Maria Caroline Harris at The Close, Main Road, Bredon, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire. He died on 21st October 1987 aged 84 and was cremated. Zita died on 21st June 1995.
The Story The medal group awarded to William Arthur Morgan were acquired from E-Bay in March 2022.
They were immediately a ‘must have’ group because of the combination of the George VI Army Long Service and Efficiency Medal, filling an important gap in the sub-theme collection.
Some pictures came with the medals and the usual Ancestry UK and wills enabled a brief biography to be pieced together.
Being sold separately were some Welsh Guards badges, including William’s cap badge; these too were bid upon and acquired to keep together.
An interesting set of medals belonging to a pre-war regular, who then saw more active service in the Territorial Army almost immediately following his retirement.
They were immediately a ‘must have’ group because of the combination of the George VI Army Long Service and Efficiency Medal, filling an important gap in the sub-theme collection.
Some pictures came with the medals and the usual Ancestry UK and wills enabled a brief biography to be pieced together.
Being sold separately were some Welsh Guards badges, including William’s cap badge; these too were bid upon and acquired to keep together.
An interesting set of medals belonging to a pre-war regular, who then saw more active service in the Territorial Army almost immediately following his retirement.
William Morgan's Welsh Guards cap badge, old comrade's lapel badges and swimming medallion 1932.
Medal Details:
- 1939-45 Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- France and Germany Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal: 2730734. SJT W.A.MORGAN. W.GDS.
- Efficiency Medal: 2730734. SJT. W.A.MORGAN. R.A.O.C.
Page last updated 23 Apr 23
355