CARREGWEN - WALES
St David's Church Memorial
St David's Church Memorial
Corporal John MORGAN 4277A
Born: Cardigan, Wales Enlisted: 3-8-1915, Warwick Farm, New South Wales Occupation prior to Enlistment: Miner 5th Australian Pioneer Battalion late 1st Battalion Departed Australia: 2-12-1915 Died 12-10-1917, Belgium Honoured: Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Flanders, Belgium Honoured Australian War Memorial Panel 175 Also Honoured: Manordeifi & Capel Colman War Memorial Son of Johnathon & Margaret Morgan, Yetwen, Boncath, Pembrokeshire |
West Wales War Memorial Project - John was the son of Jonathan and Margaret Morgan, of Yetwen, Boncath. He had emigrated to Australia to work as a miner prior to the war and enlisted at Warwick Farm, New South Wales on 6 September 1915 into the 13th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force. After training John was posted to the 54th Battalion, A.I.F. which was being raised in Egypt early in 1916. On 4 March 1916 he was reposted to the 5th Battalion, Australian Pioneers, which was attached to the newly formed 5th Australian Division and sailed for France with the division in May 1916. John saw his first major action during the 5th Divisions attack at Fromelles on 19 July 1916, and was with the Division when it moved south to the Somme. He was obviously a brave man, as early in 1917 his Commanding Officer recommended him for the Military Medal: 'Near Flers on the 31st October 1916 Pte. Morgan was with a party detailed to dig a trench to Coy Headquarters. The site was in full view of the enemy's lines and many casualties had already occurred to officers and men crossing the open and also to parties who had previously attempted to cut this trench. Private Morgan showed great courage and endurance which inspired the remainder of the party which greatly contributed to the task being carried through-this was done under continuous shell-fire. Also near Guedecourt on the 24th Feb Pte Morgan was acting as section commander and with his men was engaged in the cutting of a communication sap from our original line to a German trench that had just been captured. Although under machine-gun and rifle fire Pte. Morgan until the completion of the job did much to bring about success by his personal example to his men in which his coolness, his devotion to duty and his cheerfulness were most marked.' Unfortunately John did not receive an award for his gallantry. He was killed in action by a shell while working at Westhoek Ridge on 12 October 1917, aged 30, and was buried on the ridge by a pillbox. His grave was never located after the war, and John is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.
The ancient parish of Manordeifi lies on the northern edge of the county of Pembrokeshire, in the Hundred of Kilgerran, and is bordered by the River Teifi. The parish is rural and incorporates the villages of Newchapel and Abercych, a small village which lies along the western side of the Cych valley. The River Cych runs into the River Teifi on the outskirts of the village. There are two brass war memorial plaques within Abercych Memorial Hall: One was erected by the Parishioners of Manordeifi and Capel Colman who served and died during the Great War, and the other commemorates the one man of the parish who fell during World War Two. St. David’s Church at Carregwen contains an identical brass plaque which commemorates those who served and died during the Great War, as well as a stained glass memorial window and marble plaque to Major Colby. |