Would appreciate any input regarding the following about a great-uncle of mine who served during the First World War.
Background : My great grandfather, John Morgan of Clontibret, married Bridget Grimes in Clontibret in 1896 and shortly thereafter they moved to Staffordshire England where he worked in the coal mines. He had 4 children: Arthur, Bridget Mary (went by "Cissie" - my grandmother), Margaret, & John. My great grandmother died in a fire around 1910, and the family returned to live in Clontibret shortly after the 1911 Census, at which time my great-grandfather re-married, farmed, and had several additional children.
The questions relate to the eldest son: Arthur Morgan, who was 13 at the time of the 1911 England & Wales Census, therefore born in 1898, in Butts Lane, Audley, Staffordshire.
Based on family oral history, Arthur served during the First World War and died in France. The family still has the Memorial Plaque (sometimes called a Dead Man's Penny) that was received to commemorate the death (but no paperwork accompanying it).
I was able to locate several records which substantiated that Arthur Morgan did indeed serve, and die, during the war (although with conflicting dates of death). In the UK World War One Pension Ledgers & Index Cards 1914 - 1920 it clearly shows: Arthur Morgan, Rank: Private; Death Date: 15 August 1917; Death Place: France; Service Number: 5418; Regiment: R. Irish C & H.
On Ancestry, in Ireland's Memorial Records 1914 - 1918 page 204 it states: "Morgan, Arthur. Reg. No. 5418. Rank, Private, Royal Irish Regiment, 6th Batt.; died of wounds, France, August 10, 1917; born Audley, Staffordshire."
His burial records show: Private Morgan #5418 Royal Irish Regiment d: 10 August 1917; buried: Brandhoek New Military Cemetery VI.B.3
The last piece of convincing evidence that this is indeed my great uncle is his handwritten Will which states that he wished to leave money to "my sisters Maggie & Cissie Morgan, Drumnart, Clontibret ... his brother John ... and anything remaining to his father, John Morgan...".
The bit of mystery that I am trying to solve is that I have ALSO found on Ancestry UK British Army World War One Pension Records 1914 - 1920 - "Proceedings on Discharge #14638" what appears to be the very same Arthur Morgan ... who enlisted ... but was then discharged after 210 days of service, at age 19 years, on 8 July 1916 as considered medically unfit to serve (due to poor eyesight ... which he suffered from birth ... not something the result of Military Service).
Here Arthur Morgan is shown as: No. 5272 Rank: Private; Royal Irish Rifles, 3rd Bat. Place of Discharge: Dubln. His next of kin is James Morgan, Drumnart, Clontibret, Father (should have said "John") but the key is Place of Birth: "Butt Lane North Staff."
This appears to me to be the very same Arthur Morgan ... who enlisted in late 1915 ... was medically discharged in July 1916 ... and then somwhow managed to re-enlist ... only to die in France in August 1917. I have been unable to find his enlistment papers for his 2nd round of Service ... and wondered if you might know how to locate those.
Perhaps this scenario was more common than I am aware ... have not been able to find anything on-line.
Thanks, in advance, for any comments or input.
Hope everyone is keeping safe & well ... regards from Canada.
Cam12
Sunday 15th Nov 2020, 11:48PMMessage Board Replies
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Attached Files
Hi Cam12,
I checked through the birth records between 1896 to 1900 and there were only two births registered for a Arthur Morgan, in the sub-district of Audley, Staffordshire and that was in the year 1897.
http://www.staffordshirebmd.org.uk/birthsearch.php
Arthur Thomas Morgan:
Sep Qtr., Vol 6B, Page 74, District of Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire.
Arthur Thomas Morgan was the son of Thomas Morgan and Pricilla Jones on the 1901 English Census that family were resident at Alsagers Bank, Audley, Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire.
Your Arthur Morgan:
Dec Qtr., Vol 6B, Page 57, District of Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire.
1901 English Census - 18 Attwood Street, Kidsgrove, Wolstanton, Staffordshire.
John Morgan, Head, Married, Male, age 26, Dateler in Coal Mine Below, born Ireland.
Bridget Morgan, Wife, Married, Female, age 22, born Ireland.
Arthur Morgan, Son, Male, age 3, born Butt Lane, Staffordshire.
Bridget M Morgan, Daughter, Female, age 2, Butt Lane, Staffordshire.
Arthur Grimes, Visitor, Single, Male, age 20, Loader in Coal Mine Below, born St Helens, Lancashire.
James Humphreys, Boarder, Single, Male, age 25, born Dateler in Coal Mine Below, born Ireland.
Patrick McMahon, Boarder, Single, Male, age 23, born Dateler in Coal Mine Below, born Ireland.
Thomas McMahon, Boarder, Single, Male, age 23, born Dateler in Coal Mine, born Ireland.
James McQuade, Visitor, Single, Male, age 24, born Dateler in Coal Mine, born Ireland.
Bridget Grimes, Visitor, Widow, Female, age 49, born 1852, Ireland.
The 1901 census was taken on the 1 April 1901.
1911 English Census - 169 Liverpool Road Kidsgrove Stoke on Trent, Kidsgrove, Staffordshire.
John Morgan, Head, Widow, Male, age 40, Coal Miner Datler Below Ground, born Clontibret, Co. Monaghan, Ireland.
Arthur Morgan, Son, Male, age 13, School, born Butt Lane, Staffs.
John Henry Morgan, Son, Male, age 5, School, born Kidsgrove, Staffs.
Maggie Morgan, Daughter, Female, age 10, School, born Kidsgrove, Staffs.
Charlotte Summirel, Houskeeper, Single, Female age 61, Houskeeper, born Billston, Staff.
Patrick Brennan, Boarder, Single, Male, age 29, Coal Miner Cutter Below Ground, born Clontibret, Co. Monaghan, Ireland.
James Humphrey, Boarder, Single, Male, age 30, Coal Miner Dalter Below Ground, born Derrynoose, Ireland.
The 1911 census was taken on the 2nd April 1911.
Arthur's Father is clearly known as "John" both on Census and Marriage record (attached). Afraid I can't see any reference to a Arthur with a James Morgan in Staffordshire.
The National Archives:
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-gu…
Medal Card, Arthur Morgan, Soldier Number: 5418, Rank: Private, Corps: Royal Irish Regiment
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D4128762
Medal Card, Arthur Morgan, Soldier Number: 5272, Rank: Private, Corps: Royal Irish Rifles
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D4128811
Soldiers Died In The Great War 1914-1919:
First name(s): Arthur
Last name: Morgan
Service number: 5418
Rank: Private
Regiment: Royal Irish Regiment
Battalion: 6th Battalion.
Battalion details -
Residence: Clontibert, Co. Monaghan
Birth place: Audley, Staffs
Enlistment place: Armagh
Death year: 1917
Death day: 10
Death month: 8
Cause of death: Died of wounds
Death place: France & Flanders
Theatre of war: Western European Theatre
Supplementary Notes: FORMERLY 24333, LANCERS.
Category: Armed Forces & Conflict
Subcategory: First World War
Collections from Great Britain, UK None
Source: Find My Past
Commonwealth War Graves:
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/430493…
Silver War Badge Roll 1914-1920
First name(s): Arthur
Last name: Morgan
Service number: 5272
Rank: Rifleman
Badge number: 508280
Enlistment date: 16-Dec-1915
Discharge date: 08-Jul-1916
Regiment/unit: Royal Irish Rifles.
Cause of discharge: No longer Phy. Fit. 392 xvi.
Whether served overseas: No
Badge date of issue: 15-Sep-1921
Record set: Silver War Badge Roll 1914-1920
Category: Armed Forces & Conflict
Subcategory: First World War
Collections from England, Great Britain
Source: Find My Past
The Silver War Badge was issued in the United Kingdom and the British Empire to service personnel who had been honourably discharged due to wounds or sickness from military service in World War I. The badge, sometimes known as the "Discharge Badge", the "Wound Badge" or "Services Rendered Badge", was first issued in September 1916, along with an official certificate of entitlement.
British Army Service Records:
First name(s): Arthur
Last name: Morgan
Age: 19
Birth year: 1897
Service number: 3/5272
Regiment: Royal Irish Rifles
Unit / Battalion: 3rd Battalion
Year: 1916
Series: WO 363
Series description: WO 363 - First World War Service Records 'Burnt Documents'
Archive: The National Archives
Record set: British Army Service Records
Category: Armed Forces & Conflict
Subcategory: First World War
Collections from Great Britain, UK None
WO363 documents were destroyed during the bombing of the War Office Record Store in London in September 1940. The records that survived were burnt or otherwise damaged and are known as the “burnt documents”.
Hope this helps,
Maggie McKenna, Carrickmacross.
Maggie McKenna
Thursday 3rd Dec 2020, 12:22PM
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