Name
Edwin Morgan
16 Feb 1891
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/08/1916
26
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
4/6424
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CORBIE COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
Plot 2. Row A. Grave 19.
France
Headstone Inscription
UNTIL THE DAY BREAK AND THE SHADOWS FLEE AWAY
UK & Other Memorials
Northchurch Village Memorial, St Mary’s Church Window, Northchurch, Not on the Apsley End memorials, Not on the Bovingdon memorials, Not on the Hemel Hempstead memorials
Pre War
Edwin was born in Shanlock, Bovingdon, Herts on 16 Feb 1891 the son of Amos Morgan, a Shepherd, and Ruth (nee Fountain). He was one of eight children and was baptised at Bovingdon on 7 June 1891. He was also listed on the 1891 Census as a 7 week old baby when the family were living at Shanlock.
By 1901 they had moved to High Barns at Nash Mills, Abbots Langley and Amos was working as a Gardener. They had moved again by 1911 and the family were living at 9 Norcott Hill, Northchurch, Berkhamsted, where his father was again working as a Shepherd, but Edwin was staying in Militia Barracks in Hertford.
Edwin's regimental Number suggests that he was serving in 4th (Special Reserve) of the Bedfordshire regiment, but was employed at Dudswell Farm prior to enlistment in 1914.
The family lived at 4 Manor Avenue, Apsley End, Hemel Hempstead after his death.
Wartime Service
Edwin was called up as a reservist at the outbreak of war. He enlisted at Berkhamstead and volunteered to serve overseas, arriving in France on 2 Nov 1914 where he joined the 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, which had been in action since Oct 1914, at Ploegsteert in Flanders.
On 30 July 1916 the 2nd Battalion was involved in a successful attack on Maltz Horn Farm, during the Battle of the Somme. It is likely that Edwin was wounded in this attack as he died of wounds to his thigh and arm, probably at the 5th casualty clearing station in La Neuville, on 1 Aug 1916.
He is buried at Corbie Communal Cemetery Extension, France.
Additional Information
His father, A. Morgan Esq., 4, Manor Avenue, Apsley End, Hemel Hempstead, Herts., ordered his headstone inscription: "UNTIL THE DAY BREAK AND THE SHADOWS FLEE AWAY" His mother Ruth received a war gratuity of £11 and pay owing of £20 5s 6d, she also received a pension of 8s 6d a week in respect of both Edwin and his brother Lionel who served with the 1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment and died 12 Jun 1916.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper, Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, www.dacorumheritage.org.uk, www.bedfordregiment,org,uk
