Name
Lionel Morgan
16 Nov 1895
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
12/06/1916
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
2401
Hertfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BETHUNE TOWN CEMETERY
V. E. 21.
France
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Northchurch Village Memorial, St Mary’s Church Window, Northchurch, Not on the Hemel Hempstead memorials, We are not aware of any memorial in Pimlico
Pre War
Lionel was born on 16 November 1895, the son, of Amos Morgan, a shepherd, and Ruth (nee Fountain) in Pimilco, Leverstock Green, Hemel Hempstead, and one of eight children. He was baptised on 12 January 1896 at Leverstock Green.
By 1901 the family 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 and Lionel’s was a shepherds’s assistant.
The family later lived at 4, Manor Avenue, Apsley End, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, after his death
Wartime Service
Lionel had joined 1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment (a Territorial Force) as Private 2401. The Battalion had been mobilised at the outbreak of war and arrived at La Havre, France on 6 November 1914, moving immediately to Ypres. The following year they were engaged in the winter actions at Cuinchy in February, the Battle of Festubert in May and the Battle of Loos in September.
In Jun 1916 the Battalion were in the front line in the Festubert/Givenchy Sector when Lionel was wounded. Although the circumstances are not known, he died of his wounds on 12 Jun 1916 and is buried at Bethune Town Cemeterym France.
Additional Information
His father received a war gratuity of £8 10s and pay owing of £3 10s. His mother received a pension of 8s 6d a week in respect of both Lionel and his brother Edwin who served with 2nd Bedfordshire Regt and died of wounds on 1 Aug 1916.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper, Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, www.dacorumheritage.org.uk, www.bedfordregiment.org.uk/hertsrgt
