A Great War M.S.M. group of four awarded to Private W. A. Morgan, Monmouthshire Regiment

1914-15 Star (2632 Pte., Monmouth. R); British War and Victory Medals (2632 Pte., Monmouth. R.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R.(225889 Pte., 1/1 Mon. R.), good very fine (4) £250-300

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals to the Monmouthshire Regiment formed by Lt. Col. P. A. Blagojevic, O. St. J., T.D..

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William A. Morgan first entered the French theatre of war as a Private in the 1st Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment in mid-February 1915. The following extract, taken from his Battalion’s history, Surrender Be Damned, is a letter written by him to the mother of Rifleman Frederick Doggett, who was killed when a dug-out collapsed at the the time of the Battle of Loss that September:

‘The accident happened on the evening of 29 September between the hours of 5 and 6 p.m. We were sheltering from the inclement weather in a dug-out which was situated about ten miles from the fire line. While we making merry over our tea, without warning the roof of the dug-out gave way. This caused your dear son and another orderly to be pinned underneath. Immediately, willing hands were on the spot, all strained every nerve to extricate them but all our efforts proved fruitless. We all did our best, but it harms me to write that our best was not good enough to save your dear son his life.’

Morgan was subsequently awarded the M.S.M. ‘In recognition of valuable services rendered with the forces in France during the War’ (London Gazette 17 June 1918), and was demobilised in February 1919.