Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Family group:

Pair: Private Edgar Morgan, Somerset Light Infantry

British War and Victory Medals (8193 Pte., Som. L.I.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919 (8193 Pte., 2 Bn. Som. L.I.)

Four: Signaller Ronald Hamilton Morgan, Royal Corps of Signals

1939-45 Star; Africa Star, clasp, 8th Army; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45, all unnamed

Three: Private David Edgar Morgan, Wiltshire Regiment, killed in action, France, 12 July 1944

1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; War Medal 1939-45, all unnamed, generally extremely fine (9) £350-450

Edgar Morgan was born in Frome, Somerset on 6 July 1886. He enlisted into the Somerset Light Infantry at Frome on 17 June 1907 and served throughout the Great War, being awarded the British War and India General Service Medals. Morgan was discharged at Exeter on 31 March 1920, having completed his period of engagement. At the time of his discharge he was in possession of one red and five blue chevrons. He was recorded as being a ‘honest hardworking & good workman.’ Edgar Morgan married Alice Vincent Crossman at the Brookland United Methodist Church, Bristol, 24 December 1921. Aged 35 years at the time, his profession was listed as ‘Carpenter’. Edgar and Alice Morgan were the parents of Ronald Hamilton and David Edgar Morgan. Edgar Morgan died in Manor Park Hospital, Bristol on 13 July 1963.

Sold with Edgar and Alice’s Marriage Certificate and their Death Certificates; together with Edgar’s Discharge Certificate; Character Certificate and Certificate of Employment during the War - these worn and damaged; together with a small photograph of Edgar and a larger one of Alice in later life; a family photograph and a Christmas card photograph of the two boys (and dog). With copied m.i.c.

Ronald Hamilton Morgan was born on 24 November 1922, the son of Edgar and Alice Morgan. A Shop Assistant by occupation, he enlisted into the Army at Dorchester on 11 December 1941. Served in the Royal Corps of Signals until his release in October 1946, seeing active service with the 8th Army in North Africa and Italy. Arriving in Egypt in August 1942, he initially served with 1 Squadron 10th Armoured Division Signals. He married Shiela Mary White at the Horfield Baptist Church, Bishopstone, Bristol on 16 December 1965. Aged 43 years at the time, his profession was listed as ‘Furnishing Shop Manager’. He died on 5 August 2008.

With (damaged) Soldier’s Service and Pay Book; Certificate of Transfer to the Army Reserve; medal forwarding box addressed to ‘Mr R. H. Morgan, 4 Brook Road, Montpelier, Bristol 6’, with associated slips; Marriage Certificate; employment notes; copied wartime letter; newspaper cutting and photographs (10) of the recipient, singly and in groups at various ages.

David Edgar Morgan was born on 6 July 1925, the younger son of Edgar and Alice Morgan. Serving in the 5th Battalion Wiltshire Regiment, he was killed in action, believed to be in an explosion, on ‘Hill 112’ on 12 July 1944, aged 19 years. He was buried in the St. Manvieu War Cemetery, Cheux, Calvados, France. His death is believed to have occurred within three weeks of his arrival in France. Information from the family reports that his mother took great comfort from a dream she experienced - when her dead son came to her and told her that he was in a lovely place and she was not to worry.

With three wartime letters home, including one from France; a group photograph; letter of condolence from the Chaplain, dated 25 November 1945 - explaining that the delay in communication was due to the previous Padre being himself killed and his records destroyed; medal forwarding box addressed to ‘Mr E. Morgan, 4 Brook Rd., Montpelier, Bristol 6’, with condolence slip; Buckingham Palace condolence slip; commemorative scroll and photograph of his grave marker, with associated slips. With copied casualty and grave details.