Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War 1917 ‘Western Front’ M.M. group of three awarded to Private C. M. Morgan, 1st Battalion, Wellington Regiment, New Zealand Expeditionary Force, a gallant stretcher bearer, who was wounded in action, 17 August 1917, and suffered from shell shock, 3 May 1918

Military Medal, G.V.R. (11785 Pte C. M. Morgan. 1/Well: R.); British War and Victory Medals (11785 Pte. C. M. Morgan. N.Z.E.F.) mounted for display, lacquered, generally very fine or better (3) £700-£900

M.M. London Gazette 28 September 1917. The original recommendation states:

‘At La Basse Ville on 31st July 1917, this stretcher bearer, after carrying wounded all day, moved forward to the village that night. Throughout the next day in broad daylight he evacuated wounded from the front line over open ground and under heavy shell fire. He dressed the last wounded man of his company in the open in Basse Ville village under heavy shell fire, and though exhausted by continuous work for two days and a night, with the assistance of another man he carried the wounded man out - a journey which took three hours. He showed the utmost courage and devotion to duty.’

C. M. Morgan was born in December 1889, and attested for the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in January 1916. He served with the 1st Battalion, Wellington Regiment in the French theatre of war from July 1917. Morgan served as stretcher bearer with the 7th Company, and was awarded his M.M. for gallantry during the action at La Basse Ville, Messines, 31 July - 1 August 1917. During the latter action the Battalion suffered casualties of 1 officer and 18 other ranks killed, 1 officer and 54 other ranks wounded, and 17 other ranks suffering from shell shock.

Morgan received a gun shot wound to his right leg, 17 August 1917, and suffered from concussion and shell shock, 3 May 1918. He was discharged in New Zealand, 14 October 1918, and died in Wanganui, 3 December 1953.

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