Volunteers of Essendon and Flemington, 1914-1918

 

 

Morgan A J        Pte    3179    Albert Joseph      22 Inf Bn    18    Apprentice boilermaker    Single    C of E

Address:    Essendon, Primrose St, 100   

Next of Kin:    Morgan, Albert J, father, 100 Primrose St, Essendon   

Enlisted:    26 Jul 1915       

Embarked:     A73 Commonwealth 26 Nov 1915   

Prior Service: 58th Senior Cadets, still serving

 

Returned to Australia, 17 Mar 1917     7th Battalion, Private.

 

A SUGGESTION.

To the Editor of "The Advocate."

Sir,—As one of the many hundreds of "diggers" who accepted the invitation

last week, I was highly gratified with the "Welcome Home" extended

to us by the Catholic Women's Club. However, as another is to be held, I

desire to offer a humble suggestion. Make the musical programme Australian

and military. The absence of such in last week's programme marred

an otherwise splendid evening. We expected to find the Australian flag in

the place of honour, but found its place usurped by the Union Jack, and

for a few minutes by the Irish flag. Surely one of our many (though

none official) National Anthems could have been rendered, also "Australia

Will Be there" and "The Rose of No Man's Land"; and would not C. J.

Dennis' "Singing Soldiers" have been appropriate? Perhaps it will be said

that these are not classics, but they are popular, and would have roused

enthusiasm. And inexplicable also was the omission of "Home, Sweet

Home," which would have more fittingly concluded the programme than

"God Save Ireland" in the circumstances. My motto is: Everything in its own

time and in its own place - Yours, etc.,

A.J. MORGAN

7th Battalion.

Essendon, 14/7/19

 

A SUGGESTION. (1919, July 19). Advocate

(Melbourne, Vic. : 1868 - 1954), p. 17. R

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article170945452

 

CORRESPONDENCE WELCOME HOME TO CATHOLIC SOLDIERS.

To the Editor of "The Advocate."

Sir,—In your issue of 19th inst. appeared a letter over the signature of

one A. J. Morgan, Essendon, complaining of the absence of Australian

and military items at Catholic Welcome Home in Town Hall on 10th

inst.

As a returned digger—and I feel sure I am backed by a great majority

of my comrades—our tastes could not have been better suited. If the writer

has no idea of music, then I'm sorry for him; but what could have been

better received than were the splendid items of the artists who so kindly

contributed? I feel sure Mrs. Knowles and committee could not do better

than give as near as possible the same programme on next occasion.

As for military items, nothing is so objectionable to a dinkum soldier.

Surely we had enough of that class of music during four years of war, and

the committee showed good judgment in omitting them, especially now that

we have peace and have come home longing for something to make us forget

military and the hell we have been through. "God Save Ireland" also

seems to have displeased the writer; but if he is not Irish—well, that's his

misfortune, not the fault of the committee.—Yours, etc.,

ERIC CARROLL.

Kew, 21/7/19. 

 

CORRESPONDENCE (1919, July 26). Advocate

(Melbourne, Vic. : 1868 - 1954), p. 25.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article170945886

 

 

CATHOLIC SOLDIERS' WELCOME HOME.

 

To the Editor of "The Advocate."

Sir,—It was only after representation from many friends, whose spokesman I

became, that I ventured to offer the suggestion in your columns. My contention

was that the programme should have been Australian, and with a military

flavour. Mr. Carroll's reference to the nausea caused by war memories is

naught but a fine mock-heroic, nor does his opinion of the programme prove

that he is musical, or that I am the contrary. I, and others who support

my contention, can enjoy an Irish programme with as much enthusiasm as

any son of Erin, in its due place and at its proper time. The fact remains that

it was essentially an Australian night, yet no Australian item was included.—

Yours, etc.,

A. J. MORGAN,

Essendon, 28/7/19.

7th Battalion.

CATHOLIC SOLDIERS' WELCOME HOME.

(1919, August 2). Advocate (Melbourne, Vic. : 1868 - 1954), p. 13.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article170946120

 

To the Editor of the "Advocate."

Sir,—In reading over Mr, A. J. Morgan's letter in "The Advocate" of July

19th I was amazed at its inconsistency. He states that at the Catholic Welcome

Home to Catholic soldiers, sailors, and nurses, the place of the Australian flag

was usurped by the Union Jack, and, for a few minutes, by the Irish flag.

When Mr. A. J. Morgan landed in Melbourne and received his Australian

welcome home, he should have observed the Union Jack floating from the

top of the Melbourne Town Hall in place of the Australian flag. I have

not read that he protested.

 

Furthermore, on similar occasions. he should have observed that hundreds

of Australian soldiers wore badges whose colours were red, white, and

blue, which have an English origin, and in which there is nothing distinctively

Australian. Yet I have not read that he protested; certainly, if he had

written to the "Age," "Argus", or "Herald" about the matter, his letter

was not published. En route in the welcome home processions,

as well as at the receptions to returned Australian soldiers in

town halls, etc., "God Save the King" was played or sung; yet he made no

suggestion that one of our many— though none official—National Anthems

could have been rendered. If he had carefully examined the

Australian flag, he would have found it is a Union Jack, bordered on It

outer, middle, and lower sides by bunting or other material, with a red

or blue background, in which are inserted a number of stars representing

the Southern Cross. The upper and principal portion of this flag is a

Union Jack. How, then, in the name of common sense, could the Union Jack

usurp the Union Jack?

 

The above description of the Australian flag reminds me: Certain rabid

Imperialists have lately displayed a so-called Irish flag, also with the

Union Jack in its upper and principal corner, next the flagstaff. To try to

incorporate the flag of lreland's oppressor and enemy in an Irish flag is

the greatest insult that can be offered to the latter. It is as great an

atrocity as if a person were to cut off a man's head and put a wooden

head in its place. Whatever the Union Jack may symbolise in other

countries, in Ireland it has always been the symbol of dire oppression, unrelenting

tyranny, of a governmental policy which would crush out the very

first principles of freedom and justice; there it is the banner of slavery, not

of freedom. Accordingly, its appearance on an Irish flag is an outrage on

civilisation and a disgraceful violation of just rules governing the use of

flags. Mr. A. J. Morgan seems to forget he was privileged to be present at a

Catholic welcome home to Catholic soldiers, sailors, and nurses. As the vast

majority of Catholics in Australia are Irish or of Irish descent, and because

the Catholic Church in this southern land was mainly built up by the Irish

race—(the contribution of Englishmen to its foundation and progress is negligible

In comparison)—it is most appropriate that the Irish flag should have a

special place of honour in all Catholic gatherings where flags are

displayed; and never should the Union Jack be allowed to usurp its place. At

the Catholic welcome home In the Melbourne Town Hall, which his Grace

Dr. Mannix—who is a great Irishman as well as a great Australian—honoured

with his presence, it was most fitting that the Irish flag should precede

him to the platform, and be given there a place of honour apart from

the other flags shown. For the aforesaid reasons, also, Irish songs should

have been rendered, and "God Save Ireland" fittingly concluded the programme.

 

If Mr. A. J. Morgan's motto is: "Everything in its own time and in its

own place," I sincerely hope he will carry it out in practice. When Australia

has a distinctively national flag, and distinctive colours, like other nations,

as France, Ireland, and the United States, then he can write with

some show of reason and consistency, but even then it would be most appropriate

that an Irish flag should be placed alongside a real Australian flag

in every Catholic gathering. —Yours, etc.,

MIDHE.*

August 3rd, 1919.

 

To the Editor of the “Advocate.” (1919, August 9). Advocate

 (Melbourne, Vic. : 1868 - 1954), p. 16.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article170946359

 

*  ie, Meath, a county in Ireland.

 

CATHOLIC SOLDIERS' WELCOME HOME.

To the Editor of "The Advocate."

Sir,—I did not expect to have to write again, but it seems I must write

more directly in order to justify my original remarks. Much of what Mr,

Carroll writes this week is, in a general way, true; but there can always be

an exception, especially when the circumstances justify it. I had no desire

to belittle the splendid efforts of Mrs. Knowles and her able assistants; my

object was solely to offer a suggestion in view of the fact that it is proposed

to hold another "Welcome Home." And so, what I have been endeavouring

to convey I will now state categorically:—

1. It was an Australian and military function.

2. We are all ready enough to cry, "Australia First," but too few put it into practice.

3. We all honour the Irish-born Sinn Feiner for defending his views and placing

Ireland before all else.

 

But the Australian (even though he be of Irish origin, like Mr. Carroll and myself)

who puts even Ireland before Australia must stand convicted of inconsistency.

He praises the Irishman who puts Ireland first, yet he himself is contented

with putting his own second. My intention in writing was in order

to develop a deeper sentiment in Australian affairs, not to cast reflections

on others, or to open a controversy. Hence, for my part I am satisfied,

and trust that the correspondence will end here. I hope, however, that

it will incite the lukewarm Australian to put Australia first every time, and

then, if he likes, let him place Ireland a good second to his own.—Yours, etc.,

A. J. MORGAN,

7th Battalion.

Essendon, 9/8/19.

P.S.—The anonymous remarks of "Midhe" are either contrary to facts

or irrelevant.

 

CATHOLIC SOLDIERS' WELCOME HOME.

(1919, August 16). Advocate

(Melbourne, Vic. : 1868 - 1954), p. 24.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article170946551

 

War Service Commemorated

Essendon Gazette Roll of Honour Wounded

Regimental Register

Welcome Home 7 Nov 1918