Volunteers of Essendon and Flemington, 1914-1918
This group of men sailed from Melbourne on 11 May 1917 as part of Field Artillery Brigade reinforcements, arriving at Lark Hill on 19 July. The photograph was taken between this date and 1 September, when three members, including Douglas Morpeth, far right, transferred to Signals in Shefford, Bedford. Courtesy of the late Jim Frost, whose father Eric is in this photo. For identifications and comments made by Eric on the back of the photo, see below.
Morpeth D M Gunner 34131 Douglas Moore FAB 30 Clerk Single Pres
Address: Essendon, Buckley St
Next of Kin: Morpeth, David C, father, 468 Collins St, Melbourne
Enlisted: 21 Oct 1916
Embarked: A11 Ascanius 11 May 1917
Awards: Military Medal
Relatives on Active Service:
Morpeth-W-K-Cpl-890 brother
The back of the above photo, with names and comments provided by Eric Frost, and transcribed below.
1 [Ronald Edwy] Beverley
2 Leo Sykes
3 [William] Dickson
4 D[ouglas Moore] Morpeth. Partner in a Melbourne stock agent firm - a very decent chap
5 W[illiam McAlpine] Millikin was in Lincoln Stewarts a good chap and the wit of the tent.
6 Jack [John James] Joyce - mainly noted for a very happy dispostion, nothing puts him out.
7 Dick [Richard Marshall] Froomes Dick is generally looking for something to eat.
8 E[ric Swanson] Frost. not quite the larrikin he appears
Another photo from Eric Frost's collection, showing Jack Joyce, third from left, and
Douglas Morpeth, far right, Courtesy of the late Jim Frost.
Group portrait of the Signal Section of the 10th Infantry Brigade, outside the Chateau at Querrieu. Left to right, back row: 1053 Private A. Poppleton; 10840 Lance Corporal V. V. Hallissey MM; 48 Pte P. F. McKinley MM; 19121 Sapper A. S. Dawkins; 10836 Spr H. Dunn; 21132 Spr H. C. Stienhauser; 10831 Spr Edmund Abberton; Pte J. Young; 2411 Pte V. Warne; 14228 L Cpl H. H. Ford; 34131 Spr D. M. Morpeth MM. Middle row: 34185 Spr G. C. Muldoon; 10855 Spr G. H. Underwood; 2869 Spr F. J. O'Connor; 19112 Spr A. J. Williams; 21099 Spr K. Berriman; 7497 Spr W. B. Thom; 10624 Spr C. E. Hopkins; 2271 Pte E. Hynds MM; 17460 Spr G. W. Wells; 2115 Spr W. B. Bowtell; 2151 Spr J. R. C. McGhee; 19179 Spr R. J. Thompson. Front row: 16401 Spr A. L. Hager MM; 10838 L Cpl V. R. Ford; 10584 Cpl E. Benner MM; 10852 Sergeant Eric D. Strang; Lieutenant L. V. Smith MC; 10841 Sgt E. J. Hocking MM; 10843 Corporal H. Hurley; 10834 L Cpl J. Brown; 17077 Spr J. C. Wallace MM. 7 July 1918. AWM E03830.
MILITARY MEDAL WON
Mr D. C. Morpeth has received a cable
message that his son, Sapper Douglas M.
Morpeth, 3rd Section, 3rd Division Signallers,
has been awarded the Military Medal. His
brother, Lieutenant W. K. Morpeth, 21st
Battalion, was awarded the Military Cross
in August.
MILITARY MEDAL WON (1918, December 2). The Herald
(Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954), p. 8. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article242670725
Honours and Awards
Service number 34131
Rank Sapper
Unit 3rd Australian Division Signals Company
Service Australian Imperial Force
Conflict/Operation First World War, 1914-1918
Award Military Medal
Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 10 October 1919 on page 1497 at position 54
For gallantry and devotion to duty during the period 24.8.18 to 31.8.18 in the advance on the Somme towards Peronne.
As a Brigade Section linesman Sapper MORPETH was daily engaged repairing forward lines under heavy shell fire. He worked with the greatest courage under very difficult and trying circumstances throught the operations of the Brigade.
Recommended by J E Chord
Lt Colonel Commanding 10th Aust Infantry Bde
- B2455 record NAA
Sapper Douglas M Morgan requested that his medal be presented by General Birdwood during his visit to New Zealand in 1920, per B2455 file.
War Service Commemorated
Essendon Town Hall L-R
Association of Stock and Station Agents
St John's Presbyterian Church
Essendon Gazette Roll of Honour With the Colours
Scotch College - World War I Honours and Awards Website Website accessed 28/12/2020
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