Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Frederick William Morgan, known as Fred, was the youngest son of Robert and Sarah (née Wooltorton) Morgan. Robert Morgan had come to New Zealand in 1863 as a 17-year-old and resided ever after at Timaru. Born on 29 January 1885 at Timaru, Frederick was baptised on 1 March at St Mary’s Anglican Church, as were his eight siblings. He was educated at Timaru Main School. Fred married Minnie Garrett in 1913. Between 1911 and 1914 he had moved from the family home in Timaru to Khandallah, Wellington. It was there that Minnie died on 13 July 1915. She was buried at Karori Cemetery. A cabinetmaker, widowed and residing at Simla Estate, Khandallah, Wellington, Frederick William Morgan named his father as next-of-kin – Robert Morgan, 7 Dee Street, Timaru. Second Lieutenant F. W. Morgan embarked with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade of the 6th Reinforcements, 3rd Battalion, leaving from Wellington on 26 July 1916. Lieutenant F. W. Morgan returned to New Zealand by the “Mokoia” which arrived on 15 July 1918. He had married Francis Lydia Chapman on 8 May 1918 in Kent, England. Lt. F. W. Morgan was one of those present at the first social function held by the newly-formed Geraldine Ex-Servicemen’s Association in September 1927. The association was primarirly formed to keep Anzac Day alive. They would probably meet only once a year. Toasts were honoured, a roll call taken, and entertainment provided. Frederick William Morgan died on 4 November 1957 at Geraldine, aged 72 years. He was buried at the Geraldine Cemetery, a services stone marking his grave. Francis had died in 1956. Fred’s mother died in 1903 and his father in 1938 at the age of 96. Robert Morgan was the oldest ratepayer in Timaru when he died, having owned the property where he resided since 1864. And he was belived to be the oldest Freemason in the British Empire.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [22 January 2022]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [28 January 2022]; School Admission records (South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [28 January 2022]; Geraldine Cemetery headstone image (Timaru District Council) [27 January 2022]; Evening Post, 13 July 1915, Press, 21 July 1915, Otago Daily Times, 8 July 1918, Temuka Leader, 10 September 1927, Timaru Herald, 9 & 12 July 1938 (Paper Past) [21, 28 & 29 January 2022]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

No documents available. 

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC branch NZSG

Currently Assigned to

Not assigned.