Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

The RSL Hall1 of Avoca, a small town in the Central Highlands of Victoria, is not used much these days. For the time being, however, it continues to house war memorabilia of various kinds—a WW1 trophy machine gun, Honour Boards2, some photographs—and the connection with veterans is maintained. One of these items, a little sad and dusty now, is a letter with an embroidered handkerchief in a glass case hanging on a side wall. It has no plaque, and the writing is a little difficult to read.

The writer gives the date as 30 July 1917, the place as 'Somewhere in France'. The letter was from Private Bill Morton, of Amphitheatre, a small settlement ten miles south of Avoca, to his married sister Ethel. He mentions their brother John, also in the army in France, his sister-in-law Lizzie, and his Amphitheatre friend George Stoddart.





Transcription:
August 30.7 1917
Somewhere in France
Dear Ethel
Just a few lines lines to let you know how things are and all the old Amphy Boys.
Well some of them I think will be on their way home if all goes well. I fancy somehow John will soon be on his way home. Last I heard of him George Stoddart saw him just a day before he was to Embark for England
(p 2) he was going to blighty on home service by all accounts. I havent had a letter from him this last 4 month or perhaps more. But some of my mates being around about the Base saw him. I had written to the enquiries office to try and get up communications again. Last note I got from there was in a rest camp they described him As Gassed Bronchitis and Deafness But dont tell Lizzie let her find out
(p 3) it wont do to let her … too much You can tell her a little and let her find out but he is a damd sight Better off than you hear getting … and … to death
I have met several of his Cobber who were with him as the time he was gassed.
Well I think this is all the news for the present. I would like to now who told them that I had been cracked two or 3 times
(p 4) glad to say I have been one of the lucky ones, in that way never had the blood draw yet But in the other way havent had a day … spell yet but looking for one shortly Well I think I must ring off as the Sencer [censor] will get tired of reading but all this he will get a headache if he reads too much.
I remain your
sincere Brother
Bill L. Morton

Leslie Morton, known as Bill, was the sixth of eight children of Thomas and Harriet Morton. He was born in 1896 at Archdale near Bealiba, about twenty miles north of Avoca. The family seems to have moved to the Avoca district from the Dunolly area about 1902.

When his mother completed the circular for the Roll of Honour compiled by the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, she stated that Leslie had been educated at Amphitheatre State School. At the time of his enlistment he was a sleeper-hewer3. He had trained as an orchardist.

Leslie Morton joined the Army on 8 March 1916 at Ararat. He was assigned to the 39th Battalion and sailed for Europe ten weeks later. He was killed on 4 October 1917 near Passchendaele.

His mother was told by a Lieutenant Hay 4:
“He was recommended the V.C for the bravest deed done on that day in capturing an enemy Machine Gun & killing the Crew. And was shot by a sniper when bringing the 2nd Machine gun.”

Leslie Morton’s file contains some correspondence about the possible award for gallantry but notes that there appears to be no recommendation to that effect. There is no mention of Leslie Morton in the unit’s war diary but there is a narrative of the “stunt” of 4 October and it notes the capture of machine guns at Beecham Farm.

The story of Morton's bravery is not at all unlikely and, exaggerated or not, it possibly gave some comfort to his mother.

Leslie Morton is buried at Tyne Cot Cemetery (Plot XXII, Row D, Grave No. 19), Passchendaele,Belgium.

Leslie was one of three brothers who enlisted.

John Charles Morton (1892 - 1957) joined up on 27 March 1916 at Hamilton. He married Charlotte Elizabeth Armstrong (known as Elizabeth or Lizzie) less than a week before enlisting. John was also assigned to the 39th Battalion and sailed with his brother on 27 May 1916. He transferred to the 3rd Pioneer Battalion in November 1916.

John was in hospital sick from late March 1917 with influenza and again in April 1917 with bronchitis and deafness. He was transferred to Number 3 Rest Camp in July 1917. Following a medical board review he was sent to England at the end of July. (These details correspond to those mentioned in Bill’s letter to Ethel, although the files do not mention gas.) John returned to Australia 19 October 1917.

Thomas Arthur Morton (1889 - 1965) enlisted on 23 October 1916 and assigned to the 60th Battalion. He was wounded on 11 July 1917 and admitted to Southwark Military Hospital suffering a gunshot wound to his leg. At the time he was serving with the 46th Infantry Battalion. He returned to Australia 21 December 1917 and was discharged 2 April 1918.

Leslie Morton has a Memorial Plaque5 affixed to his parents' grave in Amphitheatre Cemetery. It bears the inscription: "He died for freedom and honour".


From FindAGrave memorial of Harriet Morton
(permission granted from the photographer for reuse)



1. The RSL is the Returned & Services League, an association of Australian war veterans.↩
2. These bear the names of men of the town and from settlements nearby who enlisted. Some bear names selected by school, or church, or occupation.↩
3. Cutting wooden sleepers (ties) for railway lines.↩
4. This was possibly Lieutenant George Hay. The correspondence from Lieutenant Hay is referred to in a letter of 15 February 1918 from the A/District paymaster, 3rd Military District to the Office in Charge base Records at folio 42 of NAA: B2455, MORTON LESLIE.↩
5. Called the 'Dead Man's Penny’, these were bronze plaques about 5 inches in diameter, issued to the next-of-kin of British Empire servicemen killed in the War.↩

Wikitree:
Leslie (Bill) Morton (1896 - 1917)
Ethel May (Morton) Montgomery (1886 - 1957) Bill’s sister
John Charles Morton (1892 - 1957) Bill’s brother
Charlotte Elizabeth (Armstrong) Morton (1893 - 1957) John’s wife Lizzie
George Henry Stoddart MM (1895 - 1934) mentioned by Bill in his letter, also served in 39th Battalion
Harriet (Briggs) Morton (1862 - 1931) Bill's mother