S14854
MORTER, Luther Howchin
| Service Number: | 8410 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 6th Field Artillery Brigade |
| Born: | Melbourne, Victoria, 1892 |
| Home Town: | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Gilles Street Primary School |
| Occupation: | Surveyor's Assistant |
| Died: | 11 August 1974, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Adelaide Gilles Street Primary School WW1 Honour Roll (New), Adelaide Scots Church WW 1 Honour Board_2 |
World War 1 Service
| 22 Nov 1915: | Involvement Gunner, 8410, 6th Field Artillery Brigade , --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '4' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Persic embarkation_ship_number: A34 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Nov 1915: | Embarked Gunner, 8410, 6th Field Artillery Brigade , HMAT Persic, Melbourne | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement Sergeant, 8410 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Adelaide Botanic High School
Luther Howchin Morter was born in the town of Melbourne, Victoria in 1892. He was the son of Frederick Luther Morter and Janet Kerr and was the husband of Dorothy Eve Morter. Luther and Dorothy had two children — a daughter and a son. He also had two siblings: his brother, Frederick K. Morter, and his sister, Olive Jean Morter. At some point the family moved to Adelaide and Luther attended Gilles St Primary School. Before enlistment, Luther worked as a surveyor assistant. Luther was 6’2 with fair complexion, dark hair and blue eyes and weighed around 69 kgs. Luther’s religion was Presbyterian and he attended Scots Church in Adelaide.
Luther enlisted on the 14th of September 1915 at the age of 23. Luther embarked 22nd November 1915 on HMAT Persic and arrived 21st December 1915. Luther then boarded another ship in Alexandria Egypt 17th of March 1916 to proceed to France. Shortly after, on the 23rd of March, he disembarked at Marseilles in France and joined the British Expeditionary Force.
Luther spent much of his service in hospital due to a recurring case of gastritis. As of the 21st of April 1916, Luther was sent to the 7th Field Ambulance in France with a case of gastritis. Seven days later he was transferred to Divisional Rest Station. He was discharged back to his unit on May 4th. Luther was then later admitted on 11th of July to the 12th Casualty Clearing Station, just to later that day be transferred to the 13th General Hospital with gastritis again. He was invalided to England on Hospital Ship St David 12th July 1916 and admitted to the 2nd Western General Hospital the next day. He was later transferred to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital 15th December 1916. He took furlough in late December and marched in to the No 1 Command Depot 3rd January 1917.
On 16th of February 1917, he was briefly attached to A.I.F. Headquarters in London for duty, but was soon after detached and granted leave. Luther shortly returned from leave in England after 21 days on the 7th of May 1917 and was then transferred to administrative headquarters in London after being promoted to Extra Regimental Corporal on the 3rd of August.
One month later, Luther was hospitalised again and was assessed by the medical board. The 5th of September 1917, Luther was discharged. Soon after his discharge from hospital in September, on the 27th of November 1917, he married Dorothy Eve Jackson at St Georges Church and was ministered by reverend E.S Oliver. All throughout 1918, Luther continued with his administrative service on duty in England with no medical or movement entries documented.
Luther and his wife left England on the ship Osterley ship on the 11th of January 1919 to return to Australia. They arrived back in Adelaide 22nd February 1919 and Luther was discharged 18th May 1919.
After World War One, Luther and his wife Dorothy lived in Adelaide where Luther continued his surveyor career from before the war, as well as being a draughtsman. By 1932, Luther and Dorothy were living in Clarence Park, Adelaide, where they remained until at least 1950.
Luther Howchin Morter died on the 11th of August 1974. Luther is buried at Centennial Park and his name is commemorated on Honour Rolls at Adelaide Gilles Street Primary School, and Adelaide Scots Church.