Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Born in Dundee, Scotland on the 27th February, 1912 William was the youngest son of John George Morgan. With the outbreak of WWII, 28-year-old unemployed labourer Bill enlisted to serve on the 22nd June ‘40 and thus being assured of a regular pay. He was allocated to the newly formed 2/48th Battalion and given the number SX7120.
Bill’s initial days were spent in the cold of the Pavilions, now part of the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds before heading to Woodside for preliminary training. Following pre-embarkation leave, the 2/48ththe Battalion contingent then embarked on the Stratheden for the Middle East, on the 7th November 1940, arriving on the 17th December 1940 where his Battalion completing a few months training in Cyrenaica. He was soon on his way to serve in Tobruk, Syria and Egypt and becoming one of the famed Rats of Tobruk.
By the start of April 1941, the 2/48th were in Tobruk where the dust, flies, heat, minimal water supplies and constant bombardment were quite a challenge to new enlistees. This was where Bill contracted bronchial pneumonia, causing him to spend a week in hospital.
By January ’42 Bill’s rank as Corporal was confirmed. Soon after, he was transferred as an instructor in the Trig Battalion before returning to his own battalion. He was soon involved in the fierce fighting that ensued in July. John Glenn in his book Tobruk to Tarakan succinctly describes the conditions under which the 2/48th fought. Fellow soldier Wallace Davis (SX2008) told of the events from the morning of 24th July ’42. ‘My Platoon went to ground in a vicious burst of shelling, and Lieutenant Lance Heffron crawled across to us and gave orders to move forward. As we closed in on the German position their machine guns cut hell out of us, and the ground heaved as shells and mortars exploded around. Ahead, about a dozen Jerries were running down the ridge towards us. Everyone seemed to open up at once, and they were cut to pieces.’
‘There were only three left in my section, and Lieutenant Heffron was still with us. We were about a hundred yards from the enemy when we went to ground for the last time and were out of touch with any of the 2/48th Battalion troops. Despite this Lieutenant Heffron decided we should go ahead and take the hill and hope that others would get there to support us. We were told to press on and under no circumstances were we to stop. If any of the four were hit, we were to give whatever supporting fire we could give to the remainder.
The artillery and mortars were still belting hell out of us, but as soon as the machine gun fire died down a little Lance Heffron gave the word. We got to our feet and started a slow run towards the enemy. Clarrie Brown was hit and fell, then I copped one. Lieutenant Heffron and Bill Morgan went to ground besides us.’ Lance calmly chose to go on alone but was hit in the head. ‘Thus died a splendid soldier. There was nothing we could do but lie out there under the very muzzles of the enemy guns and hope we could live through the night and then crawl out. I called to Clarrie Brown and was relieved to hear that he thought we would see the day out. Bill Morgan, who had come though without a scratch, reckoned that with a bit of luck he could get us both out that night.’
‘When it got dark, Bill and Clarrie crawled over to me and Bill gave me a drink, the last we had before he started back with Clarrie, to return with others for me.’ Clarrie was fortunate to survive as he had sustained gunshot wounds to his back and right buttock. Bill’s action in getting him to medical assistance was pivotal.
Bill’s good fortune did not last to the end of that year. He sustained a gunshot wound to his face causing him to be evacuated to a British General Hospital in November ‘42. This was reported in the Chronicle the following month and included others from his battalion. SX77O0 L-Sgt. Frank W. Hale, 2/48th, Gladstone; SX13573 A-Cpl. Henry Winn, 2/48th Eastwood. Wounded In Action. — SX8321 Pte. Clifton Farquhar, 2/48th Kybunga; SX2720 Pte. Gerald G. Godfrey, Eng., Lyndhurst Siding; SX5267 Pte. Darcy L. Goldie-Scot, 2/43rd Berri; SX7120 Pte. W. Morgan, 2/48th Prospect; SX7799 Pte. Lewis St. K. Reschke, 2/48th Rosewater.
By March he was on his way back to Australia, disembarking in Sydney for much anticipated leave.
In June ’43, Bill was mentioned in Dispatches ‘in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East during the period 1st May 1942 to 22nd October 1942.’ Over the ensuing months, he received a certificate in May, a sew on badge and a ‘brooch type’ badge in recognition of his service in September.
Back home on leave, Bill married nursing sister Nellie Meredith, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs H. Pope of Murray Bridge on the 31st March ’44. He was soon back with his battalion, training in Queensland, before heading to Milne Bay and a further promotion to A/Cpl. The tropical conditions affected so many of the troops and by May, Bill had contracted malaria and was hospitalised for the remainder of the month and subsequently allocated to restricted duties.
Finally, with the war at an end, he was discharged in September ’45.
He and Nellie continued to initially live in Argyle Street, Prospect but were disconcerted to find their home had been burgled in September ’46 with a watch and money stolen from their bedroom, despite there being no sign of a forced entry.
Aged 77, Bill died on the 30th November ’89. He is buried in the Murray Bridge Cemetery.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion