MORELL, Henry Herbert
| Service Number: | 150 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Captain |
| Last Unit: | 51st Infantry Battalion (WW1) |
| Born: | Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia, 15 September 1893 |
| Home Town: | Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Grazier |
| Died: | Caloundra, Queensland Australia , 11 October 1964, aged 71 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Caloundra Cemetery, Sunshine Coast |
| Memorials: | Cowra & District Great War Honor Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 21 Dec 1914: | Involvement Private, 150, 6th Light Horse Regiment, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '2' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Suevic embarkation_ship_number: A29 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Dec 1914: | Embarked Private, 150, 6th Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Suevic, Sydney | |
| 9 Aug 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 6th Light Horse Regiment | |
| 13 Mar 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 51st Infantry Battalion (WW1) | |
| 20 Aug 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 51st Infantry Battalion (WW1) | |
| 3 Sep 1916: | Wounded AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 51st Infantry Battalion (WW1) | |
| 3 Jun 1917: | Honoured Military Cross, Mouquet Farm | |
| 1 Jan 1918: | Promoted AIF WW1, Captain, 51st Infantry Battalion (WW1) |
Help us honour Henry Herbert Morell's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Henry was a 21-year-old grazier when he enlisted in the original 6th Light Horse Regiment in New South Wales. His brother Roy was a Sergeant in the same unit.
He was promoted to Corporal at sea on the way to Egypt. His unit was sent to Gallipoli on 15 May 1915 and Henry was promoted to Sergeant on 9 August 1915 during the August offensives.
After the evacuation of Gallipoli Henry was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant and transferred to 51st Battalion in Egypt during March 1916. Only two weeks before the battalion’s attack on Mouquet Farm, Henry was promoted to Lieutenant in the field. He was recommended for the Military Cross during the ferocious bomb fighting that took place in and around Mouquet Farm on 3 September 1916. The recommendation reads: “For consistent meritorious work as Battalion Bombing Officer during the periods 13/17 August 1916, and 2/5 September 1916 when the Battalion was engaged in active operations at MOUQUET FARM near POZIERES. On 3rd September 1916 Lieutenant Morell had charge of the Battalion Bombing party which assisted in the attack on MOUQUET FARM. Although wounded in the knee, Lieutenant Morell continued to lead his men, and the party did splendid work "mopping up" and clearing the dugouts in the farm. A machine gun was destroyed and the crew either killed or taken prisoners. Later, the enemy counter-attacked in force and the remainder of Lieutenant Morell’s party were forced to withdraw, fighting gallantly under their Officer, who although wounded himself, assisted personally in getting three other wounded men to cover. His personal courage and gallant leadership on this occasion was a splendid example to his men.” Henry admitted to hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound to his knee. He returned to 51st Battalion during November 1916.
On 4 October 1917, while in London, Henry married Jean Amphlett, an Australian girl who was in England with her mother, and during January 1918 was promoted to Captain and served until he returned to Australia in November 1918.
His brother Major Roy Morell DSO, OBE, 5th Machine Gun Battalion returned to Australia in 1919. Another brother Major Throsby Morell MC, died of self-inflicted injuries in France on 27 February 1919. A third brother, Lt James Francis Morell 45th Battalion was returned to Australia in June 1918 by approval of the G.O.C. AIF, General William Birdwood.