Pte 16668 Archibald Stanley Morgan

• Age: 27
• From: Southampton
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Wednesday 20th June 1917
• Commemorated at: Dickebusch New Mil Cem
  Panel Ref: III.D.7

Archibald Stanley Morgan was born on the 12th January 1890 in Southampton, the son of Alfred Morgan and his wife Emily Annie (née Cooper). His parents were both born on the Isle of Wight and were married there on the 22nd June 1885 in St Helen's Church, Hampshire. Stanley was the second of six children; he had an older brother William, and younger siblings Gladys, Clifford, Alfred and Rosie. He was baptised on 05th April 1890 at St Augustine Northam, Hampshire, England. 

In 1891 Alfred and Emily with their two sons are at 1 Van Road, Southampton. His father is a ship’s joiner. His brother, William, is aged four, Stanley is listed as Archibald S. and is 1 year old. William and Stanley are both born in Southampton.

The family moved to Newbury, Berkshire between 1891 and 1894, where his siblings Gladys, Clifford, and Alfred were born.

On the 1898 Census the family have moved to Caversham in Oxfordshire, where the youngest child Rosie is born. His parents and younger siblings Gladys, now 16, Clifford 11, Alfred 8, and Rosie, 2 are living at 109 Westfield Road, Caversham, Oxfordshire.  Older brother William and Stanley are not in the home.

On the 1901 Census the family are found at 33 Marsham Street, City of London, Middlesex, in a household with John and Alice Hancock. His father, Alfred, is aged 40, and a foreman/joiner, his mother, Emily, is  aged 35, William is 14, Stanley is 11, Gladys is 5 and Clifford is 2. 

On the 1911 Census the family have moved to Caversham in Oxfordshire, where the youngest child Rosie is born. His parents and younger siblings Gladys, now 16, Clifford 11, Alfred 8, and Rosie, 2 are living at 109 Westfield Road, Caversham, Oxfordshire. Older brother William and Stanley are not in the home. 

There is a possible census entry for Stanley; an A.S. Morgan, 21, clerk for a flour miller, born in Southampton, he is boarding at 70 Kelvin Road, Seacombe, Cheshire, with John and Bessie James and family (‘Arthur’ is written over the initials).  However SDGW state he was residing in Reading. 

Stanley enlisted at St. George's Hall in Liverpool on 31st August 1914, joining as Pte 16668 in the 18th (Pals) Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment. He gave his age as 24 years and 231 days, and his occupation as clerk, with previous service in the Berkshire Royal Artillery. He was described as being 5’ 6 and a half inches tall, weighing 118 lbs, with hazel eyes and fair hair. He states his religion as Church of England and as his next of kin was his father Alfred, of 57 Westfield R0ad, Caversham. A note in his record states his Qualifications: Driver, 1st Line transport.  

From the 23^rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03^rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. 

Stanley disembarked with his battalion at Boulogne on 07^th November 1915. Not long afterwards, on 9^th December, he reported sick to 96^th Field Ambulance, and returned to duty on the 11^th.  On 16th February 1916 he was entitled to Professional Pay Class II, and on 31st August 1916 he was awarded a good conduct badge for completion of two years’ service. Stanley was on leave to the U.K. from 22nd January 1917 to 06th February 1917. He returned from leave to the Ypres salient. The battalion was in the Dickebusch area when Pte Stanley Morgan was killed in action on 20^th June 1917, aged 27.

His headstone states that he was 28 which does not match with the details that have been researched. As such we are content to state his age as 27.

The Battalion diary records that on 20th June 1917 they were:

In huts, training and supplying cable trench working parties:   

On 20^th June 1917 Pte A. S. Morgan was recorded in the Battalion diary as killed in action, he was 27 years of age. 

An indication into how Stanley Morgan was killed comes in a report on the death of a fellow Pal in the 18th Battalion on the same day:

St Helens Examiner 07th July 1917

PRIVATE S. PARKER

Killed Whilst Out On A Working Party

Private Samuel Parker of the King's Liverpool Regiment was killed in action on the 20th of June. His wife who lives at 18 Gandy Street, Warrington received the first intimation in a letter from the Chaplain of the Battalion last week, in which he explained that Private Parker was out with a working party when a shell burst and killed him instantly. 

Stanley's death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on 29th June 1917:

MORGAN - June 20, killed in action, Private Stanley Morgan (our Stan) K.L.R., the dearly beloved second son of Mr and Mrs A. Morgan of Reading. (Deeply loved and sadly missed by all at 49b William Henry Street. Loved by all who knew him.)

MORGAN - June 20, killed in action, Private Stanley Morgan (my Stan) K.L.R. (Deeply mourned and never forgotten by his sorrowing Fiance Lil, who loved him the best misses him the most.)

[49b William Henry Street is the Liverpool address of William and Harriet Griffiths, perhaps Lil's parents)

Stanley now rests in the Dickebusch New Military Cemetery, Flanders where his headstone bears the epitaph:

“THY WILL BE DONE”

The New Military Cemetery was begun in February 1915 (in succession to the Old Military Cemetery near the Church), and was used until May 1917 by neighbouring fighting units and field ambulances. The 31st (Alberta) Canadian Infantry Battalion erected a memorial in it to 22 of their numbers who fell in April 1916. A few further burials took place in March and April 1918. The Extension was used from May 1917 to January 1918.

The New Military Cemetery now contains 624 First World War burials, including 8 unidentified. The Extension contains 547 including 5 unidentified. The two cemeteries are treated, so far as possible, as one. The Cross is placed in the Extension, opposite the entrance, and the War Stone by the roadside in the New Military Cemetery.

The site was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

Stanley earned his three medals.

We currently have no further information on Archibald Stanley Morgan, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.