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Henry Huston Morgan - lost WW1 Service Medals

Henry Huston Morgan - lost WW1 Service Medals

Posted: 22 May 2015 7:14AM GMT
Classification: Query
Can anyone please help me find these lost service medals. Henry joined the AIF in March 1915 and was wounded and died on June 28, 1915, Gallipoli. His Service No is 2007. When he died he left behind a daughter Alma Rose born to himself and Alice Steele nee Greenland. The Army stated that his medals were to be held in trust for his daughter but she never received them nor was she ever told who her real father was. Henry was a nephew to John Morgan & Agnes Furlong. The man Alice originally married was Joseph Steele, son of Richard Mayhew Steele & Cecelia Furlong and Joseph was also a nephew of John & Agnes.[Henry joined the Army under the name of Henry Eustace due to family discord]. After the death of her mother Alice in 1923, Alma Rose was raised by John & Mary Greenland. Henry now has a grandson, [my husband], 3 great grandsons, a great great grandson, a great great granddaughter and a great great great grandson. My husband is desperately trying to locate his grandfather's lost medals. Does anyone in the Greenland, Morgan, Lomax families, or anyone else, have any knowledge about where these medals might be today and does anyone know if a photo of Henry exists. Any information would be sincerely appreciated.
Yours in anticipation, Pamelae

Re: Henry Huston Morgan - lost WW1 Service Medals

Posted: 22 May 2015 7:58AM GMT
Classification: Query
Hi,
Have you contacted the War Memorial or Archives or anything to se if they are still being held OR to find out who they were sent to?

Kellie

Re: Henry Huston Morgan - lost WW1 Service Medals

Posted: 22 May 2015 9:32AM GMT
Classification: Query
If you read his service record,Alice Steele acknowledges receiving his medals.

Re: Henry Huston Morgan - lost WW1 Service Medals

Posted: 22 May 2015 9:06PM GMT
Classification: Query
Hi Helpers,

Check out the previous thread...


http://boards.ancestry.com/localities.oceania.australia.gene...

Mary

Re: Henry Huston Morgan - lost WW1 Service Medals

Posted: 22 May 2015 11:40PM GMT
Classification: Query
Hi Kellie,
Thank you for responding. Yes I know that Alice received everything that was Henry's. The last thing she received was the Plaque and she died 6 weeks after that. Alma Rose was only 9 at the time so his medals, kit etc were not handed to her. We have no idea who held the medals or where they went to. Due to the family discord involving Henry, Alice and their families I believe these families withheld all information from Alma Rose. All she knew was that her father died at Gallipoli when she was just on 1 yr old. When she married in 1936 she was told her father's name was 'Henry Eustace Steele' and this man never existed. After many years of searching for her dad [first of all looking for a Steele] I finally discovered his real name was Henry Huston Morgan son of Henry Huston Snr and Emma Wells.
Once again, thanks for responding, maybe someone else might be able to help.
Cheers, Pamela

Re: Henry Huston Morgan - lost WW1 Service Medals

Posted: 22 May 2015 11:50PM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 23 May 2015 12:15AM GMT
HI Pamela,
Have you searched for a Will or Probate etc for Alice?
How do you know the medals were to be held in trust?

EDIT TO ADD.
Who handled Alice's affairs after she died?
Someone had to organise and pay for the funeral and see to her estate.
Maybe it was the informant on her death certificate?
The funeral directors would know.
Somewhere a solicitor had to be involved and chances are they have accounts of Alice's estate and who received what.


Kellie

Re: Henry Huston Morgan - lost WW1 Service Medals

Posted: 22 May 2015 11:52PM GMT
Classification: Query
Hi thanks for responding.Yes we know that Alice received his medals, kit etc. The last thing she received was his Plaque and she died 6 weeks later. Alma Rose was only 9 at the time of her death so she would not have been given them. I knew Alma from 1961 and I know she had no knowledge of who her real father was and most definitely, had no idea that his medals even existed. Someone from one of the families concerned [or all of them] back in 1923 knew of the existance of these medals but who they were is anyones guess. It seems that after his death at Gallipoli, Henry was wiped out of existence when it came to his daughter. The medals may have been handed to his father after the death of Alice who would know. My husband is his only grandson and all he wants to do is find his grandfather's medals
Thanks again for responding,
Pamelae

Re: Henry Huston Morgan - lost WW1 Service Medals

Posted: 23 May 2015 12:13AM GMT
Classification: Query
Thanks Mary,
I know there are previous threads and I also have all that information but what I don;t have are the Service Medals that belonged to Henry and were to be held in trust for his daughter Alma Rose. Someone somewhere must have an inkling where these medals are today unless, of course, they were disposed of after the death of Alice so that all links to Henry were eliminated. Hopefully this did not happen as his only grandson is desparately trying to find them.
Pamelae

Re: Henry Huston Morgan - lost WW1 Service Medals

Posted: 23 May 2015 12:38AM GMT
Classification: Query
Thanks again Kellie. I know from the death certificate that the informant was an agent from the Melbourne Hospital. Her death was very sudden, she became ill and only lasted 3 weeks. It also states on the certificate that she was known as 'Miller' and that she is buried in the Footscray Cemetery where her mum was buried. As for Alma Rose, I am totally convinced that all the information, medals etc., and the name of her real father were kept from her, possibly to save her embarrasement in later life. It seems poor Henry was wiped out of existence. I think it is very sad that this was done as Henry, Alice and Alma Rose now have many descendants. His only grandson would dearly love to find these medals.
I will try and find a will but I doubt she had one.
Cheers
Pamela

Re: Henry Huston Morgan - lost WW1 Service Medals

Posted: 23 May 2015 12:49AM GMT
Classification: Query
Just a quick one. First page of War Record states from Army that the medals are to be held in trust for "his ex-nuptiual daughter Alma Rose". There is quite a lot of correspondence in there between the Army and Alice and also an internal letter requesting one department make 'discreet' enquiries regarding relatives.
Pamela
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