David Thomas MORGAN
Year of Birth: 1886
Place of Birth: Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia
Date of Enlistment: 24 January 1916
Date and Place of Embarkation: 16 August 1916 at Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Ship: HMAT Boorara A42
Rank: Private
Unit(s): 31 Battalion
Regimental Number: 3590
Died: 11 May 1918
David Thomas Morgan was born in Bundaberg Queensland to David Thomas Morgan and Ellen (nee Jackson). His father was a foreman at the Millaquin Sugar Refinery. He was the third son and fifth child. Only two of the eight children survived to adulthood, including his brother, Robert, who enlisted in the AIF in 1915 and returned to Australia after being wounded in action.
David enlisted in the 31 Battalion AIF on 24 January 1916 at Toowoomba. He listed his occupation as stockman and was 29 years 9 month of age. He was described as 6 feet 1 inches tall, weighed 154 pounds with a medium complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. His religion was Church of England.
Private Morgan embarked from Brisbane on the HMAT Boorara on 16 August 1916 and arrived in Plymouth, England on 13 October 1916 and spent time with the 8th Training Battalion. On 11 December 1916, he was sentenced to 7 days detention for failing to attend 1100 parade when ordered by his superior officer.
He shipped to Etaples Frances on the Golden Eagle on 17 December 1916 and joined the 31 Battalion on 26 December.
On the 19 May 1917 at Bullecourt, Private Morgan suffered a gunshot wound to his thigh resulting in in a broken femur. He was transferred from 3 Casualty Clearing Station to the 1st London General Hospital, Camberwell, London on 25 July 1917.
After several months in hospital in England he was transferred back to Australia on the Karoola arriving on 13 January 1918. He was admitted to the 1st Australian General Hospital at Kangaroo Point in Brisbane for treatment.
On Saturday 4 May 1918 an orderly found Private Morgan on the floor of the ward’s bathroom bleeding from a wound to the neck. He was treated but died a week later from loss of blood and cardiac arrest. A Staff Nurse reported having spoken to him earlier in the morning when Private Morgan said he was feeling good and had had a good night.
A subsequent Court of Enquiry found Private Morgan had died from a self-inflicted wound.
He was buried in the Brisbane General Cemetery, Toowong, Brisbane.
Online Resources
NAA: B2455 (MORGAN D T) National Archives of Australia
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
National Library of Australia: Trove Digitised Newspapers
Queensland Registrar of Births Deaths & Marriages
Ancestry.com.au: Queensland Immigration Records 1848-1912
If you have a photograph or further information about this soldier you would like to share and add to his biography, please contact the Society at projects@cdfhs.org or leave a comment below. Thank you!