Evan and Llewellyn Morgan

 This year the National Service of Remembrance was held on 8th November 2020, at the Cenotaph, in Whitehall, London. The British Legion who organise the event, complied with the necessary social distancing measures. Sadly, the numbers of those who took part in the march past was lower.

Bay Magazine was contacted by reader Brian Morgan, who wanted to share the story of his grandfather, Evan Morgan, and great uncle, Llewellyn Morgan.

Brothers Evan and Llewellyn Morgan were the sons of house joiner, Joseph and Elizabeth Morgan. At the time of the 1911 Census (see above), the family were living at 57 Aberdyberthi Street, Swansea. Evan’s occupation was an upholsterer and Llewellyn’s a copper worker.

At the time of the outbreak of the First World War, the brothers enlisted in Oxford, having joined the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 7th Battalion.

The 7th Battalion was new, having been formed during that September 1914. They landed at Boulogne on 21 September and by early November, the battalion was ordered to Salonika (Greece) and landed there later that month.

    Llewellyn’s Attestation Papers have survived, and it gives a good description of his appearance – 5ft 2½inches tall, 8.5 stone and of fresh complexion, with brown hair and eyes. Even though Llewellyn was deemed fit he was discharged for having bad eyes, and he survived the war.

The 7th Battalion were in action on the last day of the Battle of Doiran, 9th May 1917. This battle was against the Bulgarians. It was during this action that over 100 soldiers of the 7th Battalion, including Lance Corporal Evan Morgan were killed in action. During the battle from 22nd April to the 9th May, the British casualties and losses numbered 12,000. The names of those who were killed are commemorated on the Doiran Memorial, Doirani, Greece (see pics right).

    Evan had only been married to Helena Casey since September 1912 and they had one son, also named Evan Morgan, who was born in 1915.

    Evan’s name is also commemorated on the Swansea Cenotaph, Mumbles Road.

Copyright - The Bay Magazine, Winter 2020