Ivor Morgan

Private Ivor Morgan – Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)

Early Life

Ivor Morgan was born in 1879 at Stockton-on-Tees, the son of William Morgan and Mary Margaret Evans, who had married in 1875 at Stockton. Both parents were originally from Wales.

1881 Census

At the time of the 1881 Census, the Morgan family was living at 5 Ellicott Street, Durham. William, aged 29, was employed as a puddler in the iron industry, while Mary was 25. Their children were Llewellyn, 4; Ivor, 2; and Henry, 2 months. All had been born locally in Stockton. Also living with them was Thomas Bates, 21, a lodger and fellow puddler.

In 1889, tragedy struck when young Llewellyn died at the age of 12.

1891 Census

By the 1891 Census, the family had moved to 13 Malakoff Street, Stockton. William, 39, was still working as an ironworker, while Mary, 35, cared for the household. Their children were Ivor, 12; Henry, 10; Gwendoline, 8; William, 5; and Alice, 5 months.

1901 Census

The 1901 Census shows the family at 49 Norfolk Street. William, now 51, was employed as a labourer at the shipyard, while Mary was 45. Their children included Ivor, 22, working as a railway boiler worker; Gwendoline, 18, a laundry sorter; William, 15, a labourer at the iron works; Frances, 8; Llewellyn, 4; and Lloyd, 1. Also in the household was Lillian Miller, 24, a visitor and dressmaker.

Marriage and Family

In 1904, Ivor married Mary Katherine Meila at Neath. Mary had been born in Workington.

1911 Census

By the 1911 Census, Ivor and Mary were living at 112 Port Tennant Road, St. Thomas, Swansea. Ivor, aged 32, was employed as a ship rivetter, while Mary was 26. Also in the household were Ivor’s younger brother Lloyd, 12, and his brother-in-law Thomas Morgan, 32, also employed as a ship rivetter.

Military Service and Death

At some point during the First World War, Ivor enlisted with the Machine Gun Corps (Infantry). The exact date of his enlistment is unknown.

Ivor Morgan
Danygraig Cemetery
credit findagrave

On 3^rd April 1916, Private Ivor Morgan died at Belton Park Military Hospital, Grantham. He was laid to rest at Danygraig Cemetery, Swansea.

Burial and Legacy

South Wales Daily Post

A notice of thanks from his widow, Mrs. Ivor Morgan, appeared in the South Wales Daily Post on 10^th April 1916, acknowledging the sympathy and support the family had received.

Ivor’s story is one shared by many Swansea men of working-class backgrounds who moved from the industrial trades of shipbuilding and ironwork into military service during the war. His grave at Danygraig stands as a reminder of the links between Swansea’s shipyard workforce and the battalions that so many of its men joined during the Great War.