James Lawrence MOREY

Roll of Honour - James Lawrence Morey

http://www.awm.gov.au/people/rolls/R1646200/

Service Number: 2411

Rank: Private

Unit: 10 Battalion

Service: Australian Army

Conflict: First World War, 1914-1918

Date of death: 20 November 1915

Place of death: Malta

Cause of death: Illness (Pneumonia)

Age at death: 32

Place of association: Norwood, Australia

Cemetery or memorial details: Addolorata Cemetery, Malta

Source: AWM145 Roll of Honour cards, 1914-1918 War, Army

Photograph of gravestone:

http://www.awm.gov.au/people/P10249511/collection-items/?Collection-Type=Photograph

http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/Imagine.asp?B=7986486 plus 34 more documents

From "The Islander" 18 Mar 2015 http://www.theislanderonline.com.au/story/2953448/harshest-conditions-james-lawrence-morey-1882-1915/

James Lawrence Morey was born on Kangaroo Island to James and Mary Morey in February 1882.

Very little is known of this young, strapping labourer who at 33 years old responded to the call and joined the AIF on March 25, 1915.

At Keswick, South Australia, James put his hand to paper and signed in the presence of the attesting officer that “I will well and truly serve our Sovereign Lord the King in the Australian Imperial Forces from the 25th March 1915 until the end of the War, and a further period of 4 months thereafter unless sooner lawfully discharged, dismissed or removed there-from; and that I will resist His Majesty’s enemies and cause His Majesty’s peace to be kept and maintained; and that I will in all matters appertaining to my service, faithfully discharge my duty according to law. SO HELP ME, GOD.”

Private Morey, Service number 2411, was part of the 7th Reinforcements for the 10th Battalion AIF. They embarked on the HMAT Kanowna on June 23, 1915. He arrived on the Gallipoli Peninsula in mid-September 1915. At this time, with winter approaching, conditions on the Peninsula grew harsher. The reinforcements arrived when a large number of personnel were being evacuated sick as a wave of dysentery swept through the Battalion.

James was able to bring with him a few small items from home and managed to gather souvenirs along the journey to Gallipoli. In time, his metal wrist watch, a gold ring with a stone missing, a badge, rosary beads and letters were returned to his family.

At the same time, here at home the KI Courier (October 9, 1915) was providing readers an explanation to the word ANZAC and also reported “a captured Turkish officer has just pointed out a quaint coincidence about the word ‘Anzac’. The name he says is actually a Turkish word signifying ‘only just’. Having regard to the conditions under which our gallant over-sea divisions effected their landing and made good their footing upon the precarious bluff, the applicability of the word is somewhat striking.”

Just a month after setting foot on Turkish soil, James was taken ill with gastritis and hospitalised. Unfortunately his condition deteriorated quickly and within days he was transported to the hospital ship Soudan. There for a week, he was transported to St John’s Hospital, Malta. By October 24, James’s condition was listed as “serious” with a diagnosis of acute lobar pneumonia. On November 20, 1915 Private Morey died, half a world away from his family and friends.

At home in Bulah Road Norwood, James’s family were desperate, having received news by telegram sent on November 11 that their son had taken dangerously ill. A Defence Telegram, despatched on November 25, informed Private Morey’s parents of his death. A snippet from the paymaster reported the Private being overpaid because his casualty wasn’t reported.

The 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal were awarded to Private Morey and were collected by his father James Morey who signed with his mark “X” for his son’s Victory Medal on January 8, 1923. Private Morey is buried in Addolorata Cemetery on the outskirts of the village of Paola, Malta.

Although being 33 years old when he enlisted, his headstone inscription states “aged 32”. He is among 250 Commonwealth burials.

The Islander thanks Melody Berden, Wayne Loechel and Zuzka Hucock for their collaborative work in locating the stories of so many of these young World War I heroes.