FrankP Posted 1 September , 2019 Share Posted 1 September , 2019 I have been trying to track the war service of Captain (later Major) John Gilbert Morgan RAMC. He served with the 1/2 Welsh Field Ambulance often attached to the 1/5th Royal Welsh Fusiliers at Suvla Bay and later in Palestine including the battles at Gaza. Although it seems that his Army record has been lost he is mentioned on several occasions in the war diaries of both the 1/2 WFA and the 1/5 RWF. The trail however ends when the Welsh Field Ambulance was disbanded in Palestine in Sept 1918. At that time he joined the 170th Combined Field Ambulance. Kew do not appear to have records for the 170th. Does anyone know where they might be found? We have photographs of him with what looks like the 170th in Turkey at Mersin, Belemedik and Bozanti. They may well have been helping Allied POWs held at camps in the area. Any information on the 170th and why they were in Turkey would very helpful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helpjpl Posted 1 September , 2019 Share Posted 1 September , 2019 Military Cross - London Gazette 18 July 1918: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30801/supplement/8467/data.pdf JP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrankP Posted 2 September , 2019 Author Share Posted 2 September , 2019 Thanks for the link JP. Probably awarded at the Third battle of Gaza but difficult to be certain. Frank P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TEW Posted 2 September , 2019 Share Posted 2 September , 2019 TNA have a diary (not digitised) for the 53rd division's 170th Indian Combined Field Ambulance which starts Aug 1918 for Egypt, Palestine & Syria. Apologies if this is not what you're looking for. TEW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrankP Posted 3 September , 2019 Author Share Posted 3 September , 2019 TEW, Thanks for this. All advice and suggestions are very welcome. I will check with John Morgan’s grandson whether this was the file that he read recently at Kew. Frank P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clk Posted 3 September , 2019 Share Posted 3 September , 2019 Hi Frank, On 02/09/2019 at 09:16, FrankP said: Probably awarded at the Third battle of Gaza but difficult to be certain For his actions on 7.11.1917. Image sourced from the National Archives Regards Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrankP Posted 4 September , 2019 Author Share Posted 4 September , 2019 Chris, Our best guess is that most of the time he was attached to the Royal Welsh Fusiliers - probably the 5th battalion. If so it is likely that the MC was awarded during the attack on Khuweilfe. The notation on this - 7 November - is consistent with this. As far as I know the RWF were not involved directly in the assault on Sheria but Khuweilfe was a supporting and adjacent action. Many thanks for forwarding this. It is another piece in the jigsaw. Is there a link to the original on the NA site? Frank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clk Posted 4 September , 2019 Share Posted 4 September , 2019 Hi Frank, The image appears on p173/268 of this free download. The associated index card is on p2374/2454 of this free download. Regards Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrankP Posted 5 September , 2019 Author Share Posted 5 September , 2019 Chris, Thanks once again for your help. It is much appreciated. Regards, Frank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrankP Posted 23 September , 2019 Author Share Posted 23 September , 2019 Just to say thanks to all those who helped with this thread. John Morgan's grandson has now read the war diary for the 170th Indian Combined Field Ambulance at Kew and it answers many questions. John Morgan was with the 170th as they headed for Turkey at the end of the war to provide medical aid to POWs. They landed at Mersin and went as far inland as Belemedik and Karapinar. Quite a story. As for the MC, with your help we now have a precise date - 7 November 1917 and a place "near Sheria". Similar but does not entirely line up with our best guess - same date but at Khuweilfa working with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. We have asked the RWF Archive at Wrexham whether they can help. Thank you again for your help and advice. They are much appreciated. FrankP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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