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Morston's Military Personnel
Compiled by John C Algar,  © 2004
from information provided by
J.J.R.Wingfield

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together with
several links to various useful and informative external websites

Whilst the information shown below relates to just some of the
Individuals from Morston who 'Served their Country' during various 'conflicts',
a full list of  those who are commemorated within Morston Church
and who gave their lives in the 1914-1918 and 1939-1945 World Wars
together with other military men who lost their lives in earlier years,
can be viewed at the excellent website of;-











Morston's Military Personnel






Coming soon   
"East Anglia; Birthplace and Home of the Powditch's;
Part 1. Norfolk"
++++++++++










Morston's Military Personnel






Coming soon   
"East Anglia; Birthplace and Home of the Powditch's;
Part 1. Norfolk"
ARMY
1902
Philip Hamond, at the age
of 18, at Rooival in the Boer
War, became the youngest
regular officer to that date to
earn a  DSO
NAVY
 WW1 (1914-1918)
1914
(WWI)
When WWI broke out,
members of the Coastguard
were taken out of the
Coastguard Cottages and
drafted into the Royal Navy,
in Destroyers.
ARMY
WW1 (1914-1918)
1914
(WWI)
Philip Hamond re-enlisted in
the  Norfolk Regiment and
won an  MC and (as a
Major), a second   DSO
NAVY
WW1 (1914-1918)
1914
(WWI)
Leading Stoker (Coastguard)
John Morris - lost at sea
during WWI.  He had been
serving on  HMS Hogue,
R.N. and died in 1914 after the
ship was  torpedoed in the
North Sea
NAVY
WW1 (1914-1918)
1914
(WWI)
Leading Seaman Alec Gray
(son of the Townshend Arms
publican) was lost at sea
during WWI.  He had been
serving on  HMS Vanguard,
and died at Scapa Flow, in
1914, aged 16 years old.
ARMY
WW1 (1914-1918)
Nov 1916
(WWI)
 Private George J. Balding
Norfolk Regiment, was killed
in France - just after the
He was shot in the August and
died of his wounds in
November.
ARMY
WW1 (1914-1918)
1916
- 1918
(WWI)
 Sergeant  Robert Diamond
("Di") Jubilee Bean of the
awarded the  MM and DCM.  
(he had been George
Balding's  platoon sergeant).
ARMY
WW1 (1914-1918)
1918
(WWI)
Major Philip Hamond of the
Norfolk Regiment, was part
of the British Military Mission
that was sent to the USA to
Serving as British Liaison
Officer at  Camp Colt,
Hamond instructed the
Americans in the method of
 'Tank Warfare' alongside
in later years became the
4-star General and President
of the USA).
Although  the "Tank" had
1916, and had proved its
worth in many succesful battles,
by 1918 the Americans still
didn't actually own such a
vehicle, so Major Philip
Hamond had to teach them
how to operate one.
 (Click here to visit an excellent website regarding WW1 tanks)  
ARMY & NAVY
 WW2 (1939-1945)
1939-1945
(WWII)
Young Morstoners enlisted or were later called up, including
men from the village's families of Balding, Bean, Gotts,
Hamond and Starman
ARMY
WW2 (1939-1945)
1942
(WWII)
 Gunner Edward G. Balding,
nephew of George J. Balding
(see above) lost his life at
Rommel's Siege of Tobruk in
Libya.  He was aged 24 years
old.
NAVY
WW2 (1939-1945)
1942
(WWII)
Petty Officer Leslie J.
Docking,  MVO, R.N., lost
his life at sea whilst  serving
on  HMS Avenger, which
was in  convoy PQ-18.  The
ship was torpedoed off
Gibraltar.  He was aged 27
years old.
ARMY
WW2 (1939-1945)
1943
(WWII)
 Captain Renton Walker,
attached to the  RIASC, lost
his life in Delhi, India.
ARMY
WW2 (1939-1945)
1943
(WWII)
 Sapper RE, Frederick C.
Starman lost his life at sea
when on board the SS Yuma.  
The ship was torpedoed off
Libya.  He was aged 23 years
old.
THE FOLLOWING REPRESENT JUST A SMALL RANGE OF
 EXCELLENT WEBSITES WHICH I HAVE USED
AND FOUND TO BE MOST INFORMATIVE
ON THEIR RESPECTIVE SUBJECTS
 Boer War (1899-1902)
For useful information regarding the (South African) Boer War,
have a look at the following website.
 WW1 (1914-1918)
An excellent website to view for information on nearly all aspects of
the First World War, can be found at:
whilst a sort of Search Engine for that period can be viewed at
Norfolk Regiment;      9th (Svc) Battn. Norfolk Regiment;   
Royal Norfolk Regiment;    11th Regt. RHA (HAC)
The following websites provide much information on these Regiments;-
and
and for information relating to the above and other Regiments, look at;-
 RIASC  ( = Royal Indian Army Service Corps)
Information regarding the RIASC can be found on the
'Google' Search Engine,
For information regarding Medals etc during World War 1
please click on the following links;-
 For the MC (Military Cross):  
 For the MM (Military Medal):  
 For the DSO (Distinguised Service Order):

Back  
 For the DCM (Distinguished Conduct Medal):

 For the MVO (Member of the Royal Victoria Order):  

 The "Tank" had been invented by the British in 1916
 The first ever tank skirmish;
  'Tank Warfare'
There are several good websites relating to "tanks", their
history and their usage in World War 1, of which the following
are worth viewing;-

 "American Army tank warfare"
 Camp Colt, Pennsylvania, USA
  Major "Ike" Eisenhower
Although Camp Colt (at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) was definitely
a tank training camp in 1918,
I have been unable to find a website which relates to any
British involvement in any "Tank Training" there.
Several websites however refer to Dwight D Eisenhower, and
of his being at that Camp in 1918, so I have therefore included these for
background information
(Part III refers to his early Military career)

 HMS Avenger
This website provides much information c/w photographs etc of this ship
 HMS Hogue
At least three sections of the following website relate to HMS Hogue
For details of the ship's History:   www.clarke-rowland.freeserve.co.uk/ach.htm
For details of the ship itself:    www.clarke-rowland.freeserve.co.uk/Hogue.htm
Back
 HMS Vanguard
(Sank 9 July 1917)
Here is an interesting website re the HMS Vanguard, with an excellent database listing,
not only each member of the crew and those on board, but also details of their
rank, age, parentage, last known address, etc
For details of the ship:  www.gwpda.org/naval/vanguard.htm
For a database of Casualties at Chatham:   www.gwpda.org/naval/vancchat.htm
 Convoy PQ-18  and U-boats
A specialist website devoted to uboats and to their 'exploits'
together with much more information.
 WW2 1939-1945
a sort of Search Engine for that period can be viewed at
Some Oxford University Dictionary explanations
for the following Army ranks;-
 Private
An ordinary Soldier other than Officers (*and recruits).
N.B.  A Private Soldier First Class, is a soldier ranking above
ordinary private, but below officers.                 
 Sapper
Soldier of Royal Engineers (especially as official term for
Private.)
 Gunner
An artillery soldier (especially as an official term for Private).
A Master Gunner is an R.A. warrant officer in charge of
equipment etc in a fort, or similarly employed.
 Sergeant
A non-commissioned Officer next below Warrant Officer
 Captain
An Officer of rank below Major and above Lieutenant
 Platoon Sergeant
A 'Platoon' is a subdivision of a company; a tactical unit
commanded by a Lieutenant and usually divided into three
sections.
[Historically] a small infantry detachment, especially a unit for
volley-firing etc.
(For Sergeant, see above)
 Major
An Officer next below Lieutenant-Colonel and above Captain