MORTON, Captain Alfred Bishop

Captain Alfred Bishop MORTON

6^th New Zealand Contingent (Boer War)

Headquarters New Zealand Infantry Brigade (WW1)

By Ian Curtis

Captain Alfred Bishop Morton
“Sed Miles, sed pro Patria”¹
(Source: aucklandmuseum.com)

Alfred Bishop Morton was born 18 February 1882 in Devonport, Auckland, New Zealand, the son of William Edmund and Elizabeth Ayerst (nee Bishop) Morton. William was born in Clerkenwell, Borough of Islington, Greater London in April 1848 and at the age of 12, commenced in the printing business. Three years later he travelled to Auckland with his parents where his father built a very successful printing business, H B Morton and Company. Elizabeth was born in Rovenden, Ashford Borough, Kent England in December 1857. William and Elizabeth married in New Zealand in 1879 and had five children, four boys and one girl Alfred the second eldest.

Alfred attended Devonport Primary School² before going to Auckland Grammar in 1897 and gained his first military training as a member of the Grammar School Cadets. At the age of 16 years, he entered the family business H B Morton & Co, Auckland and the same year he joined Auckland College Rifles on 30 November 1898. The Auckland College Rifles were formed in 1897, the original members of which were recruited from the Secondary Schools of Auckland.

The coat of arms which was adopted took the form of a Maltese Cross, in which was embodied the lion of the Auckland Grammar School, the crown of King’s College and the three stars of St John’s College. Hence the name of “College Rifles”. Colonel Charles Thomas Major, C.B.E., D.S.O., V.D. was the organiser and within a very short space of time he had a unit that was to make an enviable name for itself in the fields of military affairs. On 14 July, 1897, members of the Volunteer Corps met and decided to form the College Rifles Rugby Football Club. College Rifles Rugby Club now provides playing opportunities for both senior and junior members.³

(Source: Aucklandmuseum.com)

At the age of 18, Alfred volunteered for service in South Africa, sailing from Auckland, New Zealand aboard S S Cornwall on 30 January 1901 with the 6^th New Zealand Contingent (total strength 602) as a private. 3258 Private Alfred Bishop Morton stood 5 feet 11 ½ inches tall, weighed 10 stone 3 pounds and gave his religion as Church of England. He also said he was 20 years and 3 months old. The contingent was formed in December 1900 to replace the 1^st Contingent that had returned to New Zealand. Service in the 6^th Contingent was restricted to men from the Volunteer Force or who had prior military experience, under the Command of Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Banks. ⁴ His early mentor, then Major C T Thomas departed with the 5^th Contingent New Zealand Imperial Bushman and was awarded the DSO whilst in South Africa. The 6^th Contingent took part in the fighting in Transvaal, Orange River Colony, on the Natal Border and in the Cape Colony. Alfred was awarded the Queens Medal with five clasps for his service. He served 1 year and 27 days abroad and was discharged in Wellington at the completion of his service. Lieutenant Colonel Banks wrote on Alfred’s Certificate of Discharge, ‘Character Exemplary.’

On return to Auckland in 1902, Alfred returned to the employment of H B Morton and Coy in Auckland as a clerk, however, Alfred’s heart was in a military career and he joined ‘A’ Battery, New Zealand Artillery on 1 March 1903 and quickly moved through the ranks from gunner to sergeant major by 1907 before being recommended for promotion to Lieutenant.

The Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery’s predecessor units in the Volunteer Force date from February 1866, when the first field artillery battery and naval artillery corps were formed. From 1878 the various field batteries were administrative grouped together as the New Zealand Regiment of Artillery Volunteers and were designated alphabetically. The naval artillery batteries were grouped as the New Zealand Garrison Artillery Volunteers in 1902. Meanwhile, the establishment of coast defences from the mid-1880s had necessitated the creation of a small permanent artillery force within the Permanent Military, which was designated the Royal New Zealand Artillery (RNZA) on 15 October 1902. Following the formation of the Territorial Force in 1911 the Regiment of New Zealand Field Artillery and the New Zealand Garrison Artillery Volunteers became part of the New Zealand Artillery. During this time the permanent RNZA maintained an instructional and cadre role. ⁵

Alfred’s greatest opportunity to enter a military career came when the New Zealand Territorial system was organised and as a Lieutenant was appointed to the position of Group Officer No 2 Area, and Adjutant 6^th (Hauraki) Regiment, Paeroa in 1911. On 17 June he was also awarded the New Zealand Voluntary Service Medal.

The Defence Act 1909, which displaced the old volunteer system, remodelled the defences of the dominion on a territorial basis, embodying the principles of universal service between certain ages. It provided for a territorial force, or fighting strength, fully equipped for modern requirements, of thirty thousand men. These troops, with the territorial reserve, formed the first line; and the second line comprised rifle clubs and training sections. Under the terms of the Act, every male, unless physically unfit, was required to take his share of the defence of the dominion. The Act provided for the gradual military training of every male from the age of 14 to 25, after which he was required to serve in the reserve up to the age of thirty. From the age of 12 to 14, every boy at school performed a certain amount of military training and on leaving, was transferred to the senior cadets, with whom he remained, undergoing training, until 18 years of age, when he joined the territorials. After serving in the territorials until 25 (or less if earlier reliefs were recommended), and in the reserve until 30, a discharge was granted; but the man remained liable under the Militia Act to be called up, until he reached the age of 55. As a result of Lord Kitchener’s visit to New Zealand in 1910, slight alterations were made—chiefly affecting the general and administrative staffs and which included the establishment of the New Zealand Staff Corps—and the scheme was set in motion in January, 1911. Major-General Sir Alexander Godley, of the Imperial General Staff, was engaged as commandant.

In 1913, now Captain Alfred Morton was transferred to Auckland as officer-in-charge of No 1 Area Group. His duties included the organisation of the Senior Cadet force and he brought to his work, unflagging zeal and enthusiasm which characterised all his military life. On 29 August 1914, Alfred was awarded by the Commander New Zealand Forces the New Zealand Service Medal for Long and
Efficient Service. He was also at the time a member of the Auckland Officer Club.

The 1910 -1911 Territorial Force of some 30,000 men, with permanent staff and an expanded General Headquarters, new weapons and improved training meant that when World War One broke out on 4 August 1914, New Zealand was able to offer Britain an expeditionary force immediately.

10/512 Captain Alfred Morton New Zealand Staff Corps, now 32 years old, was appointed Staff Captain to the Infantry Brigade under the command of Brigadier General Francis Earl Johnston, Prince of Wales (North Staffordshire Regiment) and Brigade Major Arthur Cecil Temperley (Norfolk Regiment) and departed with the Main Expeditionary Force.  The 8454-strong New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) left Wellington in October 1914, aboard HMNZT Maunganui and after linking up with the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) steamed in convoy across the Indian Ocean, expecting to join British forces fighting on the Western Front.  The British authorities decided to offload the Australian and New Zealand expeditionary forces in Egypt to complete their training and bolster the British forces guarding the canal. In February 1915, elements of the NZEF helped fight off an Ottoman raid on the Suez Canal and suffered its first casualties. The repulsed attack saw 3,000 Turks killed, wounded or taken prisoner. Whilst in Egypt Alfred was offered command of the Māori Battalion, with promotion in rank but he refused it, preferring to remain with his comrades.

On the night of 23 April Alfred sent his last letters home and wrote in his diary, ‘The Turks and Germans are all ready waiting for us and we and others shall not keep them waiting for long.’⁶ The last entry in Alfred’s diary is a message from Brigadier General E N Woodward, Deputy Adjutant General, Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, ‘The King wishes you and your Army every success and you are all constantly in his Majesty’s thoughts and prayers.’⁷

On 25 April 1915 Alfred went ashore at Gallipoli and rendered splendid service in a time of unparalleled stress and hardship for all that took part. On the following Sunday, Alfred requested permission from Colonel F Johnston, Officer in Charge of the New Zealand Brigade, who had only just arrived at Gallipoli after suffering from gastro-influenza, to relinquish his staff duties and lead a company of the Otago men in to the attack on Baby 700.

The attack plan developed by Major General Alexander Godley, commander of the New Zealand Military Forces and led by Colonel Johnston who did not conduct a reconnaissance of the difficult terrain which needed to be covered by his men prior to the attack, resulted in many units not reaching their assigned starting positions by the designated start time. The attack was beaten off with heavy casualties.

Captain Alfred Bishop Morton was initially reported as missing and later presumed taken prisoner. In a letter to his parents from Colonel Johnston, he stated, ‘On the night of May 2, I had sent Captain Morton with the Otago Battalion, and he was to join me later with his report. The attack was beaten back, and the Otago Battalion, had to dig itself in. Captain Morton spoke to Colonel Moore early on May 3, and then went to take some of the left trenches. From all I can hear, he was last seen leading some of the 8^th Otago, at some Turks. One man said he saw him fall. I would have written sooner, but at first I though he might be alive and able to fight his way back to our lines, or that some of the parties helping the wounded might find him…. He was brave, of course, and fell gallantly. We had become very firm friends in the eight months we served together, and I, personally, was very fond of him. He was always most cheery and happy.’

Charles Bean wrote, ‘There seems to be no evidence that Captain Morton died of wounds at Quinn’s Post. It seems far more likely that he was killed in action while fighting at the foot of the Chessboard, near the point that Pope’s Hill begins.’⁸ Alfred’s sister received a letter dated 24 November 1915 from Lieutenant Colonel William Garnett Braithwaite who had taken over as temporary commander New Zealand Infantry Brigade, in response to a letter she had forwarded, advising that he was certain that Alfred had been killed in action in the early morning 3 May just in front of what is known as Popes Hill.

Captain Alfred Morton’s records show that after a Board of Enquiry held on 12 February 1916 at Moascar Camp, Ismailia, that he died of wounds on 3 May 1915 in the Dardanelles. We may never know where he was killed.

Captain Alfred Bishop Morton is remembered on the Lone Pine Memorial, Lone Pine Cemetery, Anzac, Turkey, Memorial plaque, Auckland Officers Club, St Mary’s Church (part of Holy Trinity Cathedral) corner St Stephens Avenue and Parnell Road, Auckland; Auckland Grammar School War Memorial; Memorial Roll, St Paul’s Church, 25 Symonds Street, Auckland; Roll of Honour, College Rifle, Rugby Union Football and Sports Club, 33 Haast Street, Remuera; Auckland Roll of Honour; Devonport Primary School, granite tablet, 18 Kerr Street, Devonport and the Auckland War Memorial Museum, World War 1 Hall of Memories.

College Rifles Auckland, Roll of Honour
(Source; aucklandmuseun.com)

Roll of Honour, granite tablet, Devonport Public School
(Source: aucklandmuseum.com)

Auckland Grammar School War Memorial, panel one
(Source; aucklandmuseum.com)

3/4 portrait of Captain Alfred Bishop Morton, Reg No 10/512, of the Main Body, wearing ribbons for campaign and long service medal. (Photographer: Herman Schmidt, 1916). Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 31-M856.(Source; aucklandmuseum.com)

Alfred’s Memorial Plaque is proudly displayed at the Maryborough Military and Colonial Museum.

Lest We Forget.

Note

Captain Alfred Bishop Morton’s diaries and other correspondence are located in the New Zealand National Library and can be accessed through the library website, digitally. In the diaries he describes his journey from Wellington to Egypt and his service until 24 April 1915.

References

1. McGibbon I, The Oxford Companion to New Zealand Military History, Auckland, Oxford University Press
2. www.nzhistory.govt.nz
3. www.aucklandmuseum.com
4. www.devonport.school.nz
5. www.aucklandofficersclub.co.nz
6. New Zealand Archives, New Zealand Defence Force Personnel Records; AABK. 18805 W5515 0004051 Alfred Bishop Morton
7. Byrne A E, Official History of the Otago Regiment NZEF in the Great War 1914 – 1918.
8. www.ancestry.com
9. www.paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
10. Bean C, The Official History of Australia in the War of 1914- 1918 Vol 1
11. Auckland Grammar School Chronicle, Second Term 1919
12. www.nzwargraves.org.nz
13. www.natlib.govt.nz Morton Alfred Bishop 1883 – 1915 Diaries and Papers
14. New Zealand Herald 9 September 1915 page 12
15. Otago Daily Times 3 March 1916 page 2

1^ Means – Died in a far off land before his time but as a soldier and for his country

2^ The school on the hill opened in 1870 and in 2020 celebrated 150 years

3^ Remueraheritage.org.nz

4^ He was the Commander of the Auckland Military District 1896 – 1901 and trained the Auckland detachments of the first 6 contingents. He had earlier had a military career in England.

5^ The Oxford Companion to New Zealand Military History

6^ Personal diary NZ national Library

7^ Ibid

8^ Bean Vol 1 page 587

ANZAC Biographies

On our website you will find the biographical details of ANZAC (as well as British) servicemen & women whose medals or other memorabilia form part of the collection on display at the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum, Maryborough, Queensland, Australia.