MORTON, Victor
| Service Numbers: | 901, W237475 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 22 September 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 45th Infantry Battalion (WW1) |
| Born: | Quorn, South Australia, 28 January 1890 |
| Home Town: | Perth, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer/Bank Manager |
| Died: | Perth, Western Australia, 28 January 1977, aged 87 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 22 Sep 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Driver, 901, 3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Oct 1915: | Transferred AIF WW1, Driver, 10th Light Horse Regiment | |
| 23 May 1916: | Transferred Driver, 12th Field Ambulance, Transfer requested by his brother, Wilfred Morton, Sgt. 12th F.A. | |
| 4 Aug 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 12th Field Ambulance | |
| 23 Aug 1917: | Transferred AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 45th Infantry Battalion (WW1) | |
| 24 Feb 1918: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 45th Infantry Battalion (WW1) | |
| 31 Jul 1918: | Honoured Military Cross, Awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty near Hamel, East of Corbie, on the nights of 30 June and 1 July 1918. |
World War 2 Service
| 12 Mar 1940: | Involvement Lieutenant, W237475 | |
|---|---|---|
| 12 Mar 1940: | Enlisted Perth, WA | |
| 12 Mar 1940: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Lieutenant, W237475 | |
| 24 Apr 1943: | Discharged |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Shelley Tonkin
Victor MORTON enlisted with the Australian Imperial Forces on 22 Sept 1914 as a Driver in the 3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance. At 24 years of age, he’d previously been working as a farmer with his brothers Alan and Arthur.
After training in Broadmeadows on the outskirts of Melbourne, Victor was shipped out on 2nd February 1915, embarking on the ship Chilka, as part of the 3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance's ‘A’ Squadron.
After initial training in Egypt, on 27 Oct 1915, Victor was transferred to the 10th Light Horse Regiment before later being claimed by his brother Wilfred and transferred to the 12th Field Ambulance, where they were quickly sent to France.
Victor remarked of his time in the 12th, "I got so scared in Sausage Gully on top of those horse ambulances with the Jack Johnsons dropping about, that I took the first opportunity to get into the Infantry where a man could take cover."
He transferred into the 45th Battalion and finished the war with them, fighting along the Western Front in northern France.
Just days before the start of the Battle of Hamel, Victor was awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty near Hamel on the nights of 30 June and 1 July. His actions were as noted:
“Identification was urgently needed and this Officer (Victor Morton) with eight men left our lines to secure prisoners. Having proceeded about 700 yards across NO MANS LAND a party of 30 of the enemy was observed working on a new trench.
Quickly forming his plan of attack this Officer led his men to the flank of the enemy party to secure the greatest fire effect.
On a pre-arranged signal the covering party opened fire, and he, with his Sergeant, rushed the nearest Hun, seized him by each arm and brought him to our lines.
The operation was so vigorously carried out that it was completely successful.
Casualties were inflicted on the enemy and our patrol was unscathed.
He showed courage and enterprise of a high order.”
Victor returned to Australia on 26 July 1919, aboard the Demosthenes.
He married Lillian Thompson in Perth in 1920.
They had one son, Kelvin, in 1927.
Victor died in Perth in 1977, aged 87.
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