We remember: Vincent Morton

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A century on from the end of World War I we acknowledge their service …
Lest we forget.

Private Vincent Edward Morton
Born: 14 November 1894 Boat Harbour, Tas. Killed in action: 19 July 1916 Fromelles.
Enlisted: 5 July 1915 aged 21
Served: Egypt and Western Front.

Vincent was one of 12 children born to Caroline and Joseph Morton and raised near Burnie in north-west Tasmania. His father died when he was not yet four.

Two of Vincent’s siblings subsequently moved to Victoria, as Vincent himself did at some stage.

By July 1915, Vincent was living at Pakenham where he was “endeavouring to join the permanent military forces” along with a number of other young Pakenham men, including Artie Paternoster and Len Cook.

At the time of enlistment, Vincent was nearly 21 and working as a farmer.

In June 1916, he embarked from Alexandria for France and less than a month later, on 19 July 1916, Vincent was reported missing during the Battle of Fromelles.

A year later it was determined that he had been killed in action at Fleurbaix.

On 28 November 1918, the Pakenham community honoured Vincent’s service and sacrifice at a welcome home for those soldiers who had already returned.

In 1921, the military wrote to Vincent’s mother, saying they had not been able to find any trace of his final resting place.

This is an extract from Patrick Ferry’s book A Century After The Guns Fell Silent – Remembering the Pakenham District’s WWI Diggers 1914-18.
For more details on this and other profiles in the book, head to the website www.pakenhamww1.com