SERGEANT H. MORGAN, 1ST (GLAMORGAN) HOWITZER BATTERY, 1ST (WELSH) HOWITZER BRIGADE, ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY, TERRITORIAL FORCE, LATE 1ST (SWANSEA) BATTERY GLAMORGANSHIRE ARTILLERY VOLUNTEER CORPS. Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, Edward VII (officially named, impressed in plain block capitals: 49 SJT: H. MORGAN. 1/WELSH (HWTZR): B. R.A.). Attractively toned, Almost Extremely Fine.
Medal accompanied by a newspaper article published in November 1904 and another from "The Cambrian" newspaper of 9/7/1909 regarding a Sergeant H. Morgan (probably the recipient of this medal) and copied medal index card confirming that Sergeant Morgan's TFEM was awarded by Army Order 103 of April 1909.
Sergeant's Morgan's service number indicates that he was from Swansea. The November 1904 newspaper article gives details of the Swansea Gunners (1st Glamorganshire Royal Garrison Artillery Volunteers) Regimental Dinner, during which a letter dated 18/11/1904 from the Commandant, Royal Artillery, Western District, was read out, and the presentation of carbine competition prizes at the dinner, which lists a Sergeant H. Morgan as having taken part in the carbine competition; and the 9/7/1909 article "Swansea Gunners at Church" lists a Sergeant H. Morgan, both newspaper articles probably referring to the recipient of this TFEM.
The 1st Glamorganshire Artillery Volunteers was formed in 1859 in response to a French invasion threat, one of a number of artillery volunteer corps formed for coastal defence in South Wales, which by 1861 had been consolidated into the 1st Brigade of Glamorganshire Artillery Volunteeers, the first battery of which was based at Swansea. In 1860 that battery was armed with a pair of 18 pounder muzzle-loading canons, the canons being installed on the Swansea embankment.
When the volunteer force was absorbed into the new Territorial Force under the Haldane reforms of 1908 the 1st Glamorganshire Royal Garrison Artillery Volunteers transferred to the Royal Field Artillery with the 1st Glamorgan (Howitzer) Battery, now armed with breech-loading howitzers, being based at Swansea. The 1st (Welsh) Howitzer Brigade saw service during the First World War but there does not appear to be a medal index card for 45 Sergeant Morgan, so he probably did not see active service during WW1.
A similar TFEM to a Corporal in the Glamorgan Royal Garrison Artillery was sold by Noonans on 17/7/24 (lot 606). That medal sold for £120 (£165 approx. including fees).
