Revealed: How brave WWI soldier, 23, grappled in mud for live grenade and hurled it out of his trench with just seconds left to save his comrades - as his medals go on sale for £12,000

  • Lieutenant William Morgan earned the Albert Medal after removing the grenade, which was accidentally dropped during a training exercise
  • The 23-year-old also got the Military Cross for leading a raid on enemy trenches
  • Lt Morgan, from Pembrokeshire, served in the 15th Battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers
  • The Albert Medal, awarded for saving lives, was discontinued in 1971 

The amazing story of a hero soldier who saved his comrades by groping in the mud for a live grenade and throwing it to safety can be told after his medals go on sale.

Lieutenant William Morgan, from Pembrokeshire, Wales, leapt into the trench when a fellow soldier accidentally dropped the explosive during a training exercise in World War One.

Despite only being able to see smoke from the buried burning fuse, he got down on his hands and knees to retrieve it from the deep mud.

The 23-year-old then hurled the grenade over the parapet in the nick of time to 'save several men from death or serious injury'.

Lieutenant William Morgan served with the 15th Battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, rising to become a captain in the regiment in 1917

Lieutenant William Morgan served with the 15th Battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, rising to become a captain in the regiment in 1917

He was awarded the Albert Medal, given for life saving, for the gallantry he displayed during the incident which took place near Pas-de-Calais in France in February 1916.

Lt Morgan also received the Military Cross, which recognises valour, courage or devotion, for carrying out seven nights of reconnaissance 'under intense fire' and leading a 'daring raid' in which he killed one German soldier and captured four others.

His Albert Medal, Military Cross and other campaign medals have been consigned for sale by a private collector with auctioneer Dix Noonan Webb, of London.

They are tipped to sell for £12,000.

Nimrod Dix, deputy chairman of Dix Noonan Webb, said: 'This was a superb example of selfless courage in a very scary situation which saved the lives of several men, for which he was awarded the rare Albert Medal.

'That he went on to win the Military Cross for another act of gallantry shortly afterwards makes this an extremely rare and unusual group of medals.'

He earned the Albert Medal (Second from left) for removing the grenade accidentally dropped during a 1916 training exercise, and the Military Cross (First from left) for leading a raid on enemy trenches in October that same year, among other medals

He earned the Albert Medal (Second from left) for removing the grenade accidentally dropped during a 1916 training exercise, and the Military Cross (First from left) for leading a raid on enemy trenches in October that same year, among other medals

Lt Morgan was born at Jeffreyston, south west Wales in 1893.

At the outbreak of the war he enlisted into the Honourable Artillery Company.

A month later, he travelled to France with the 1st Battalion.

He was commissioned into the 15th (London Welsh) Battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers in April 1915 and became a captain in the regiment in June 1917.

He received his Albert Medal, which was awarded to recognise the saving of life, following his actions on February 14, 1916.

His citation, in the London Gazette, read: 'On February 14, 1916, during grenade instruction in a trench, a man let fall a grenade, which sank in the mud, so that only the smoke from the burning fuse could be seen.

'Lieutenant Morgan, who was outside the danger zone, at once sprang forward and groped in the mud for the grenade.

'The difficulty of finding it added greatly to the danger.

'He picked up the grenade and threw it over the parapet just in time, thereby saving several men from death or serious injury.'

Lt Morgan fought on the Western Front until August 1917, suffering four wounds during his service. He was transferred to the Indian Army after the war and later retired to Gloucester, where he died aged 51 in 1944

Lt Morgan fought on the Western Front until August 1917, suffering four wounds during his service. He was transferred to the Indian Army after the war and later retired to Gloucester, where he died aged 51 in 1944

He was subsequently awarded a Military Cross for his reconnaissance work and leading a raid on enemy trenches in October 1916.

His citation read: 'For conspicuous gallantry in action. On seven consecutive nights he carried out valuable reconnaissances under intense fire.

'Later, he led a daring raid, himself accounting for one of the enemy. He has previously done very fine work.'

Lt Morgan served on the Western Front until August 1917, being wounded four times in the process.

After the war, he was transferred to the Indian Army, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel during a distinguished 20 year career.

Upon returning to England, he spent his final years in Gloucester and died aged 51 in 1944.

The sale takes place on February 28.

The Albert Medal is named after Queen Victoria's husband Prince Albert and awarded to recognise bravery when saving life.

The medal was no longer given out from 1971, with living recipients invited to exchange it for the George Cross. 

 

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