Allen Irvin Morgan
Rank: Corporal, U.S. Army
Unit: Troop G, 15th Cavalry Regiment
Entered service from: New Jersey
Died:
Buried at: Harleigh Cemetery, 1640 Haddon Avenue, Camden, NJ
Corporal Allen Irvin Morgan of Lowell Lane, Westmont, NJ, died on a transport enroute to France from disease on March 22, 1918, at the age of 28. He was initially buried at Brest, France, then returned to the United States after the war had ended. A funeral parade, beginning at the Westmont Fiore House on Center Street, Westmont and continuing on Haddon Avenue, was organized to honor the return of Allen Irvin Morgan.
Allen Irvin Morgan was born in May of 1889 in Pennsylvania, the son of Morris K. and Sarah “Sallie” C. Griffith Morgan. He was the second of four children, coming after Bertha, and before brothers Howard and Leslie. The Morgan family left Pennsylvania and settled in Westmont, NJ sometime after 1896. Morris K. Morgan worked as a stationary engineer. Before joining the Army, Allen I. Morgan worked as a painter and at a hat factory.
Allen I. Morgan enlisted in the United States Army at Philadelphia in September of 1912. He was discharged at El Paso, Texas in November of 1913. Allen I. Morgan re-enlisted in the United States Army on December 22, 1915 in Philadelphia, PA. He served with Troop G of the 15th Cavalry Regiment. During his time in the Army he saw duty on the Mexican Border, and he had spent 18 months in the Philippine Islands.
Allen Irvin Morgan was survived by his parents, and siblings. By 1920 the Morgans had made their home on Emerald Avenue in Westmont (Haddon Township), NJ. His mother passed in the 1920s. Morris K. Morgan was still living in Westmont as of April, 1930.
Honor Roll Cards
Camden County World War I Honor Roll cards for Allen Irvin Morgan.
Post Given Flags
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Post Given Flags — Westmont Legion to Receive Colors This Afternoon
Special to The Inquirer.
WESTMONT, N. J., May 8.—A stand of colors will be presented to Allen I. Morgan Post, No. 230, American Legion, in the Fire Hall, Sunday afternoon at four o’clock. Commander John H. Dittess will receive the flags on behalf of the post.
Word that the body of the late Allen I. Morgan, the only Haddon township boy who was buried in France, would be shipped from Hoboken early this morning has been received, but the notice was so late that the elaborate ceremonies planned for the military funeral have been postponed until next week.
Funeral Parade
Funeral parade for Allen Irvin Morgan in Westmont, NJ.
Camden Buries First Dead Hero
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Camden Buries First Dead Hero — Airplane Strews Roses When Remains of Corporal Morgan Are Interred — Legion Post Participates in Ceremony at Harleigh Cemetery
At the funeral of Corporal Allan Irving Morgan in the Harleigh Cemetery, Camden, yesterday afternoon, Lieutenant Krouse, of Haddonfield, who served in the British Royal Flying Corps in France, dropped roses from an aeroplane. The body of Corporal Morgan was the first of Camden county’s hero dead to be returned from France. A firing squad from the American Legion gave the last salute and buglers of the Third Regiment band sounded the taps.
Camden, Haddonfield and Tatem Shields posts co-operated with Allan I. Morgan Post, American Legion, of Westmont, in conducting the services, the Legionaires heading the funeral procession in uniform. Members of the Haddon Township Committee, all officials and members of the churches, fraternal orders and the Red Cross attended, with the Legion members.
Rev. C. P. P. Fox, pastor of Grace Baptist Church, was assisted by Rev. Winfield C. Booth, of Collingswood, who was a naval chaplain during the war, in conducting the services at the church, after hundreds of men, women and children had viewed the casket in the fire house at Westmont.
The Third Regiment band headed the cortege to the cemetery and the body, resting in a flag-draped casket, was carried on a caisson. Corporal Morgan died on a transport en route to France and was buried at Brest. Flags were at half mast for several days in memory of Corporal Morgan and hundreds of persons participated in the touching ceremonies.
The young soldier was 28 years old. He was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Morris Morgan. Morgan was sick when his transport sailed for France but he refused to report to the ship’s doctor, fearing he would be put ashore and called a slacker by members of his troop. He also served eighteen months in the Philippines.