KATE MORGAN
Kathleen Monica Morgan (3788) -
Kathleen (aka Kate, Kitty, Katherine) was born in Old Birr Road, Nenagh on 03/12/1894 to Labourer Patrick Morgan & Laundress Kate Donohoe.
At the age of 22, Kate made her way to her sister Lizzie's flat in Tufnell Park, in North London and from there she joined QMAAC (Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps, later WAAC) in 1917. She claimed she had previously worked as a wine waitress.
We first come across Kate's correspondence a month after her initial interview to join QMAAC as a waitress. She chose to be stationed overseas rather than posted on the mainland.
We come across the beginning of what would be Kate's very own personal war of attrition against British Bureaucracy. As her months notice to her current employer was almost finished she wrote demanding to know when she was to commence her new duties and failing that it was now up to the the WAAC to pay her expenses until such time as she had secured new alternate employment. To Kate's mind, if she has signed up, then the W.A.A.C. are responsible for her upkeep. Meanwhile her posting is delayed because The Sisters of Mercy in Nenagh cannot trace any evidence of her ever having been a pupil.
Birth Registration for Kate Morgan
Eventually, Kate was posted to Northern France and arrived in Camiers and St Valery-sur-Somme on 24/08/1918.
Whilst in France, Kate was put on sick leave and was sent home to Nenagh. Whilst at home she stayed with her sister Lizzie who is now living at 27 Summerhill, Nenagh. The Army wanted Kate to return to England so she could be discharged properly from service. However, Kate is having none of it, so she wrote back and furnished the Army with a sick note for Influenza. She follows this up next when we find her writing to the Army asking to be discharged at home as she was too ill to travel. In the middle of all this there's a little matter of the War of Independence taking place when all government correspondence is targeted for seizure by the I.R.A. Indeed Kate makes reference to the difficulties she is facing personally in Nenagh due to her being a Veteran of the British Army and demands an allowance.
The Army insists she attend in Britain, so Kate reposts and this time demanded a new travel warrant as her original travel documents had expired. Kathleen is finally discharged on 19/03/1920 without having to travel to Britain and given a cheque for just over £25 severance.
But Kate Morgan's not finished yet. .....!
Kate next writes on 13/04/1920 looking for her entitled medals as she has had the ribbons allocated whilst in France. Records show she was awarded the British War Medal & the Victory Medal.
Kate's entitlement to her War Medals
Following this skirmish we next find Kathleen writing regarding her entitlement to a Disability Pension based on her contracting Rheumatism in the course of her duties whilst in France!!! The Army responds with she is only entitled to paid sick leave if she is resident on War Department property.
I've seen quite a few Soldiers Attestation papers and subsequent files. Kate's file has 144 pages where the average is 20-30 pages. There is also some confusion as to which date of birth is correct. On her birth register it's recorded 03/12/1894. On her application form she quotes 11/01/1895. On her Identity form she quotes 04/09/1895.
A formidable Nayna woman prepared to take on the clerical might of the British Empire
27 Summerhill, Nenagh
Recruitment Poster for QMAAC
Request for Home Discharge from duties
Discharge to link with Leave request
Kate's query on her medals
Kate's Rheumatism query
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