2/22nd Battalion (Infantry)
Born: 24 July 1922, Mornington, Victoria
Died: 1 July 1942, on the Montevideo Maru, South China Sea
Details provided by: Dianne Ryan, Gordon Morton’s niece.
Gordon was born in Mornington Victoria to George and Mary Morton. He was one of 10 children, two years older and the closest brother in age to my father Des. The family later lived at Kyabram Victoria.
Gordon enlisted on 17.7.40 at Royal Park. His father had died in 1939 and he had lost his mother in 1935. The family had dispersed with the younger siblings being placed in orphanages.
On enlistment Gordon gave his date of birth as 24.7.17 but his actual date of birth was 24.7.22. He was 18 years old.
After spending time in camps at Balcombe, Broadmeadows, Darley and Bonegilla, Gordon embarked on 10.4.41 and disembarked at Rabaul on 16.4.41.
Early letters home were quite cheerful and you get the impression that he was a bit of a character. Within his family Gordon was always known as Mick, but in the Army he also got the nick name Tex. I have a copy of a letter written to his older sister Jessie who was listed as his next of kin. The tone of this letter is quite different. It was written on 21.1.42, just two days before the Japanese invasion of Rabaul and certainly gives a sense of the desperate plight of the 2/22nd “……we expect them over at any time and we have nothing to stop them with……” “We may get through, live in hope”.
Gordon’s army record has him listed as “missing believed POW” on 25.1.42, then “reported POW” on 28.4.42. The file is then stamped “BECAME MISSING 1.7.42 – FOR OFFICIAL PURPOSES PRESUMED DEAD”. Beside this stamp is a handwritten note that says – “On board Montevideo Maru”.
In August 1941 Dad enlisted in the army. He had just turned 17 but like his brother he ‘adjusted’ his date of birth to ensure his acceptance. Dad was very hopeful of being reunited with his brother in the army but sadly this was not to be. Initially Dad served in Darwin and New Guinea. Later he went to New Britain, but this was after the fall of Rabaul. I don’t know when he found out what had happened to Gordon, it may not have been until after the war.
We grew up always knowing about Gordon. His photo was always on Mum and Dad’s dressing table. We knew Dad and Gordon were close, our brother was named after him, tragically he also lost his life at a very young age. Dad talked about his brother Gordon sometimes but with such sadness that we never felt we should ask questions. We understood that Gordon had gone down on a ship but had been told it was a hospital ship. Perhaps this was to protect us from knowing that he was a POW. I live in Ballarat and it was when I saw Gordon’s name on the POW Memorial that I started to search for more information. I applied for a copy of his army record and through searching for information online came across the Rabaul and Montevideo Maru Society.
I am most grateful to the Rabaul and Montevideo Maru Society for the work they have done to raise awareness of this important piece of Australian history and to preserve it for future generations. Most importantly there is now an opportunity to honour the people involved in the conflict at Rabaul with a much deeper understanding of their story.
Dianne Ryan
Niece of Gordon James Morton
A farewell letter from Gordon Morton to his sister written on the 21 January 1942, two days before the Japanese assault force landed at Rabaul. The letter is prescient – anticipating the disaster that was to come, though obviously not the full extent of it. It is clear from Gordon’s words that he and the other members of the Rabaul garrison understood how poorly equipped they were and one wonders if they felt as if they had been let down by Australia. Gordon’s words “We have nothing to stop them with, shall do the best we can” are very telling. (Editor)