Red Morgan was born into a poor working class family in Swansea, South

Wales. His father drank away most of the money he earned, leaving his

mother with barely enough money to feed and clothe their family of five -

two girls and three boys - Red's youngest brother being a cripple from

infancy.

World War II was raging in Europe. Red was too young to be called up for

the forces, but old enough to be drafted into the coal mines which was the

next call up. To avoid going down the mines Red applied for a job with the

Norwegian Merchant Marines.

Looking so young, they asked Red to bring back a written authority from his

father allowing him to sail on their ships. Red wrote and forged his father's

signature and got a job on one of the biggest tanker afloat at the time,

carrying high octane petrol - one of the most dreaded ships to sail on during

the war.

During his years in the Merchant Marines he lost his father, mother, eldest

brother and youngest brother. At war's end he paid off ship in Sydney and

started his new life in Australia.

Red worked on Australia's Warragamba Dam and still resides in the

township of Warragamba.