Early Life and Family

Keith Redmayne Morgan was born in Stockport, Cheshire, on Saturday 19^th September 1931. He was the son of Frank Thomas Morgan and Beatrice Rhodes Morgan (née McLaine), a war widow whom Frank married in 1925.

Frank had served as an officer during the First World War. After demobilisation, he trained as a schoolteacher and worked in the Lake District, near Windermere.

Beatrice Morgan and the Sinclair Family

Beatrice had previously married First Lieutenant Kenneth Sinclair in June 1917. Their son, Donald Ian Sinclair (1918–2007), was Keith’s half-brother. Donald attended Wrekin (B. 1932–36), as did his son, Kenneth Roger Sinclair (B. 1958–63).

Kenneth served with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force from June 1916 until February 1917, when he was posted to France with 432 Field Company, Royal Engineers. He was twice Mentioned in Despatches for gallant and distinguished service in the field.

First Lieutenant Sinclair died on Saturday 12^th October 1918, aged 28, from wounds sustained in action at Le Cateau two days earlier. He is buried at Rocquigny-Equancourt Road British Cemetery in Manancourt, France. The cemetery contains 1,838 Commonwealth burials and commemorations from the First World War.

Early Education

Keith began his education at The Craig School¹, a boys’ preparatory boarding school in Windermere under the tutelage of its second and final headmaster, Edward Hewetson who  led the school for 30 years until it closed in 1966.

Wrekin College

Keith entered Wrekin in January 1946 as a member of York House [R.G.Sollars, BSc] He soon distinguished himself through his intellectual ability, personal charm, and evident promise as a leader.

Sporting Achievements

A keen sportsman, Keith represented York House in Rugby, Cricket, Fives, Water polo and Cross-country running. He also represented Wrekin in second XV rugby and hockey, captaining the hockey team in 1950.

Leadership and Preparation for Sandhurst

Keith served as a school prefect, Head of House, and an Under-Officer in the Combined Cadet Force—the highest rank a cadet could attain. This experience prepared him well for the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

Following the example of his half-brother, Major Donald Sinclair, Keith chose a military career. He passed Sandhurst’s written entrance examination in November 1949 and performed with distinction at the academy.

Military Career and Death

Keith was among the few cadets in his year selected for a commission into the Corps of Royal Engineers. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on 21^st March 1952. After completing a junior officers’ course at Gillingham, Kent, a posting to the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR) followed.

On Monday 15^th September 1952, while attached to the 1st Battalion, King’s Dragoon Guards and taking part in Exercise “Holdfast”,² Keith was killed in a motor accident near Paderborn, Germany. He was 20 years old and lies at rest in Hanover Military Cemetery at Seelze-Harenberg, Lower Saxony, Germany.

Keith is also commemorated by name on the Armed Forces Memorial located within the 150 acre Royal British Legion National Remembrance Gardens in Staffordshire.

1. The school was founded in 1899 inside a c.1833 building on Lake Road, the school typically housed between 40 and 60 boarders. It was known for preparation for major public schools, sports like cricket and football, and summer climbs up Helvellyn. After closing in 1966, the school building was demolished, and the site was turned into  housing.
    
2. ‘Exercise Holdfast’ was a major British Army of the Rhine (BAOR) prominent example of early Cold War field training in post-war West Germany held in September 1952. Preparations included unit deployments, convoy movements, and air operations conducted by day and night around the middle of the month. British ground and air forces took part, including RAF squadrons flying de Havilland Vampire aircraft and other tactical sorties. The exercise tested operational readiness, logistics, and communication between the services.

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