Oh I see what you are getting at!! All I know is my partner's Dad Edward William Morgan, who is one of Henry Joseph Morgan's sons has a letter written by James Edward Morgan from Shanghai (he was Chief Inspector, Public Works Department, Shanghai Municipal Council) saying how glad he was to have met Henry at their uncle George's house because he never knew he had a brother! I don't have the letter to hand but I do have others written by him and they were written cira 1930's.
In a letter dated 28.03.1932 he states:
"Dear James I wonder if you could spare the time and call at Somerset House and look up the Register of Births and let me know the exact year and date I was born in. I would like you to try and get me a duplicate copy of my Birth Certificate, if possible, because I will have to produce it before I can leave the Municipal Council on a pension. If you should manage please don’t forget and Register the letter, if not please don’t forget to send year and date when I was born as I am a little mixed up – been too long out here. When you write, please let me know what expenses you have to go to and I will forward with return mail.
Well James, old boy, there is not much more to say, except we have had a week quietness around the fighting line as both parties, Chinese and Japanese are holding meeting at the British Consulate to try and fix up peace times, so far no result but we are all in hopes they will end the meetings in peace. Nearly all the houses around the Settlement are blown to pieces, also Railway Stations and the Forts at Woosung, the entrance to the River and to Shanghai, a few houses in the Northern part of the Settlement where the Japanese troops were allotted to look after are damaged either by fire or shell, including my house.
Well I must close now with the very best of wishes and kind regards to you and your Good Wife and Nellie. So cheerio and best of luck.
Please try and get me the copy mentioned, if not I will have to write after I receive your answer to this. Cheerio.
I remain Yours Sincerely Brother Edward"
The family did try and get a copy of his birth certificate and my partner’s Dad still has a copy of the application, but they stated that Harriet’s maiden name was Calier, not Kalaher.
Although Henry was christened Henry Joseph, when James Edward died in 1948 he left the residue of his estate to his brother Henry James Morgan in his Will, so we think this is why he called him James.
