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Richard Charles (Charlie) Morgan (1900–1982)

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Richard Charles (Charlie) Morgan (1900-1982) cook, steelworker, trade union leader, Communist 

Birth: 2 April 1900 at Newport, Wales, son of Richard William John Morgan (1882-1965), coal miner, and Mary Catherine ‘Mabel’ Hicks (1884-1956). Marriage: 1925 at Newport, Wales, to Doris Eileen Sexton (1905-1998) who had also been born at Newport in Wales. They had three daughters and two sons. Death: 18 July 1982 in hospital at Wallsend, New South Wales. 

  • Left school at 14. Worked as cook in Merchant Navy. After marriage worked as steelworker at Lysaghts, Newport, Wales.
  • Migrated to Australia with wife to work at Lysaghts' Newcastle plant in 1930. Remained employed throughout 1930s Depression.
  • Member, Federated Ironworkers’ Association. With wife, joined Communist Party of Australia in early 1930s. With wife, involved in Militant Minority Movement, Unemployed Workers’ Movement and Workers International Relief. Also active in Spanish Relief Committee in later 1930s.
  • By 1934 was FIA delegate. Organised rank and file during 1934 strike at Lysaghts.
  • Elected secretary of Newcastle branch, FIA, in 1939, defeating Peter Connolly. Retained post until defeated by right-wing opponents in 1949-50.
  • Blacklisted by employers. Found work as an industrial officer at Bridgebuilt Construction, 1950, but expelled from CPA for accepting this job.
  • Subsequently active in local progress association and in campaign for a university at Newcastle.
  • Cause of death: acute myocardial infarct, pulmonary oedema and atherosclerosis.

Sources
Information from R. Edmonds, 1991.

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Citation details

'Morgan, Richard Charles (Charlie) (1900–1982)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/morgan-richard-charles-charlie-33131/text41324, accessed 30 March 2024.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012

Life Summary [details]

Birth

2 April, 1900
Newport, Wales

Death

18 July, 1982 (aged 82)
Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia

Cause of Death

heart disease

Cultural Heritage

Includes subject's nationality; their parents' nationality; the countries in which they spent a significant part of their childhood, and their self-identity.

Occupation
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