On 23 August 1940, Leading Aircraftman Thomas Ralph Morton RAFVR (1005871) died age 20 on active service. He served with No. 3, Radio Maintenance Unit (RMU). Morton was the son of Andrew Gray Morton and Grace Hood Morton, 31 Muirton Place, Perth. He is buried in Perth Wellshill Cemetery.
Thomas Morton is commemorated on the Perth (West) Church war memorial. Thomas is one of ten per cent or so airmen whose cause of death is unknown or due to natural causes.
Perthshire Advertiser, 24 August 1940
‘Perth Airman’s Death
Was expected Home on Leave on Monday
Leading – Aircraftman Thomas Ralph Morton, the only son of Mr and Mrs Andrew G. Morton, 31 Muirton Place, has died at an R.A.F. station in England.
It is understood that Leading-Aircraftman Morton was hoping to be home on leave on Monday first. He was aged 20. His parents received news of his death by wire.’
Perthshire Constitutional and Journal, 31st August 1940
‘CITY AIRMAN’S DEATH
WAS EXPECTED HOME ON LEAVE
On Monday, the day he was expected home on his first leave, the funeral took place of Leading Aircraftman Thomas Ralph Morton, the only son of Mr and Mrs Andrew G. Morton, 31 Muirton Place, Perth.
L./A. Morton, 20 years of age, joined the R.A.F. recently. He was stationed in the North of England, and only two days before his death his parents had a cheery letter telling how he was looking forward to his holiday.
The official communication indicated that Morton had died suddenly and unexpectedly. He appeared to be in the best of health a few hours before he passed away.
Mr Morton, who traveled south to arrange for the funeral taking place in Perth, was informed that a post-mortem had established that death was due to natural causes.
Before joining up deceased was employed with a city firm of electricians, and it was into this branch of the R.A.F. he graduated.’