Dudley Essex Morse

Dudley was born in Neath. He served in the Royal Navy in the First World War including on the HMS New Zealand and HMS Queen Elizabeth. He was appointed midshipman On13239 on 1 Nov 1918. His planned career in the Navy was cut short by poor eyesight. Instead he served his articles with Neath Rural District Council, moving to Glamorgan County Council in 1924.

Afterwards he joined the Royal Engineers Territorial Force. He left in 192? joining the Royal Artillery. He served with the 322nd Glamorgan Battery, while working in Neath for the Swansea Borough engineers department.

On 20 Apr 1926 he married Lynda R Richings, daughter of a former Mayor of Neath, who was manager and secretary of the Eagle Tinplate works and whose wife was a magistrate. 

He was appointed to Penarth Council as surveyor and engineer, resigning his Territorial commission as a result. At the start of the Second World War he was involved in planning for Air Raid shelters in Penarth. Initially he thought few would be needed, but helped plan a more extensive response. He was ARP controller in the Divisional Rescue Centre and the officer in charge of Rescue Parties.  Penarth would be heavily bombed as a result of attacks on Cardiff Docks. Another factor was the antiaircraft batteries stationed in Penarth to protect the port at Cardiff. 

After the war, he remained with Penarth Council until his retirement aged 65. He was a founder member of Penarth Rotary Club and served as President. He was also a Freemason and had been master of the Dinas Powis Lodge. He was also Commodore of Neath Yacht Club, where his daughter, also a keen sailor, was the first woman to become a member.