Morgan, whose father was a Sergeant in the Royal Artillery, was born on 11 January 1895 in the Panmure Barracks, Montrose, Angus, Scotland.
He emigrated to the newly established town of Umtali, Rhodesia at about the age of eight years and spent the rest of his life there.
He subsequently graduated (BSc) from Rhodes University College in Grahamstown, South Africa before joining the Rhodesia Regiment from January 1916 to April 1917.
He served with the British forces in the East Africa campaign in the First World War where he saw action in Wami and other locations.
Following his discharge from the military, he won a Rhodes Scholarship to St John's College, Oxford, where he obtained a degree in civil engineering.
While in England, he met, and subsequently married, a Swiss French governess, working for Lord Halifax, Mlle Madeleine ('Madi') Petitmaitre, the daughter of a butcher from Yverdon in the Canton de Vaud.
While in England, he met and subsequently married, a Swiss French governess, working for Lord Halifax, Mlle Helène Annette ('Madi') Petitmaitre, the daughter of a butcher from Yverdon in the Canton de Vaud.