In 1891 the Morton family were living at Wolseley Place, Perth: Father, Gavin (Builder), b. c1855, Cambusnethan, Lanarkshire; Mother, Jane W., b. c1852, Biggar, Lanarkshire; Daughter, Maggie S. H., b. c1885, Perth; and Son, Gavin, b. c1887, Perth.

The 3rd Battalion were among the first infantry units raised for the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) during the First World War. Like the 1st, 2nd and 4th Battalions it was recruited from New South Wales and, together with these battalions, formed the 1st Brigade. The battalion was raised within a fortnight of the declaration of war in August 1914 and embarked just two months later.

Gavin Morton enlisted on the 5th January, 1915, when living at Wollongong Road, Arncliffe, Sydney, New South Wales, and employed as a draughtsman. He embarked for Gallipoli on the 11th February 1915 on H.M.A.T Seang Choon. The battalion proceeded to Egypt, arriving on the 2nd December.

Gavin Morton would have joined the battalion between this date and the arrival at Gallipoli. The battalion took part in the ANZAC landing on the 25th April 1915 as part of the second and third waves and served there until the evacuation in December.

In August the battalion took part in the attack on Lone Pine. Gavin Morton would have lost his life at some stage of this action. He was 28 years old.