Henry Morgan was born in St. Georges, Kidderminster and worked as a boatman before serving with the 4th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment and enlisting with the Rifle Brigade on 12 Jan 1886, posted to India aboard "Serapis" with the 1st Battalion, Rifle Brigade on 18 Oct 1887.
Morgan was convicted for drunkeness on 22 Jan 1896 and again on 12 Dec 1895. He was then posted to South Africa on 6 June 1900, serving there until 10 Dec 1901.