Six: Major Philip Brudenell Morris, Royal Army Service Corps

1939-45 Star; Africa Star, clasp, 8th Army; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45, M.I.D. oak leaf, these unnamed; General Service 1962, 2 clasps, Radfan, South Arabia (Major, RASC) second clasp loose on ribbon, mounted as worn; Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal (successful) (Philip B. Morris, 27th Aug. 1937) with bronze buckle on ribbon, in Elkington case of issue, extremely fine (6) £400-500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A fine Collection of Life Saving Awards.

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Philip Brudenell Morris, the son of Colonel T. Morris, O.B.E., M.C., a Radley Schoolboy, aged 17 years, effected a successful rescue at Filey Brig, North Yorkshire on 17 August 1937. A newspaper reported:

‘Towards the end of August last, a Mrs Ward, of Goole, slipped on the rocks at Filey Brig, Yorkshire, and fell into 10 feet of sea. The Brig is extremely dangerous with any sea running, owing to the deep water and the effect of the waves pounding among the jagged rock. Mrs Ward being unable to swim, and those in her party being in like case, she was being rapidly carried out to sea. However, young Philip Brydenell (sic) Morris, a Radley boy, the son of Major Temple Morris of Ours, who had witnessed from nearby the scene of what would have been a certain catastrophe, ran across, dived in, and brought her to a rock where she could be lifted out. A strong sea was running at the time, which added considerably to the difficulty of the achievement. When Mrs Ward had been brought to shore by a relay of visitors, a doctor who had been summoned found that she had sustained a compound fracture of both legs.

Young Philip Morris after seeing Mrs Ward in safe hands, went off without giving his name.

He has since been awarded the Royal Humane Society’s Bronze Medal and Certificate, which will be presented to him at Radley, and he has also been presented by Mrs Ward with a gold watch bearing a charming inscription.’

After leaving Radley in 1939 he attended the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. On 31 December 1939 he received a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Army Service Corps. Later, as a Captain in the R.A.S.C. he was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 23 May 1946). He went on after the war to serve as a Major in the R.A.S.C.

With original certificate to accompany the R.H.S. Medal; Commission Document, 31 December 1939 and M.I.D. Certificate. The certificates held in a card tube addressed to ‘Major P. B. Morris, R.A., D.W.D., G.S.(W), Room 043, War Office, London, S.W.1.’; together with a fine copied portrait photograph and photocopied newspaper cuttings.