British and World Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War M.M. group of four awarded to Sergeant W. G. Morris, Seaforth Highlanders

Military Medal, G.V.R. (5975 L. Cpl.-L. Sjt. W. G. Morris, 7/Sea. Hdrs.); 1914-15 Star (5975 Sjt. W. G. Morris, Sea. Highrs.); British War and Victory Medals (5975 Sjt. W. G. Morris, Sea. Highrs.), generally very fine (4) £400-500

M.M. London Gazette 28 January 1918.

William Griffith Morris enlisted in the Seaforth Highlanders in London in November 1897, shortly after which he was appointed a Bandsman, and in which capacity he served until December 1909, and again from April 1910 to September 1912. In the interim, having been embarked for India in February 1903, he participated in the Bareilly Expedition on the North West Frontier in 1908, thereby gaining entitlement to the relevant Medal & clasp. He returned to the U.K. in December of the following year.

Posted to the 7th Battalion in the rank of Corporal on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, Morris was embarked for France in May 1915, where he gained rapid promotion, being appointed Company Quarter-Master Sergeant in October of the same year, shortly after the Battalion’s part in the battle of Loos. However, as a result of a conviction for drunkenness later that month, he was reduced to Private.

Next engaged on the Somme in mid-July 1916, the 7th Battalion sustained around 500 casualties in attacks on Longueval and Delville Wood, while in April 1917 it participated in the opening of the Arras offensive and, in November, the Passchendaele operations - so here probable actions for the award of the M.M. Meanwhile, too, Morris had been gaining steady advancement, and by the time of the German “Spring Offensive” he was a Sergeant - on that memorable occasion, the 7th fought for four whole days and nights, at times almost surrounded by the advancing Germans. Later moved to Ypres, the Battalion participated in the final Allied advance, suffering 330 casualties after a number of actions leading to the capture of Harlebecke.

Following another clash with authority in late 1920, on this occasion for absenting himself without leave, Morris was discharged after facing a District Court Martial, but was allowed to retain his rank of Sergeant.