Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Second War 1944 ‘Operation Goodwood’ M.M. group of seven awarded to Warrant Officer Class 2 T. Morrison, 1st Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers, who was originally recommended for the D.C.M. for his gallantry during the attack on Troarn, 19 July 1944. Morrison was amongst the 152 casualties suffered by the Battalion on that date, it being ‘remembered as the Battalion’s worst day in the whole campaign.’ After recuperating, he transferred to the 7th (Galloway) Battalion, who were trained as glider-borne troops and served with the 1st Airborne Division as part of Operation Market Garden, in September 1944

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (3185283 W.O. Cl. 2. T. Morrison. K.O.S.B.); 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1945-48 (3185283 W.O. Cl. 2. T. Morrison. K.O.S.B.) partially officially corrected; Army L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue, Regular Army ()3185283 W.O. Cl. 2. T. Morrison, K.O.S.B.) good very fine (7) £1,400-£1,800

M.M. London Gazette 1 February 1945, the original recommendation (for the award of a D.C.M.) dated 23 July 1944, states:

‘I have already recommended this WO for recognition for outstanding and meritorious service, during the early days of this campaign. But I would like to recommend him again most strongly. He has shown a very fine example to all men in my Company and has shown a complete disregard for his own safety.

On many occasions I have had to restrain him from taking unnecessary risks. Several times, when called away on duty I have handed the Company over to his charge and have done so with complete confidence. He has assumed command and led my Company on these occasions with distinction and complete confidence.

During my Company’s attack on 19 July, he was wounded early in the operation, but remained where he was advising and encouraging the less experienced until evacuated. The example which he showed at this time, as always, was of the very highest order. I recommend most strongly that he be awarded a Distinguished Conduct Medal.’

Thomas Morrison was a native of Rodwell. He served with ‘C’ Company, 1st Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers during the Second War. The Battalion landed at ‘Queen’ Beach on D-Day, 6 June 1944, and proceeded to fight through Normandy and around Caen.

Morrison distinguished himself, and was wounded, during the Battalion’s attack on Troarn, 19 July 1944, as part of Operation Goodwood:

‘The battle opened with a heavy bomber attack on 18th July on targets round Troarn, and a few hours later 1st K.O.S.B. moved to Escoville where they learned that the attack by 8th Infantry Brigade had cleared the enemy out of Touffreville and Sannerville. The Borderers, continuing this forward movement walked through the cornfields southwards towards Sannerville. On the way they had casualties due to shelling and mortaring, part of the route being under observation from the enemy who were strongly placed in high-lying woods to the left... The commanding officer, Lieut.-Colonel G. D. Renny, was wounded.

It was an agonising move, made under a blazing sun and in clouds of dust raised by the tanks, and the Borderers, heavily burdened by their weapons and ammunition and stores, stumbled over the rubble of the farms and villages or clambered among the bomb craters.... When 1st K.O.S.B. began their move out of Sannerville towards Troarn the leading platoon of D Company came under heavy fire from mortars and snipers, and the main body of the battalion in the village was shelled. By nightfall the Borderers had pushed the Germans out of the farms and orchards between Sannerville and Troarn, but the outskirts of Troarn were well defended by the Germans with machine-guns in a sunken road and ditches. They had made a strong point round a signal box on a railway line. As the light was fading the Borderers were ordered to dig in for the night. Rations and water were running short because the battalion transport could not get through the wilderness of the bomb craters. Even the ambulance jeeps were unable to get up to the forward troops to bring the wounded Borderers out of the battle.

In the morning food arrived, the first meal for more than 24 hours... British tanks appeared and the Borderers prepared to resume the attack. The sunken road was duly shelled and Lieut.-Colonel Renny, who had remained with the battalion despite his wounds, ordered A and C [Morrison’s Company] companies to take a road junction on the outskirts of Troarn supported by tanks and artillery.

The Germans, dug-in along the sunken road, waited until the Borderers were well in the open and then poured bullets into C Company. A platoon crossing a railway line in an attempt to outflank the German machine-gun posts was pinned down by fire from the signal box. A Company was held up by mortars. The tanks and the battalions on the Borderers’ flank were also held up.

Obviously the Germans were determined to hold Troarn. The attack cost 1st K.O.S.B. 152 casualties, of whom 12 were officers, and the date, 19th July, is remembered as the battalion’s worst day in the whole campaign. The wounded were crowded in a shallow fold in the ground which served as an aid post, and a shell which landed nearby wounded the medical officer and members of his first aid team. Padre Wilson took charge and, with the stretcher-bearers, did gallant work under fire.’ (Borderers in Battle, by H. Gunning, refers)

Morrison subsequently transferred to the 7th (Galloway) Battalion, who were trained as glider-borne troops and served with the 1st Airborne Division as part of Operation Market Garden, in September 1944.

Sold with the following related items and documents: King’s Own Scottish Borderers cap badge; named card boxes of issue for M.M. and L.S. & G.C.; Airborne ‘Pegasus’ arm patch, with Airborne Forces instruction guide, dated 1944; named Buckingham Palace enclosure for M.M.; named Commendation for ‘courage and leadership during the Battle of Normandy’, 1944, by Officer Commanding 3rd British Infantry Division, dated 29 October 1944; named Certificate of Appreciation to the recipient from the people of Galashiels for services rendered during the Second War; 2 group photographs of the Sergeants Mess, 7th (Galloway) Battalion, K.O.S.B., October 1945, and a copy of the Warrant Officers and Sergeants - Lowland Brigade Training Centre, Dreghorn Camp, 1948, which features the recipient (this damaged).