Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An unusual post-war Gold Coast incident M.B.E. group of six awarded to Major T. B. Morris, Royal Artillery, whose leadership of his battery during riots in Accra in early 1948 proved instrumental in restoring civil order

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 2nd type breast badge; 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Kenya (Capt. T. B. Morris, M.B.E., R.A.), contact marks and a little polished, otherwise generally very fine £600-800

M.B.E. London Gazette 7 January 1949. The original recommendation states:

‘Major Morris was in command of 2 Light Battery, R.A., when serious rioting broke out in Accra on Saturday 28 February 1948. At extremely short notice he formed two troops from such men as were available in the Battery Lines on that Saturday evening. He accompanied one troop which was sent to the main Police Barracks. By the time of his arrival these barracks were the centre of very large and quite uncontrolled crowds of rioters and looters, many inflamed with looted spirits. Through these crowds he had to force his way. During that evening and night, and for the next two days and nights, he and his troops were constantly and continuously on duty assisting the now completely exhausted Police by clearing the immediate neighbourhood of rioters and stopping the looting of shops in the main shopping thoroughfares close by. Major Morris found it necessary to open fire on several occasions but in spite of grave provocation and difficulties, the manner in which he carried out his task was most praiseworthy, great determination being combined with minimum force.

During the early part of March 1948, Major Morris and his battery, organised as an Infantry Company, were sent to assist the maintenance of order in both Koforidua and Kumasi. In each case moves took place by night and at short notice. The alacrity with which his unit responded to these orders, the cheerful and willing manner in which all ranks carried out their task, and the general efficiency of the unit, were very largely due to Major Morris’s leadership and personal example.

His invaluable services had a marked effect on the speedy restoration of law and order in the colony generally, and undoubtedly were a source of inspiration and an example to soldiers of other units and to the Police.’

Temple Bagot Morris, who was born in December 1923, was granted an Emergency Commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in May 1943 and joined the Royal Artillery in December 1944, in which capacity he witnessed active service out in Burma. Having then been awarded the M.B.E. for the above cited deeds on the Gold Coast in early 1948, he was seconded to the King’s Africa Rifles in early 1955 and saw further action in the Mau Mau troubles in Kenya. Advanced to the substantive rank of Major in December 1957, he appears to have retired in the mid-1960s.

Sold with the recipient’s original M.B.E. warrant and related forwarding letter.