Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 24111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 490

Three: Sergeant W. E. C. Morris, 25th (Frontiersmen) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, a.k.a. 'Driscoll's Tigers', who served with his unit in East Africa during the Great War

1914-15 Star (13293 L. Sjt. W. E. C. Morris. R. Fus:); British War and Victory Medals (13293 A. Sjt. W. E. C. Morris. R. Fus.), good very fine (3)

William Edward Claude Morris was born at Sale in 1872 and during the Great War served in East Africa with the 25th (Frontiersmen) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers from 4 May 1915, one of 'The Originals' of the unit. The Battalion was commanded by Colonel D. P. Driscoll, D.S.O. - hence its informal title 'Driscoll's Tigers' - and by normal standards it was an exceptional unit. Driscoll deliberately enlisted specialists, among them the famous explorer and hunter, 64-year-old F. C. Selous, in addition to other well-known African hunters such as Martin Ryan, George Outram and Jock Richardson. He would have shared in all of the major actions fought by 'Driscoll's Tigers' in East Africa, from their opening engagement at Bokoba on the shores of Lake Victoria on 20 June 1915 to the action at Beho-Beho in January 1917; the famous explorer and hunter Selous was mortally wounded on the same occasion.

Morris himself was discharged sick in March 1919 and was an old 'Africa hand' by all accounts. Several objects which he obtained in Sierra Leone are in the Collection of the Liverpool Public Museum, namely native iron money from Kissi County and a steatite head from Mano in the Mendi Country. He had worked out in West Africa from the turn of the century as a Clerk, joining the Rokell Lodge, Freetown, Sierra Leone in October 1901.

Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Sold for
£100

Starting price
£100