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Auction: 19001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 852

(x) Eight: Able Seaman W. S. Morris, Royal Navy, late Rifleman, King's Royal Rifle Corps

British War and Victory Medals (47367 Pte. W. S. Morris, K. R. Rif. C.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star, clasp, North Africa 1942-43; War Medal 1939-45; Coronation 1937; Naval L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (J. 112259 W. S. Morris, A.B. H.M.S. Renown.), the Great War awards polished with a loose claw to the first, the remainder very fine (8)

William Stephen Morris was born on 16 April 1899 at Margate, Kent, the son of Annie and William Morris. He served during the Great War with the 12th (Service) Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps, and following 2 years and 193 days Army service, joined the Royal Fleet Reserve, appointed Ordinary Seaman on 8 June 1921 and Able Seaman on 12 December 1922.

On 10 September 1924 Morris transferred to the Royal Navy, first serving aboard the V-Class destroyer Viscount. This ship had gained a reputation during the Great War for its speed, having successfully steamed over a U-Boat and destroyed it by depth charges. In the 1920s he served aboard the protected cruiser Blenheim and Ark Royal. He transferred to H.M.S. Vidette on 17 June 1939; she was a highly successful convoy escort and U-Boat killer, credited with the destruction of five U-Boats during the Battle of the Atlantic.

Shore Pensioned on 26 November 1940, he served at Chatham, ranked Able Pensioner Seaman from 27 November 1940 - 15 September 1945. He died at Margate on 2 October 1976.


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Sold for
£160