Col ‘Bill’ Morris was born in Gravesend, Kent in 1934, the only son of Bob and Milly Morris. He attended Stamford School in Lincolnshire before going on to Brooksby Hall Agricultural College in 1951/52, from where he obtained a Certificate in Agriculture, and during which he received an award for the “most improved student”.

He enlisted in The Royal Leicestershire Regiment at Glen Parva Barracks in June 1953, where, after basic training he continued as a member of the Depot Training Staff until 1954. He quickly achieved the rank of Corporal, and became renowned for his strict, but deeply caring adherence to the rigours of recruit training.

In 1955 he was selected for officer training at Eaton Hall, from which he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in August 1956 and posted to the 1st Battalion in Cyprus. He commanded the Anti-Tank Platoon, and was promoted to Lieutenant. On the disbandment of the Anti-Tank Platoon in 1957 he took over the command of the Assault Pioneer Platoon. During 1958 he was granted a Regular Commission in the Regiment. Whilst in Cyprus he played in the 1st Battalion rugby team and was awarded the “Green Tiger” for his distinguished performances. He was also a member of the Battalion’s shooting team, which came second in the Non-Central Middle East Battle Trophy match.

On the Battalion’s move to Plymouth in 1958 he took back command of the Anti-Tank Platoon, which had been reconstituted. Whilst stationed in Plymouth he married Penny, who was the daughter of Lt Col Jefferis TD, late of the Regiment, who was a partner in Pearce’s the Jewellers in Leicester – and acted for many years as the Regimental Jeweller.

He remained in command of the Anti-Tank Platoon in Germany until 1961, when the Battalion reorganised into HQ Company and 3 Rifle Companies, each with its own mortars and anti-tank weapons. He then took over as Assistant Adjutant. This year he won the LMG pairs at the Battalion Rifle Meeting and led the Battalion team to Bisley.

In the Autumn of 1962, having reached the rank of Captain, he took over as Adjutant under Colonel Peter Badger, and moved with the Battalion to Hong Kong. In the Autumn of 1963 he was appointed Staff Captain ‘A’ in HQ Land Forces Hong Kong, and subsequently moved in that post to HQ Kowloon Garrison.

He rejoined the Battalion in Malta, and commanded Training Company – by this time the Battalion had rebadged as 4th Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment. It was during his time in Malta that, in 1967, he transferred to the Army Catering Corps, having been medically downgraded due to deafness, caused by his significant contribution to competition shooting in the Battalion.

After successful completion of the Army Catering Corps’ transfer course he was posted to Dover as a Specialist Catering Officer. This was followed by a Catering Adviser post on the staff of HQ 4th Armoured Division in Herford, Germany – the high point of which was Exercise ‘Summer Sales’. On return to UK, by which time he had been promoted to major, he was appointed second in command of the new organisation known as Group Catering in Aldershot, which provided catering support to units of South East District – his particular responsibilities were to essentially establish the new organisation.

On promotion to Lieutenant Colonel in1975, he was appointed Principal Staff Officer to the Director ACC in MOD, London, in which appointment he implemented and conducted the move of the Directorate to St Omer Barracks in Aldershot, from which location he became responsible to the Director ACC for catering policy world-wide, and additionally, for the management and deployment of ACC officers. His next appointment, in 1977, was as Commanding Officer of the Training Battalion and Depot ACC, once again in Aldershot – in this appointment his previous infantry service was invaluable in ensuring a highly successful tour. His next move was back to BAOR in Germany, this time as Deputy Assistant Director ACC, in 1st (British) Corps.

Following promotion to Colonel he was appointment Director Catering Services (UK) based in Wilton, retiring in 1985 after 18 years with the Corps. Of his service with the Corps, Brigadier Andrew Fisher, who transferred from ‘the Tigers’ to the ACC more or less at the same time as Bill, writes that the Corps provided Bill a new home in which both he and Penny thrived; he goes on to say that he was greatly admired and respected by all those who worked with him who soon realised the importance that he placed on “bulled shoes and chin straps”; he states further that Bill was special, humorous, professional, tough, and “rock ‘ard” as he used to say, and always ready to challenge anyone to an arm wrestle, which was Bill’s interpretation of a good hand shake. Without question the attributes of which Andrew speaks are mirrored in every sense by all Tigers who served with him. Another senior member of the ACC wishes it to be known that Bill brought to the ACC, the reality that members of the ACC were first and foremost soldiers(!).

On retirement Bill joined SERCO, which is a wide-ranging security organisation – he was immediately appointed to a Senior Management position. Again Bill thrived and made a significant contribution by taking a leading role in the growth of the organisation from 600 employees to over 25,000, established in 33 countries. In doing so Bill, accompanied by Penny, travelled the globe. He retired in 1995, but was immediately recalled to carryout a consultancy role worldwide, retiring again in1998, having served with the firm for 13 years.

Despite his early departure from The Royal Leicestershire Regiment, and contributing 32 years to other organisations, it is quite clear that the Regiment remained his first love. He was a Regimental Trustee for over 12 years, he and Penny always attending Regimental functions whenever possible. Latterly he played a leading role in the management of the Regimental Museum in Leicester.

Bill was a fine soldier, and a dedicated and highly respected member of the Regiment. Whatever the challenge he always tacked it in his own inimitable style, and with great zeal and determination, attributes which ensured his success in the other organisations he served.

Bill enjoyed over 50 years of happy marriage with Penny, and they had four daughters, one of whom sadly predeceased him.

RHR