John Thomas Morris was born at Brighton on 17 October 1931. Evacuated to Yorkshire at the start of the Second World War, he was educated initially at a girls’ school. He also sang in a choir at York Minster. Good at sports, he boxed, swam and played cricket. He joined The Royal Warwickshire Regiment in April 1949, and after training was posted to the 1st Battalion The Royal Leicestershire Regiment (1 RLR) in Hong Kong before going to Korea with them in 1951.

As the possibility of a ceasefire had grown more distinct in recent days, the Chinese communist Army was determined to recover lost areas, including the formidable Maryang San mountain. They assaulted Hill 217 three times on 4 November, driving out B Company of 1st KOSB with shells and mortar bombs which fell at a rate of 6,000 an hour. On 5 November 1 RLR set out to recapture Hill 217. The 20-year-old Cpl Morris was leading a section of D Company, which came under continuous heavy and accurate shell and mortar fire for the whole of its 1,500 yard approach. The bombardment made it impossible for the platoon to complete its ascent, and with their goal only 20 yards away Cpl Morris told his section to stay put while he dashed forward to throw grenades into the enemy bunkers. Not surprisingly, he was wounded but, according to his citation, “his inspiration and action successfully paved the way for the survivors of his section to scramble up after him and on to the objective.” For this, he was awarded the Military Medal (for their conduct on that day’s battle, one other Cpl was awarded the MM, and two officers the MC). The Regiment was later awarded Maryang San as a Battle Honour.

On return from Korea, he served with the Battalion in Germany before being an instructor at the Depot from 1953 to 1954. He left the Army that same year but rejoined in 1957, and served in Cyprus, UK and Germany, including a further tour at the Depot. He went to Hong Kong with 1 RLR again in 1963. There he was selected to be 2IC of the 8-man British element of the 8th US Army Honor Guard at HQ UN Forces in Seoul for ceremonial and guard duties. He was also platoon sergeant of the UN Platoon. This involved ceremonial duties for dignitaries as well as a daily parade at the Yongsan compound with gun firing at 18.00 hours. For this, after a three-month tour, he received a ‘letter of appreciation’ from the US authorities who were aware of his “personal interest, enthusiasm and devotion to duty resulting in the attainment of a superior level of performance by members of his platoon” – which included Ethiopian, Thai and Turkish sections.

After six months in Borneo 1963-64, John Morris served in Aden in 1965, 1 RLR having by then become 4 R Anglian. He later served in Malta and Bahrain, the latter as CSM C Coy. His last posting was PSI of the Hinckley Coy of 4/5 RLR (TA). With 22 years’ service he left the Army in 1971, and then spent five years with the Corps of Commissionaires and 12 years as a security guard at Leicester University. He joined the Royal British Legion, and his regimental ties remained strong. In retirement he wrote poetry, loved music and continued the study of astronomy, which had enabled him to complete an astro-navigation course while in the Far East.

John Morris died on 10 March 2015, and is survived by his wife Margaret, their two daughters and a son, to whom the Regiment offers its sincere condolences. At his funeral, he was given a guard of honour of Old Comrades, who revered his memory.