TOPIC:

First of all, thank you for letting me join this wonderful group. It is very much appreciated as I am new to researching South Africa medals.

My question is around Colour Sergeant William Norman NORISS 4961 of the 38th Coy, 10th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry of which I have his South Africa Medal with Cape Colony clasp.

Willian previously served with the 10th Hussars from about 1870 to 1885 and was a charger at the battle of El-Teb Egypt in 1884. William enlisted with the Imperial Yeomanry at High Wycombe England in January 1900, however on his enlistment papers (from Ancestry) he stated he had previous service with the Cape Mounted Rifles. There is a further remark after that which I can't really read but to my mind looks liked 'wounded'. Would there be a record of his earlier stated service before he returned home to enlist again or were the Cape Mounted Rifles involved in earlier conflicts? I believe William stayed on in South Africa and I am presently trying to locate a record of his death there. Any information in regard to William would be very welcome. Thank you

Morris is here listing his previous service and the reason for that ending. As such we have:
"Cape Mounted Rifles (Regt disbanded)
&
10th Royal Hussars (Pension)"

Per page 4 of his 1900-1901 service record, he was also eligible for the SA01 clasp. I believe these were often issued separately to the other clasps, which is why they sometimes don't appear on medal they should be on.

Morris' service with the Cape Mounted Rifles occurred prior to his service with the 10th Hussars, as he notes in his attestation papers for that regiment. His discharge papers for the CMR are also extant. Private 873 William Norman Morris joined the CMR at Bristol on 7 April 1868, and was promoted to corporal on 27 May 1869. He was discharged at Chichester on 18 April 1870, having served with the regiment for two years and twelve days. As mentioned, this was due to the regiment being disbanded. His service with the CMR was "very good", and he was never entered in the defaulters book. He then enlisted (elsewhere described as transferred to) with the 10th Hussars at Bristol on 17 August 1870 at 1:10pm, describing himself at the time as a groom, and receiving the service number 1152.

Morris' service in the 10th Hussars did not get off to nearly as good as a start. He was Absent Without Leave from Hounslow, and was listed as a deserter with a twenty shilling reward, from 29 April to 8 May 1871, and was subsequently court martialled and imprisoned from 11 May to 7 June. Returned to the regiment as a private, he was promoted to lance corporal on 24 March 1875, and advanced again to corporal on 28 April 1877. On 25 November 1879 he reengaged with the army to complete a full 20 years' service, and was promoted to sergeant on 6 February 1880. He was then appointed paymaster sergeant on 11 June 1884, and from 21 March 1889 also served as quartermaster sergeant. He was discharged on 27 March 1890.

Morris' service abroad with the 10th Hussars was:
East Indies 9 January 1873 - 18 February 1884
Eastern Sudan 19 February 1884 - 21 March 1884 (Egypt Medal with El-Teb – Tamaai clasp & Khedives Star 1884)

His wife, Alice Margaret Helena nee Williams, apparently travelled with the regiment. I can't find any mentions of him being wounded at any point in his long military service.

He had lots of children with Alice (Cyril 1880-1891, Elphinstone b. 14 June 1881, Arthur June 1883-19 September 1918, Isoline 3 September 1885-31 January 1952, Fidelia 1 August 1887-29 December 1963, Ruth b. 28 January 1890, Geraldine October 1892-20 August 1973, Kathleen 25 October 1894-17 June 1954, William 12 December 1895-10 October 1949) and three step sons (Percy, Elwyn b. 14 January 1872, Norman b. 28 October 1875).

The family appear to have settled in South Africa, with all I can see dying in or around that area apart from Arthur, who was possibly killed in action serving in France. William Norman Morris, born July 1850 Bristol, died on 13 February 1919 in Kimberley.

Morris was also for many years the general secretary of the Croydon branch of the YMCA. He lectured about his military experiences, as can be seen in this attached newspaper report about his Sudan reminiscences.

P-C thank you so much for the information and time you have provided me. You have answered just about every question I had about his service and filled in so many blanks. Very much appreciated.

May I ask where you found the records for his early service with the CMR and 10th Hussars? I have only found pension records and South Africa attestation papers to date.

Again thank you

Here's the bit about the CMR from Tylden's "Armed Forces of South Africa".

You should be able to access the majority of it on Ancestry and/or Forces War Records. I find searching with combinations of names (William Norman Morris, William N Morris, W N Morris, etc) and service numbers usually works to dig out the more obscure documents. Let me know if you can't find any of them.