Death & burial
Died at Poona, India, on the 11th of July 1858.
Extract from the Naval and Military Gazette, 21st of August 1858:
"17th Lancers. — Lieutenant-Colonel Morris died at Poona on July 11th. The "Poona Observer" gives the following notice:
'We deeply regret to have to record the death in neutral lines in Poona last night of Major (Brevet Lieut.-Colonel) William Morris, C.B. H.M's 17th Lancers, only a few days after being appointed Dep. Asst. Adjutant-General of H.M.'s Forces: from dysentery.
Colonel Morris was a most distinguished officer, and his death is most regretted by his brother officers and by all who had the pleasure of knowing him. He served with the 16th Lancers at the battle of Maharajpore, Dec. 1843, for which he received a medal. Was also in the Sutlej campaigns of 1845-46, including the affair at Budiwal, the actions at Aliwal (where he was wounded) and Sobraon. (Medal with clasps.)
Col. Morris also served in the Eastern campaign of 1854 as Dep. Asst. Quartermaster-General, but on the death of Major Willett he resumed his Regimental duties and commanded H.M.'s 17th Lancers in the renowned Lt. Cavalry Charge at the battle of Balaclava, in which he was dangerously wounded and his life only saved by the devoted bravery of Surg. James Mouat, now a Dep. Inspector-Gen. of Hospitals, who voluntarily proceeded to his assistance where he was lying in an exposed situation and dressed his wounds in the presence of and under the heavy fire of the enemy. For this act of bravery Dr. Mouat received the Victoria Cross.
For his services in the Crimea, including the Siege of Sebastopol, Col. Morris had received a Medal and Clasps, the C.B., Brevet of Lt. Colonel. Knight of the Legion of Honour and the 3rd Class Order of the Medjidie. The funeral of Lieut.-Col. Morris on Monday at Poona was an imposing spectacle. An officer who was present at the funeral thus describes it:
"The Military of Poona were for a portion of yesterday concerned in a sorrowful and mournfully interesting duty, that occupied their warm and heartfelt sympathies in the place of other subjects. This was no less than the sad proceedings of consigning to his last resting place the remains of one who, though but for a short period amongst us, had, by his cheerfully urbane manner, gained the respect and esteem of everyone with whom he came into contact. I allude to the late Lieut. Col. Morris, of H.M.'s 17th Lancers — (Death or Glory) and but very recently appointed to the responsible and important office of Asst. Adj. Gen. to the Queen's Troops at Bombay.
The evening, at the hour at which this sad and mournful ceremony commenced, was clear and bright, but before its close, the rain, unhappily for the poor soldiery, who had in the midst of it to march some considerable distance to their respective homes — and must have been literally drenched — came down in torrents.
The body, in a richly mounted silk and velvet-covered coffin, was removed privately from the late Lieut.-Colonel's private residence to St. Mary's Church, where the troops were assembled shortly after five o'clock to do the last homage to the dead.
After the close of the funeral service in the church, which was performed in the most solemn manner by the Revd. G.L. Fenton, the coffin, borne by officers of the deceased's regiment, was removed from the church by the Western entrance, where it was met by the troops in the following order: The band of H.M's 18th Rl. Irish and 33rd. Regts., the former playing a requiem; H.M.'s 33rd Regiment, with arms reversed, the pall being borne by the following members of the Order of the Bath, of which the deceased had been a distinguished member: Major-General Michel, C.B.; Col. Green, C.B.: Colonel Edwards, C.B.; Colonel Greathed, C.B.; Col. Somerset. C.B.; and Col. Johnstone.
The procession then moved in progress to the burial ground, halting at the corner of the Presbyterian Mission-House, where awaited a gun-carriage of the Royal Horse Artillery, drawn by six horses, on which the body was placed and followed by the charger of the deceased, two troops of H.M.'s 17th Lancers on foot with lances reversed, fatigue party of six soldiers, H.,M.'s 33rd Regt., a troop of the Royal Horse Artillery on foot, officers of the 3rd Dragoon Guards, officers of the Royal and Bombay Artillery, officers of the Army and Divisional Staff, amongst whom we noted Major-Gens. Wylie, C.B. and Woodburn, C.B.; Cols,. Melville and Phayre, and several officers of the Indian Navy; His Exc. the Commander-in-Chief, and Brig-Gen. Hale, Commanding the Division: carriages, etc.
The scene was a thrilling and touching one to all. In the same place where he had often walked erect and stately as one of the Six Hundred who had passed through the valley of death in the ever memorable charge at Balaclava, was now the cold corpse being borne to receive the last obsequies of the departed. There, where he had passed as a proud ornament of the profession to which he belonged, was being borne the inanimate and lifeless body of one who had endeared himself to us all. Many an eye moistened as this telling lesson of the fleeting hours of life came before them and many a heart throbbed at its vivid suggestions.
The procession moved slowly on, the noble band of H.M.'s 33rd (the proud Duke of Wellington's) Regiment playing the "Dead March", whose mournful music with muffled drums, telling us in plain unmistakable tones, that a time must come when we shall all be required to give an account of our stewardship. Arrived at the cemetery, the Infantry, arms reversed, then formed a street through which the body and the remainder of the procession passed; where the last offices were performed by the Revd. Mr. Fenton, at the close of which the troops and spectators dispersed to their various homes, amidst the drenching rain which fell in torrents."
Contrary to what is generally believed and oft repeated, he did not die from "sun-stroke" brought on by the full heat of a summer sun on a silver plate which had been used to close up the wounds in his skull after Balaclava, but from the more prosaic one of "chronic dysentery". [PB: presumably this is an inserted comment by EJB?]
He was buried in Manowrie (Old part) Cemetery at Poona, India, the inscription on his erected tombstone reading: "Lieut. Colonel William Morris. C.B. K.L.H. late Major 17th Lancers, died 11th of July 1858, aged 38 years."
This part of the Cemetery is now [1990] in a very over-grown state and the stone cannot now be found.
A memorial tablet was later erected in St. Mary's Church at Poona bearing the inscription:
"Sacred to the memory of William Morris of Fishleigh, Devon. Brevet Lieut. Colonel and Major, Her Majesty's 17th Lancers. Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Knight of the Legion of Honour, and Companion of the Imperial Order of the Medjidie. Deputy Assistant-General of her Majesty's Forces, Bombay, who departed this life, 11th July 1858 at Poona. This tablet was erected by his brother officers as a mark of esteem for his character as a friend and a distinguished soldier."
Maharajpoor. Sobraon.
Budiwal. Balaclava.
Aliwal. Sebastopol.
"To them who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for glory, immortality and eternal life. — Romans 11 Chapter 7."
The Hatherleigh monument
The Obelisk at Hatherleigh, Devon
(Click on image to enlarge)
[PB: say more. Who is who? And the fourth figure? Add info about image details.]
An obelisk subscribed for the people of Devon was erected in 1860 at a cost of £400 in his native village of Hatherleigh on the most commanding site on the Moor. At the base is a large carving depicting him being carried off the field of Balaclava by Surgeon James Mouat and Sergeant Charles Wooden, 17th Lancers:
On one side:
"Maharajpoor — Budiwal — Aliwal — Sobraon — Balaclava"
On the other:
"Erected by public subscription"
At the rear:
"To the memory of Lt. Col. William Morris, C.B. K.L.H. Major, 17th Lancers. Born at Fishleigh in this county, Dec. 20th 1820 — Died at Poona, Bombay, July 11th 1858."
Balaklava plaque on the front of the Obelisk at Hatherleigh
(Click on image to enlarge)
For more on the monument, including detailed maps, visit http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-93126-morris-monument-hatherleigh-devon:
Monument to Lieutenant Colonel William Morris. Erected 1860 by the firm E. B. Stephens of London. Granite ashlar. Very large obelisk with a bronze bas-relief at front of pedestal depicting Morris being carried from the battlefield of Balaclava.
William Morris was born in Fishleigh in Hatherleigh and distinguished himself in the battle of Balaclava — notorious for the Charge of the Light Brigade — later acting as Assistant Adjutant-General in the quelling of the Indian mutiny before dying of sunstroke there at the age of 38 in 1858.
The obelisk was erected by public subscription to commemorate Morris's exploits and his successful return from Balaclava. Source: The Story of Hatherleigh.
Listing NGR: SS5542604573
A painting by Chevalier Louis William Desange shows Surgeon Mouat and Charles Wooden attending Captain William Morris on the field of Balaclava. (There are photographs in the 17th Lancer file.)
In the churchyard of Holy Trinity and St. Andrews at Ashe, Hampshire, there is a double grave-plot with iron rails around it near the north-east corner of the church. There are two headstones, that on the left being to the memory of Major-General William Taylor (father-in-law of William Morris) and that on the right bears the inscription:
"Amelia Mary Margaret Morris. Born March 15th 1825 — Died August 16th 1869. 'Them also that sleep in Jesus will bring God with him.' 'Also William Morris of Fishleigh, Devon, Lt. Col. 17th Lancers. Husband of the above, who died at Poona in India, July 11th 1858, aged 37 years. He commanded the 17th Lancers in the Balaclava Charge."
Further information
On the 6th of September 1856 he was presented with a magnificent service sword at Torrington, Devon, by the leading gentry and clergy of the district for "his gallantry in the Crimea", the presentation being made by Sir Trevor Wheeler, Bart.
This sword, and his medals, are currently [1975] in the possession of a member of his greater family.
In the South African Museum of Military History near Pretoria is held a presentation sword:
"Given to Major William Morris from his friends and neighbours in the North of Devon, to replace his sword lost when he was severely wounded when in command of the 17th Lancers at the glorious charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava, 25th October 1854."
Possibly originally belonging to one of his brothers who went to South Africa to live, it throws some doubt on the authenticity of the sword said to be in the possession of the greater family — unless, of course, it was they who gave it to the Museum.
[PB, October 2014: There is a substantial entry, with images and references, on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Morris_(British_Army_officer) (accessed 27.10.2014)].
While engaged at Varna in the duties of his office he was taken ill with cholera, so was unable to cross with the Army to the Crimea in September, but had recovered sufficiently to join the Headquarter Staff in October, before Sebastopol.
Very soon after his arrival, he relinquished his Staff appointment to take command of the 17th Lancers, Major Saltren Willett the Senior Officer present with the Regiment, having died with cholera. (Major Augustus Saltren Willett was also a Devonshire man — the eldest son of John Saltren Willett Esq. of Petticombe, Monkleigh, North Devon. In the last of Lieutenant John Henry Thompson's letters dated October 23rd — two days before he fell — he wrote, "I have another melancholy bit of news to close this letter with — the awfully sudden death of our poor Major from cholera in eleven hours, we were going to bury him this morning." A kinsman of Major Saltren Willett, Archibald Cleveland, of Tapeley Park, Instow, Devon, was also in the 17th Lancers. He was appointed to the Regiment in 1852 as Cornet, rode unwounded through the Balaklava Charge but was killed at Inkerman on November the 5th.)
Thus it happened that he led the 17th into action on the 25th October.