Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Six: Major S. Morton, 24th Punjabis, who took part in the defence of Malakand and in the relief of Pekin, and was killed in action in Mesopotamia in July 1915

Coronation 1911 (Capt. S. Morton, 24th Panjabis); India General Service 1895-1902, 2 clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Malakand 1897 (2nd Lieut. S. Morton, 24th Punjab Infantry); China 1900, 1 clasp, Relief of Pekin (Lieut. S. Morton, 24th Pjb. Infy.); 1914-15 Star (Major. S. Morton. 24-Punjabis.); British War and Victory Medals (Major S. Morton.); Memorial Plaque (Sidney Morton) the three pre-Great War awards mounted ‘cavalry style’ as worn, the Great War awards, together with the Plaque, housed in a glazed display frame, together with the Buckingham Palace enclosure, good very fine (7) £1,800-£2,200

Sidney Morton was born on 1 April 1876, the son of Surgeon-General G. E. Morton, Indian Medical Service. First commissioned in January 1896, he was appointed to the Indian Army in March 1897. Posted to the 24th Punjab Infantry, he was present during operations on the North West Frontier of India under Sir William Lockhart in 1897-98, serving as Provost Marshal with the 1st Brigade, Malakand Field Force. He took part in the defence of Malakand, and was engaged in the action at Landakai and the relief of Chakdarra. He also participated in operations in the Mohmund country, Bajaur and the capture of the Tangi Pass with the Buner Field Force (Medal with two clasps).

Promoted to Lieutenant in April 1898, he served with the China Expeditionary Force 1900-01, including the relief of Pekin and the actions at Peitsang and Yangtsun, where he was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 4 May 1901). Promoted to Captain in January 1905, and to Major in January 1914, Morton was also qualified as a 1st Class Interpreter on modern foreign languages, with other qualifications in Musketry, Army Signalling, Equitation, and Telegraphy.

Major Morton accompanied the expeditionary force to Mesopotamia with the 24th Punjabis, where he was killed in action at Nasariyeh on 14 July 1915. In this unsuccessful attack by the 24th Punjabis all but two British officers were killed, and 150 men were killed and wounded out of a total of about 400. Nasiriya was finally captured and occupied on 25 July. Morton is buried in Basra War Cemetery, Iraq.