Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The outstanding and extremely rare ‘double long service’ group of three awarded to Regimental Sergeant-Major E. Morel, Royal Wiltshire Imperial Yeomanry, late Life Guards

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Transvaal, Wittebergen, South Africa 1901 (100 Q.M. Sgt. E. Morel, 1st Impl: Yeo:); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (714. Tp. Cpl. Maj: E. Morel. 2nd Life Gds.); Imperial Yeomanry L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (232 R.S. Maj: E. Morel. R. Wilts: I.Y.) mounted for display, nearly extremely fine (3) £800-£1,200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from an Africa Collection.

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Approximately 38 Imperial Yeomanry L.S. & G.C. Medals awarded to Royal Wiltshire Imperial Yeomanry.

Edward Morel was born in 1854 at East Grinstead, West Sussex, the son of Alfred Morel and Ellen Tate. By family repute his father was the illegitimate child of the union between a Madame Morel of France and William, 3rd Baron de Blaquiere, of Ardkill in the County of Londonderry, who later committed suicide at Norwood in consequence of failing health associated with lithropic disease and smallpox.

The 1881 England Census records Morel as married to Sarah Ann and living at the barracks of the Life Guards in Regents Park whilst serving as corporal of horse in the 2nd Battalion. A decade later he is noted as R.M. of 'G' Troop at Rood Ashton (The Annals of the Yeomanry of Wiltshire, refers) and the 1911 Census records the couple living at West Ashton, near Trowbridge, Wiltshire, his occupation described as ‘Army pensioner and storage agent’. He is also father to a 20 year old daughter named Nora. Affectionately known as ‘The Sergeant Major’ in his village and known for his bluff and hearty manner and burly structure and build, Morel died in 1933 having struggled with failing health for two years. His obituary, which was published in The Parade (Trowbridge) Newspaper, adds a little more detail regarding his career:

His was an interesting and varied career. As a young man he served for two years in the St. George’s Volunteers, London - for he was a Londoner and in all his years in Wilts never quite lost the accent of the Metropolis. After this he joined the Life Guards, and served in this famous regiment for 15 years, qualifying for the Long Service Medal. On leaving the regular army at the expiration of this period he became attached to the permanent staff of the Royal Wiltshire Imperial Yeomanry, with the rank of sergeant-major, and served the county’s cavalry regiment for twenty-two years, qualifying for another long service medal - a very rare distinction - and retiring with the rank of regimental sergeant major in 1908. He was made the recipient at the annual camp, of a handsome cheque and piece of plate from his comrades of the Yeomanry, Colonel (now Brigadier-General) Palmer making the presentation.

When the two companies of the Royal Wilts Imperial Yeomanry were raised at Trowbridge in 1900 for service in the South African War, Sergt.-Major Morel did splendid work in recruiting and training the men, and himself went to the front with them, with the rank of quartermaster sergeant. Though when the Great War came in 1914 he had long passed the age for active service, his heart was always with the forces, and many were the ways in which he served the country’s cause at home. It will be recalled that it was Mr. Morel who provided Trowbridge with its first “Roll of Honour” board, which hung outside the Town Hall until the list became too long to be shown thereon, and a larger one became necessary.

After his military service had concluded he settled at West Ashton, carrying on the business as a forage merchant, but finding time for many public duties.’

This was in fact not the first time that details of Morel had appeared in the local press. He regularly wrote home to his wife during his service in South Africa, and details from these letters featured in the Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser. He also provided details of the service of the 1st Wiltshire Yeomanry during the war, which appeared in the Devizes & Wiltshire Gazette, 14 March 1901:

‘The Battalion reached Bloemfontein on 1st May and expected to join Lord Roberts in his advanced to Pretoria. They were turned to the right and sent to Thaba Nchu when they joined General Rubdle’s (8th) Division. They were practically the only cavalry of the Division, and their business was to round up all those commandos who were coming away over the Free State border for Natal. In this Rundle was successful Prinsloo surrendered with 6,000 Boers, although De Wet got away. Then they went to Harrismith anticipating they would soon go home, but instead of that they were sent away for two months trek to round up cattle. With the headquarters it was not thought the 1st Company would see any fighting, but it turned out that they fell in for a lot of sniping and small actions, and were the defenders of Ladybrand. Only a portion of the Wiltshire Yeomanry entered the Transvaal that was when they went to Standerton for supplies. Summing up the work of the Wiltshire Yeomanry, Quarter Master Sergeant Morel thinks they had the maximum of work and hardships and the minimum of glory. They had come in for a lot of sniping and had a number of deaths in that manner but they had not been in a general action, except when Prinsloo surrendered, and the 1st Company in the Defence of Ladybrand.’

Morel suffered from bouts of Enteric Fever, and was invalided home. He died in February 1927:

‘In Morel we found the finest characteristics of an Englishman: Brave as a lion, generous to a degree, and that unselfish and unfailing virtue of always being able to smile, and above all to encourage others to smile, in the face of serious adversity.

His glorious record of service to his King and Country is known to all Wiltshire men. In our hearts we may store the one consolation - that were indeed the richer for his friendship, and the poorer for his passing.’ (Obituary refers).

Sold with copied research, including several photographic images of recipient in uniform.