ROXBURGH BOY DECORATED.
SERGEANT W. P. MORRIN RECEIVES D.C.M.
In Friday's Otago Daily Times appeared an article from New Zealand's official war correspondent giving a list of those who were recently decorated with honours for bravery in the field. Among these appears the name of Sergt.-Major William Patrick Morrin, of Roxburgh. The official record is given as under:
Sergeant William Patrick Morrin, Otago Regiment. — While in command of a platoon while the enemy was advancing in strength along the Meteren-Bailleul road, on his own initiative he at once brought his platoon across the road and organised its defence. His resource and courage were worthy of the highest praise and inspired his men with confidence. — D.C.M.
Morrin has a long and splendid record as may be judged by the fact that he has no fewer that six wound stripes on his sleeve. In the Meteren fighting the enemy eventually were all about him on three sides, yet he got his platoon out with only one casualty. -Mt Benger Mail, 28/8/1918.
FROM THE FRONT
Writing to a friend in Riverton, from France under date, July llth, Sergt. W. P. Morrin, D.C.M., M.M., gives the following interesting description of the stirring events in which he participated during the German push:
As there is pot much doing to-day I thought perhaps it may interest you if I take advantage of my spare time to give you an account, as far as censor regulations permit, of a recent operation my battalion took part in in Northern France. We had been in strong-points for about three weeks in Ypres sector, and were relieved and. taken well to the rear for a spell, but, alas! that spell didn’t last long, for about five o’clock on the evening of the second day out we received orders to be ready in half an hour to take our part in stopping the Germans in their Flanders push. Within an hour we were well on our way in the motor lorries, and, arriving at our destination we dug new trenches, and it was not until the machine-gun bullets began to zip overhead that we realised how close we were to the enemy and the great extent to which his advance had materialised. The night was uneventful, with the exception of heavy shell fire, and so on, the next day. As the advance had been so rapid the civilian population had left their homes hurriedly and left all their worldly possessions behind. ’Twas a sad sight to see all the stock which had been left, especially the best of dairy cows in full milk almost mad with the shell fire and for want of being milked. Needless to say our boys availed themselves of every opportunity to secure fresh milk. Well, to continue the story off our operations, the second night following our appearance on the scene, we had to go forward and take over the very advanced posts of the sector. These outposts, in a stunt of this sort, continually change hands, so it was quite apparent to the few old soldiers among us that we were in for a lively time, and, sure enough our expectations were fulfilled. I found myself in charge of a platoon of seventy men, and I set off at dusk to take over my post. We got along alright till we got about half-way, when a sudden burst of heavy machine-gun fire lessened my party by half-a-dozen. The boys were more alert after this, and escaped further casualties. Thinking I still had about five hundred yards to go you can imagine my surprise on being halted by a British, patrol and informed that the Germans had taken, that afternoon, the post that I was on my way to relieve and that it would be necessary for me to go back about two hundred yards, and take over the new post that had been established. ’Twas no doubt a lucky thing that we met that patrol, as it would have been more difficult relieving that post with Germans in it than if they were our own men. The next day was spent in comparative quietness, of course, the uncertainty of the forward positions makes them necessarily free from shell fire. My headquarters was in a farm house alongside my post, and, as there were plenty of cooking utensils, etc., in the house, vegetables in the garden and fowls running about, I decided to put my cooking capabilities to the test when it became dark (of course, it was too risky to light a fire in daylight). I managed to single out and shoot a decent-sized fowl, and while in the garden pulling some onions I was nearly bagged by a Hun sniper. Of course, “a miss is as good as a mile.” Nevertheless, he didn’t get an opportunity for a second shot. The day wore on, then came darkness, and after sending out the necessary patrols I set the fire going and had things going fine when one of the patrols returned and reported that owing to developments on the left a whole division had retired. This was serious, and necessitated the removal of my platoon slightly to the rear and digging in across a main road leading to a fair-sized town. To protect our flank this move had to be carried out in the quickest possible time. I left that fowl boiling away on the kitchen stove, no doubt to be devoured by some pig of a Hun the next day. The Germans, no doubt, thought that we had fallen back on the whole front, and we were somewhat surprised to see them marching down the very road we were defending in column, just as day was breaking — a day which turned out the most exciting and most successful, as regards killing Huns, that I’ve spent since being on active service. We all kept very low, and waited till the column was about three hundred yards away, then we let them have it —rapid fire from our two machine guns and every available rifle. This sudden burst of fire absolutely demoiralised the whole column, and they scattered everywhere, making fine targets for the boys. We hung on to this position for about four hours, during which time we accounted for a good many Huns. As the attack developed more on our flanks it soon became apparent that we would have to fall back on a formed line about a thousand yards in the rear. Orders to this effect were received from headquarters, then began the unpleasant task of retiring under heavy rifle and machine-gun fire. By retiring in sections and taking every advantage of covering fire my platoon got back safely with only one man killed. Unfortunately the other platoons weren’t so lucky, and many men failed to return. The line we fell back on was in a splendid position, and from there we played havoc among the advancing Germans, who were compelled to turn about and run back into a hollow to escape our fire. Several more attacks by the Huns followed, but all failed, and they have not been able to gain another yard in that sector since. After spending about twelve days in this area we were relieved and taken to the rear for a spell and to be reorganised, but after being out for three days we were again rushed up in motor lorries farther north, and spent another sixteen days in much the same manner as I have already described. Our battalion, was the only New Zealand battalion on this front, as our Division had left some weeks before, and were busily engaged in the big push in the south.. We seemed to be, as it were, a spare part at everybody’s disposal — a not altogether satisfactory position to fight under, but nevertheless the boys received the highest praise from every general under whose command they happened to be. We were relieved from our last position by the splendid French troops, and were at last granted a rest after one of the most exciting months’ stunting I have experienced since leaving the “Long White Cloud ” in ’fourteen. -Western Star, 8/10/1918.
Lieutenant W. P. Morrin, D.C.M., M.M., who went away with the Main of the N.Z.E.F., is expected to arrive home very shortly. Lieutenant Morrin who served on the Peninsula and also in France, has been wounded seven times and has also the honour of winning two coveted decorations, namely the Military Medal and the Distinguished Conduct Medal. We feel sure that the residents of Roxburgh will be proud to this battle-scarred hero home once again. -Mt Benger Mail, 30/4/1919.
WEDDING
MORRIN — EASTWOOD. — On March 22, at the church of Our Lady of Peace, Roxburgh, by the Rev. Father Farthing, William Patrick Morrin, elder surviving son of Mr and Mrs James Morrin, Roxburgh, to Evelyn Mary Eastwood, youngest daughter of the late W. J. and Mrs Eastwood, “Woodville House,” Dublin, Ireland. -Otago Daily Times, 29/5/1922.
REGIMENTAL NOTES
By Khaki
No 6 Platoon, B Company, Roxburgh. Authority has been granted for the opening of Roxburgh as a training centre for the 1st Battalion, Southland Regiment. The adjutant of the regiment, Lieut. A. R. Cockerell, D.S.O., N.Z.S.C., attended a recruiting meeting at Roxburgh on March 27 and addressed some 30 young men of the town regarding conditions of training. At the conclusion of the address 32 enrolled as members of the new platoon. Lieut. W. P. Morrin, D.C.M. M.M., Reserve of Officers, 1st Southland Regiment, and Sergeant A. R. Alexander (late Divisional Signal Company, N.Z.E.F.) are both taking a very keen interest in the formation of this unit. Staff Sergeant-Major J. Little, D.C.M., N.Z.P.S., will proceed to Roxburgh on the 16th of this month to uniform and equip trainees. Medical examinations will be concluded the same evening. It is hoped that the training will be far enough advanced for the platoon to parade on Anzac Day. -Southland Times, 9/4/1936.
HOME GUARD (excerpt)
After discussion it was decided to join up with the Central Otago Area under the charge of Major McKenzie. The following appointments were made: Commander, Lieut. W. P. Morrin, D.C.M. M.M. (Lieut. Morrin served with the 1st Otago Regiment in the Great War and saw service in Egypt, Gallipoli and France; 2nd in command. Captain G. H. Eliot (Capt. Eliot served with the Rifle Brigade during the Great War and for three years after); 3rd in command, Lieut. T. Stockdill D.C.M. (Lieut. Stockdill served with the 1st Canterbury Regiment in the Great War). -Mt Benger Mail, 13/11/1940.
Alexandra was the scone of a big Home Guard mock battle to-day, when the Vincent Battalion engaged in tactical exercises involving the defence of Alexandra. The battle was staged along the lines of that recently held at Ranfurly. The primary objective was the capture of the railway bridge, the enemy being under the command of Lieutenant W. Morrin, D.C.M., M.M., while the defending forces were under the command of Commander J. H. Forrest. At the time of writing the fate of the bridge was unknown. -Evening Star, 18/10/1941.
OBITUARY
LIEUTENANT W. P. MORRIN. D.C.M., M.M.
The death occurred recently at the Dunedin Hospital of Lieutenant W. P. Morrin, at the age of 52 years. Born at Roxburgh, he was the second son of the late Mr James Morrin and Mrs Morrin. Educated at the Roxburgh School, he was noted for his brilliance at scholastics. He took an active interest in the Roxburgh Football and Cricket Clubs, and was a member of the Roxburgh Brass Band. In 1912 he took a position in a general store at Riverton and later at Invercargill.
With the outbreak of war in 1914 he immediately enlisted for overseas service, and left New Zealand with the Main Body, Southland Regiment. He served through the Gallipoli campaign and later in France. He was seven times wounded and twice decorated for bravery, being awarded the D.C.M. and M.M. After the cessation of hostilities he returned to New Zealand, and took up fruit farming at Roxburgh East. For a time he was inspector for the Mount Benger and Roxburgh East Rabbit Boards. He was keenly interested in R.S.A. affairs, and was a member of the original executive of the local R.S.A. With the commencement of the R.S.A. afforestation scheme he was appointed foreman, and supervised the work until the whole area was planted. He was actively promoting the Territorial movement when war was declared, and when the Home Guard was formed he served with captain's rank. He is survived by his wife. -Evening Star, 4/4/1946.
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