Roy Morell

Lieutenant Colonel Roy Morell DSO, OBE (24 May 1889 – 28 June 1961)[1] was an Australian wool broker, grazier and stockbroker who volunteered for war service during World War I and World War II.[2]

Lt Col Roy Morell DSO OBE
Born	(1889-05-24)24 May 1889 Wollongong, New South Wales
Died	28 June 1961(1961-06-28) (aged 72) Sydney, New South Wales
Allegiance	Australia
Service/branch	Australian Army
Years of service	1914–1919 1943–1945
Rank	Lieutenant Colonel
Commands held	6th Light Horse Regiment Australian Army Movement Control
Battles/wars	First World War Gallipoli Campaign Second World War
Awards	Officer of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Service Order Mentioned in Despatches (3)
Other work	Stockbroker Honorary Treasurer Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales & Fairbridge Farm Schools of NSW

Birth and education

Morell was born in Wollongong, New South Wales,[3] son of Frances Helen (née Hopkins) and James Harris Morell.[4] He was educated at Wolaroi College and from 1903 at Newington College.[5]

Woolbroker and grazier

After school, Morell worked for Goldsbrough Mort & Co[1] and owned Tullochard out of Inverell, New South Wales.[6]

War service

On 17 September 1914, Morell enlisted as a sergeant in the 6th Light Horse Regiment, A Squadron, and embarked from Sydney on 21 December 1914. He served in the Gallipoli Campaign. Morell became a member of the 5th Machine Gun Battalion and served in France. He was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant in August 1915, Lieutenant in October 1915, Captain in March 1916 and Major in March 1917. He married Frances Ione Pole-Carew, a VAD stationed in Malta, on 18 November 1918.[7] Morell returned to Australia on 6 May 1919 and was discharged on 3 July 1919.[2] He volunteered again in the Second World War[8] and as a Lieutenant Colonel was second-in-command in Sydney for Australian Army Movement Control.[1]

Military awards

• In June 1917 he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order[9]

• In June 1919 he was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire[10]

• Mentioned in Despatches three times[1]

• 1914–15 Star[2]

• British War Medal[2]

• Victory Medal[2]

Stockbroker

In 1936, Morell sold his rural interests and moved to Sydney becoming a sole trader on the Sydney Stock Exchange. In 1939 he became a partner of R.V. Spier & Morell. He was a member of the Stock Exchange committee in 1942,[11] 1946[12] and 1947.[1]

Community service

Morell was a director of Sydney Hospital[1] and Honorary Teasurer of Fairbridge Farm Schools of NSW.[13] For 23 years he was Honorary Treasurer of the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales.[14]

References

1. Salsbury, Stephen; Sweeney, Kay, Sydney Stockbrokers : biographies of members of the Sydney Stock Exchange, 1871 to 1987, Hale & Iremonger
2. The AIF Project – Roy Morell. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
3. BD&Ms. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
4. BD&Ms. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
5. Newington College Register of Past Students 1863–1998 (Sydney, 1999) pp 138
6. "INVERELL MAIZE". The Sydney Morning Herald. 12 May 1928. p. 15. Retrieved 18 September 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
7. The Peerage. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
8. "SEEKING RECRUITS FOR A.I.F." The Sydney Morning Herald. 12 May 1941. p. 10. Retrieved 18 September 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
9. It's an Honour. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
10. It's an Honour. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
11. "PERSONAL". The Argus. Melbourne. 28 January 1942. p. 2. Retrieved 18 September 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
12. "MARKET TONE QUIETENS". The Sydney Morning Herald. 18 April 1946. p. 6. Retrieved 18 September 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
13. "FAIRBRIDGE FARM SCHOOLS". The Sydney Morning Herald. 14 July 1953. p. 2. Retrieved 17 September 2012 – via Google News.
14. "R.A.S. OFFICERS". The Sydney Morning Herald. 29 September 1952. p. 5. Retrieved 18 September 2012 – via National Library of Australia.