Brigadier J.R. Morris D.S.O.

This officer had possibly the most difficult role of all commanders in Special Force. Isolated on the east bank of the Irrawaddy with three Gurkha columns, he had no hope of assistance from other Brigades and no stronghold to fall back on should things go wrong. His task was made no easier by the long distance that supporting and supply dropping aircraft had to fly to reach him, while the thunderstorms in the hills on the east of the Irrawaddy resulted in a far higher percentage of abortive close support and supply dropping missions then appertained for other brigades.

In spite of these handicaps he successfully harried the enemy line of communications south of Myitkyina with the result that few, if any, fresh enemy units moved north on that bank of the river.

After the Sino American descent on Myitkyina he moved to the bank of the river opposite that town and despite the complete lack of artillery and air support, put in repeated attacks on enemy dug in in villages on the river bank. These attacks undoubtedly divided the enemy effort in the defence of Myitkyina and contributed to the fall of that town.

He remained at duty though exhausted physically and ridden with daily recurring attacks of malaria until ordered back by the Force Commander.