268 Morrison Avenue Linton Military Camp Palmerston North, aerial view 2018
Reason for the name
This street was named in honour of Brigadier W R K 'Kim' Morrison DSO OBE MID. Most streets within NZDF Camps and Bases are named in honour of prominent people, battles, campaigns, ships, aircraft and places creating a rich history of our military service.
Brigadier William Richard Kimmitt (Kim) Morrison DSO OBE MID was a distinguished Infantry Officer who served the New Zealand Army in both peace and war. He entered the Royal Military College in Duntroon Australia in 1939 and retired in 1972. Brigadier Morrison died on10 July 2001 Aged 87.
Author: The Poppy Places Trust and Cherie Lawson
Brigadier Kim Morrison was the son of William Morrison and Elsie (nee Bentley). He married Phyllis Betty Anne Jones (daughter of Rev R E Jones) in 1943. He is the father of three sons.
Kim was educated at Waihopai School, Invercargill and Timaru Boys High School. Working with Dalgety's prior to enlisting in the New Zealand Regular Army (New Zealand Staff Corps) by special entry he attended Royal Military College Duntroon in 1939. Upon graduation he was posted to General Staff Officer grade 3 (GSO 3) of 2 NZ Division in January-February 1942.
By March 1943 Brigadier Morrison had been promoted to Major and commanded an Infantry company in the western desert. Here he was awarded the Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). The citation for the award reads:
"On the night 21/22 March 1943 Major Morrison was commanding a supporting company during the attack on Point 201. The forward companies of the Battalion had reached the minefield in front of the enemy forward defence lines and were held up by, and suffering casualties from, heavy fire from automatic weapons firing on fixed lines. Major Morrison made a quick appreciation of the situation and acting on his own initiative led his company through the minefield and outflanking the enemy position at that point, effectively silencing the guns and permitting the rest of the Battalion to resume its advance. This officer's actions throughout all operations have been characterised by a complete disregard for his own safety. His qualities of courage and leadership have been of the highest order and an inspiration to all who have come in contact with him." (NZ Gazette, 21 September 1944)
Other awards to be issued to Brigadier Morrison throughout his career were:
- Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE)
- 1939-1945 Star
- Africa Star (8th Army clasp)
- Defence Medal
- War Medal 1939-1945 with oak leaf
- New Zealand War Service Medal
- General Service Medal 1918-62 (Malaya clasp)
- Coronation Medal 1953
- Silver Jubilee Medal 1977
In addition to his initial training at RMC Duntroon Brigadier Morrison attended Staff College in Haifa and the Joint Services College, United Kingdom
He was twice wounded in action, firstly on 26 April 1941 near Tripolis, Greece and again later in WW2
Primary appointments held were as follows:
- GSO 3 of General Headquarters (GHQ) of Middle East Force (MEF), February-April 1942.
- GSO 2 (Ops) of GHQ MEF, April-August 1942.
- Served at Army HQ, Wellington, 1944-1945.
- Staff Duntroon, 1946-48.
- Commandant of Army Schools, 1953-54.
- Commanding Officer (CO) of 1 NZ Regiment, Malaya, 1957-59.
- Commander of 4 Brigade, 1960.
- Commandant of Waiouru Camp, 1960-62.
- Commander of Fiji Military Forces, 1963-66.
- Commander of SMD and 3 Infantry Brigade, 1966-69.
- Served as Hon. Colonel with 1 Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, Vietnam, 1969-72.
- Patron of 1 NZ Regiment Association.
A New Zealand Battalion saw continuous service in South East Asia from 1957 until 1989 Lt Col W.R.K. (Kim) Morrison RNZIR was the first Commanding Officer and the unit’s RSM commenced with WO1 I.F. (Bunny) Forsyth.
