Leslie Morshead

Sir Leslie Morshead
Born	Leslie James Morshead (1889-09-18) 18 September 1889 Ballarat, Victoria, Australia
Died	26 September 1959(1959-09-26) (aged 70)
Other names	Ming
Occupation(s)	Military officer, educator, entrepreneur, agriculturalist
Years active	1908–1945 (military)
Known for	Commanding Australian and British troops at Siege of Tobruk and Second Battle of El Alamein during World War II

Lieutenant General Sir Leslie James Morshead, (18 September 1889 – 26 September 1959), was a distinguished Australian military officer, educator, entrepreneur, and agriculturalist whose service extended across both World Wars. During the Second World War, he commanded Australian and British troops at the Siege of Tobruk in 1941 and the Second Battle of El Alamein, achieving significant triumphs against Erwin Rommel's Afrika Korps. His soldiers affectionately dubbed him "Ming," a shortened form of "Ming the Merciless," inspired by the notorious comic book antagonist.

At the start of the First World War in 1914, Morshead left his teaching role and relinquished his Cadet Corps commission to join as a private in the 2nd Infantry Battalion of the First Australian Imperial Force. He was promoted to lieutenant by September and landed at Anzac Cove on 25 April 1915, where his battalion advanced further than any other Australian unit. After being sent back to Australia due to injury, he later commanded the 33rd Infantry Battalion on the Western Front, leading forces during key engagements such as Messines, Passchendaele, Villers-Bretonneux, and Amiens.

In the interwar period, Morshead established a prosperous career with the Orient Steam Navigation Company while maintaining active involvement in the Militia, where he held command over various battalions and brigades. With the onset of World War II in 1939, he was appointed commander of the 18th Infantry Brigade within the 6th Division of the Second Australian Imperial Force. By 1941, he was leading the 9th Division during both the Siege of Tobruk and the Second Battle of El Alamein. Returning to Australia in 1943, he took charge of II Corps throughout the New Guinea campaign, and in 1945 commanded I Corps during the Borneo campaign.

Early life

Born on 18 September 1889 in Ballarat, Victoria, Morshead was the sixth among seven siblings. His father, William Morshead, a gold miner originally from Cornwall, England who had traveled via Canada, passed away when Leslie was six years old. His mother, Mary Eliza Morshead, was Australian-born but descended from Cornish immigrants. He attended Mount Pleasant High School in Victoria and began working as a junior teacher in 1906.

In 1909, he enrolled at Melbourne Teachers' Training College and completed his studies by 1910. Although awarded a scholarship to pursue an education diploma at the University of Melbourne, he postponed this opportunity to teach in rural Victoria, initially at Tragowell and subsequently at Fine View State School. He matriculated at Trinity College in 1911 but withdrew from state education after failing an examination in deductive logic. In 1912, Morshead accepted a teaching position at The Armidale School in New South Wales before moving to Melbourne Grammar School in 1914.

Commissioned as a lieutenant within the Australian Army Cadets in 1908, Morshead led the school cadet unit at Armidale and had risen to captain in the Militia by 1913. At Melbourne Grammar School, he commanded a larger cadet company. During this period, he met Myrtle Catherine Woodside, whose family were grazier residents of Happy Valley, Victoria.

Gallipoli

Morshead's teaching profession was interrupted by the onset of war in August 1914. He relinquished his educational role and Cadet Corps commission to enlist as a private within the 2nd Infantry Battalion of the First Australian Imperial Force (AIF), under the command of Lieutenant Colonel George Braund, a familiar figure from Armidale. Rapidly promoted to lieutenant on 19 September, he departed for Egypt on 18 October 1914 and attained the rank of captain by January 1915.

On 25 April 1915, the 2nd Battalion landed at Anzac Cove. Morshead’s platoon achieved one of the deepest advances that day but was eventually forced back by Turkish counterattacks. He assumed leadership of C Company on 28 April and played a crucial role in repelling significant Turkish offensives on 18 May and 8 June. Elevated to major on 8 June, Morshead demonstrated exceptional valor during the fierce combat at the Battle of Lone Pine on 6 August, notably being the sole officer among 22 to avoid injury.

On 16 September, illness struck him with dysentery and paratyphoid fever, resulting in his evacuation first to hospitals on Lemnos and subsequently in England. His gallantry at Gallipoli earned him a mention in despatches.

Western Front

Following his return to Australia on 22 January 1916, Morshead received medical care at the 4th General Hospital in Randwick, New South Wales. Upon recuperation, he was assigned to the newly formed 33rd Infantry Battalion based in Armidale, part of the 3rd Division. He took command of this battalion on 16 April and was promoted to lieutenant colonel just three days later. On 4 May 1916, he sailed for England along with his unit.

The battalion underwent training at Larkhill on Salisbury Plain until November before deploying to France, where they relieved a British battalion near Armentières on 7 December. For his exemplary leadership—especially in training and organizing his troops—Morshead received both a mention in despatches and the Distinguished Service Order. Major General John Monash commended the battalion’s combat readiness and success in trench raids under Morshead’s command.

Official war historian Charles Bean portrayed Morshead as a disciplined yet highly effective leader who molded the battalion into one of the premier fighting units prior to the Battle of Messines. He guided his men through the Battle of Messines in June 1917 and endured the severe losses at Passchendaele in October. In March 1918, during the German Spring Offensive, his battalion was redeployed to Villers-Bretonneux where it played a vital role in stabilizing and defending the front line amid intense combat and gas attacks that temporarily incapacitated him.

Morshead led the 33rd Battalion during the Battle of Amiens in August 1918, where his tactical acumen and courage secured prisoners and equipment with minimal casualties, earning him the French Légion d'honneur (Chevalier). His leadership was instrumental in advancing Allied positions along the Somme.

In recognition of his service on the Western Front, Morshead was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in December 1919 and received several further mentions in despatches.

Between the wars

Morshead came back to Australia in November 1919 and concluded his AIF service by March 1920. Although he considered joining the permanent army, commissions were primarily reserved for graduates of the Royal Military College, Duntroon. He tried his hand at farming on a 23,000-acre soldier settlement near Quilpie, Queensland, but was unsuccessful and subsequently moved back to Melbourne. There, he married Myrtle at Scots Church on 17 November 1921. The couple welcomed a daughter, Elizabeth, in 1923.

Following a series of occupations, Morshead began working with the Orient Steam Navigation Company in Sydney in October 1924. His career advanced through several positions: passenger manager in 1926, publicity manager in 1927, acting manager of the Melbourne office in 1928, and temporary business manager of the Brisbane office in 1931. By December 1933, he secured the permanent role of office manager in Melbourne before returning to Sydney in 1937.

At the same time, Morshead maintained an active role within the Militia. He led the 19th Infantry Battalion from 1921 to 1925 and then took command of the 36th Infantry Battalion beginning in August 1926. Elevated to colonel in 1933, he commanded the 14th Infantry Brigade and later served under Major General Sir Thomas Blamey as commander of the 15th Brigade. Upon his return to Sydney in 1937, he assumed leadership of the 5th Infantry Brigade. During a business trip to England that year with Orient Line responsibilities, he observed British mechanized units and recognized that Australia's military capabilities lagged behind. Promoted to brigadier in 1938, Morshead was also affiliated with the far-right paramilitary organization known as the New Guard.

Britain

On 6 October 1939, Blamey appointed Morshead to lead the 18th Infantry Brigade within the newly established 6th Division. This brigade consisted of battalions from smaller states and was typically reserved for regular army officers; however, Prime Minister Robert Menzies restricted senior commands to Militia officers who had limited wider experience. Morshead met with Blamey on 13 October to select his brigade staff and was assigned Major Ragnar Garrett as brigade major.

He formally enlisted in the Second Australian Imperial Force on 10 October 1939 under serial number NX8 and was shortly thereafter promoted to colonel and temporary brigadier. The formation of training camps experienced delays, which hindered preparation; the brigade finally assembled at Hunter Region in December after its battalions had trained separately. Following the deployment of the 16th Brigade to Palestine in January 1940, the 18th Brigade moved into quarters at Ingleburn but progressed more slowly than other brigades in training.

The brigade sailed from Sydney aboard RMS Mauretania on 5 May 1940 but was redirected en route to Britain due to threats arising after the Battle of France. Positioned on Salisbury Plain as part of Major General Henry Wynter’s Australian force—which suffered from inadequate equipment—they played an important role defending southern England. In September 1940, Wynter’s command formed the nucleus of the newly created 9th Division under his leadership. Morshead and his brigade departed for the Middle East on 15 November, arriving at Alexandria on 31 December. On 1 January 1941, he was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

Before other brigades could arrive, Wynter became ill; Blamey recalled him to Australia and appointed Morshead as commander of the 9th Division on 29 January 1941.

Official historian Barton Maughan characterized Morshead as "every inch a general," emphasizing that despite his unassuming demeanor, he possessed a commanding presence marked by determination and decisiveness—traits vital for wartime leadership.

Tobruk

In February 1941, the 9th Division underwent a reorganisation that saw its 18th and 25th Infantry Brigades transferred to the 7th Division, while it gained the 20th and 24th Infantry Brigades. With only partially trained artillery, the division was dispatched to the Tobruk–Derna region to replace the 6th Division ahead of the Battle of Greece. Although not fully trained or equipped, the 9th Division played a crucial role in halting the retreat from the German Afrika Korps led by General Erwin Rommel, taking control of Tobruk. Under Morshead’s command, the garrison was encircled but maintained its position following reinforcements that included the 18th Infantry Brigade alongside British artillery and armored support.

General Sir Archibald Wavell directed Morshead to defend Tobruk for a two-month period while Allied forces prepared a relief operation. Morshead’s troops successfully repulsed repeated attacks by Rommel and held the fortress throughout. His defensive tactics are internationally recognized as exemplary for countering superior armoured forces. Crucially, Morshead prioritized offensive action whenever feasible, famously asserting, "we're not here to take it, we're here to give it."

The use of snipers, artillery barrages, and counter-offensives kept Axis troops unsettled. Australian infantry dominated no-man's-land through raids that disrupted enemy activities and collected vital intelligence. Backed by artillery and mobile reserves, the 9th Division sustained control of Tobruk for eight months despite three unsuccessful Allied attempts at relief. Axis propaganda mockingly nicknamed Morshead "Ali Baba Morshead and his 20,000 thieves," while the defenders embraced the title "Rats of Tobruk." The soldiers affectionately referred to Morshead as "Ming," after a villain from popular comics.

By July 1941, Morshead reported deteriorating health and morale among his troops, recommending their relief. Although the 18th Infantry Brigade was replaced by the Polish Independent Carpathian Brigade, Commander Auchinleck was reluctant to withdraw the entire 9th Division immediately. Political discussions involving Australian Prime Minister John Curtin and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill delayed full relief due to concerns surrounding Operation Crusader. Eventually, in October 1941, most of the 9th Division was quietly replaced at sea by the British 6th Division without Axis detection. The 9th Division then redeployed to Syria for occupation duties, rest, re-equipment, and further training.

The Battle of Tobruk marked an uncommon early setback for German armoured units. In recognition of his leadership, Morshead was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire on 6 January 1942 and awarded the Virtuti Militari by the Polish government in Exile, presented by General Władysław Sikorski in November 1941.

El Alamein

After Japan entered the war in December 1941, both the 6th and 7th Divisions were redeployed to the Far East during early 1942. In March that year, Morshead took command of all Australian forces operating in the Mediterranean theatre and was promoted to lieutenant general, while continuing to lead the 9th Division.

At this stage in the conflict, Morshead was one of few Allied divisional commanders with a proven combat record, having twice served as acting commander of British XXX Corps, which largely consisted of Commonwealth troops. Despite aspirations for corps command akin to that held by Harry Chauvel during WWI, disagreements with Auchinleck led to Morshead being considered "a difficult subordinate" and unsuitable for such promotion. Unlike Chauvel—a career regular officer—Morshead was a reservist, a factor Lieutenant General Bernard Montgomery believed limited his eligibility. Consequently, corps command was assigned to Oliver Leese, a junior British regular officer who had not previously commanded a division in combat.

During the Second Battle of El Alamein, the 9th Division’s mission was to carve out a passage through Axis defenses to isolate enemy units positioned between the coastal road and Mediterranean Sea. Although successful in breaching initial lines, progress was hindered by extensive minefields. As British offensives faltered elsewhere, focus shifted onto the 9th Division’s sector where they inflicted severe damage on Rommel’s Afrika Korps over five days, forcing a retreat. Leese credited this breakthrough largely to Morshead’s leadership in his area of responsibility. The division suffered significant casualties—accounting for approximately 22% of total losses within the British Eighth Army—including 1,177 killed, 3,629 wounded, 795 taken prisoner, and 193 missing.

Morshead earned another mention in despatches in June 1942, and was honoured as a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in November that year.

New Guinea Campaign

Following the Battle of El Alamein, Morshead and the 9th Division were redeployed to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA). They arrived in Fremantle on 19 February 1943, where Lieutenant General Gordon Bennett, who had previously commanded the division, greeted them. Upon reaching Melbourne, Sir Winston Dugan and Sir Thomas Blamey informed Morshead that he would assume command of a corps. In March 1943, he took over leadership of II Corps, passing control of the 9th Division to Major General George Wootten. The 9th Division remained part of II Corps alongside the 6th and 7th Divisions, all of which were engaged in jungle warfare training on the Atherton Tableland in preparation for operations in New Guinea. Blamey's strategy was for Morshead to gain experience in jungle combat before II Corps succeeded Lieutenant General Sir Edmund Herring's I Corps in New Guinea. Brigadier Henry Wells, who had served with Morshead during El Alamein, acted as his chief of staff.

In late September 1943, Morshead succeeded Herring as commander in New Guinea, arriving on 7 October amid a precarious situation: Japanese forces occupied elevated terrain overlooking the Australian beachhead at Finschhafen and were reinforcing their positions for a significant counter-offensive. Morshead secured crucial reinforcements, including Matilda tanks from the 1st Tank Battalion, which played a decisive role in thwarting the enemy assault. He replaced Brigadier Bernard Evans with Brigadier Selwyn Porter, an experienced officer from the Kokoda Track campaign. Although this leadership change sparked some controversy at the time, it has since attracted limited attention.

Adjusting to jungle warfare posed challenges for both Morshead and his forces. Historian Gavin Long observed that Morshead was taken aback by intelligence reports indicating enemy forces were scattered in isolated pockets rather than concentrated in large formations, contrasting with his previous combat experiences.

On 7 November 1943, following Mackay's transfer to India, Morshead assumed acting command of New Guinea Force and the Second Army, with this appointment becoming permanent on 20 January 1944. Major General Frank Berryman replaced him as head of II Corps. Due to seniority disputes between Berryman and Major General George Alan Vasey, Blamey assigned Vasey's 7th Division directly under Morshead’s authority. Vasey harbored resentment over what he perceived as preferential treatment toward veterans of El Alamein within Morshead’s command structure. Under Morshead’s leadership, pivotal engagements took place at Sattelberg, Jivevaneng, Sio, and Shaggy Ridge, culminating in the April 1944 capture of Madang.

Borneo Campaign

On 6 May 1944, Morshead relinquished command of New Guinea Force to Lieutenant General Stanley Savige and returned to Australia to lead the Second Army. Although some critics suggested he had been sidelined, Blamey had actually endorsed Morshead as a potential successor to Curtin as commander-in-chief; however, Morshead preferred to avoid political appointments.

In July 1944, he was appointed commander of I Corps stationed on the Atherton Tableland, serving as the vanguard for forthcoming Australian military operations. The corps’ staff largely consisted of his former II Corps personnel following a headquarters rebranding. In February 1945, under the direct oversight of General Douglas MacArthur, Morshead effectively directed amphibious assaults at Tarakan, North Borneo, and Balikpapan, accomplishing objectives while sustaining minimal casualties.

The British government proposed Lieutenant General Sir Charles Keightley to lead a Commonwealth Corps during Operation Coronet, the planned invasion targeting Japan’s Honshu island. The Australian government opposed appointing an officer lacking experience against Japanese forces and instead nominated Morshead for the role. However, the conclusion of the war precluded any final decision on this matter.

Postwar life

Following the conclusion of World War II, Morshead was appointed as the Australian general manager of the Orient Steam Navigation Company on 31 December 1947. His military achievements were further acknowledged with a mention in despatches that same year, along with being awarded the American Medal of Freedom accompanied by a Silver Palm. Beyond his military career, he held prominent leadership roles including president of the Bank of New South Wales, chairman of David Jones, and directorships across multiple corporations.

Beginning in 1950, Morshead took charge of 'The Association,' a covert organization aimed at countering communist infiltration, which quietly dissolved in 1952. Despite receiving proposals for high-profile military and diplomatic positions, such as the governorship of Queensland, he chose to decline them. Instead, he dedicated himself to civic responsibilities, serving as president of the Boy Scouts Association of New South Wales and the Big Brother Movement, an initiative promoting the emigration of British youth. Additionally, he acted as a trustee for the Gowrie scholarship trust fund, which supported descendants of World War II servicemen.

In 1957, Morshead led a committee tasked with evaluating defense department structures. The Menzies government endorsed the committee’s suggestion to unify the Supply and Defence Production departments but opted against merging the Army, Navy, and Air Force departments into a single Defence entity—a reorganization later implemented under the Whitlam government in 1975.

Morshead passed away from cancer on 26 September 1959 at St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney. His funeral featured full military honors and was attended by veterans from the 9th Division. He was survived by his wife and daughter.

Legacy

Several tributes commemorate Morshead’s enduring impact.

Morshead Drive near the Royal Military College, Duntroon in Canberra and Morshead Avenue in Carlingford, New South Wales, are named in his honor. The Morshead War Veterans Home located in Lyneham, Canberra offers both high-dependency care and independent living options for veterans. His wartime documents and a portrait painted by Ivor Hele are safeguarded at the Australian War Memorial. Additionally, a memorial fountain crafted by Robert Woodward stands opposite the State Library of New South Wales at the entrance to Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens, complementing Woodward’s design of the El Alamein Fountain situated in Kings Cross.

References

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