Date of birth:

1905 (Pwllheli/Gwynedd, Great Britain)

Nationality:

British

Owen Morris passed his Master's certificate for steamships in 1928. He was to serve on a number of steamships during the 1930's until being appointed to Zamalek.
Captain Morris was to serve on Zamalek throughout the war for a period of 52 months and was to hold the record for the highest number of seamen saved during that period. (665 souls saved).
Convoy PQ 17 left Iceland on 27th June 1942 bound for Russia, the journey of the convoy which consisted of 35 ships, remains hugely controversial because of Admiralty orders to scatter in the face of determined German attacks. (4/7/42)Zamalek was one of three Rescue Ships that tailed the convoy, the master being Morris.During the convoy Zamalek was in the thick of things, strafed and bombed.On one occasion Owen was to order the disarming of crew members of an American vessel that had been sunk who were intent on holding sway over a number of coloured crew from the same ship.A second incident followed when a rescued master of a stricken vessel, senior to Morris, demanded that he should take over command of Zamalek, Morris refused.Testimony to this gutsy Welshman!During one bombing attack a bomb exploded 20 feet from the bows of Zamalek.A number of Russians, who had previously been rescued, began to abandon ship hinking that the ship was sinking; Morris changed their minds following a threat to have them shot!Only eleven of the 35 ships reached Archangel.One of the 3 Rescue ships was sunk.Zamelek was to rescue over 150 souls.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Captain

Unit:

s.s. Zamalek, British Merchant Navy

Awarded on:

September 29th, 1942

Citation:
"For fortitude, seamanship and endurance in taking Merchantmen to North Russia through heavy seas and in the face of relentless attacks by enemy aircraft and submarines."

LG 35723/4225.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Captain

Unit:

s.s. Zamalek, British Merchant Navy

Awarded on:

November 9th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Unit:

s.s. Zamalek, British Merchant Navy

Awarded on:

1943

Citation:
"Captain Augustus Banning, Master, R.S. Rathlin, and Captain Owen Charles Morris, Master, R.S. Zamalek. These two vessels were in a North Russian convoy. Throughout numerous attacks by enemy aircraft with bombs and torpedoes the fortitude, courage and seamanship of these Masters were of the highest order, and it was due to them that both ships were brought safely through. The guns were used to such good purpose that three of the enemy were destroyed, and between them the two ships rescued over 200 survivors from other vessels."

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

• Photo 1: Isabella Morris Palumbo
• - Fourth Supplement to The London Gazette of 25th September 1942, Issue 35723, dated 29th September 1942, Page 4225
  - Supplement to The London Gazette of 5th November 1943, Issue36237, dated 9th November 1943, Page 4901
  - Dix Noonan Webb
  - First Light Militaria