Australian War Memorial unearths story of first Indigenous Military Cross recipient

CANBERRA — The Australian War Memorial has revealed a significant historical discovery, identifying the first known Indigenous recipient of the Military Cross. Research at the memorial has unearthed the story of Captain Sidney Leonard Morse, a Devonport-born butcher who was awarded the prestigious medal for his bravery while serving in New Guinea during World War II. Captain Morse, known to many as Bill, enlisted in the Army as a private in 1939 at the age of 20 and rose through the ranks to become a captain by 1943. His Military Cross was awarded for his gallantry at the Battle of Mubo, where his citation noted his "conduct and bold leadership." According to the official records, Captain Morse moved between sections to direct fire and encourage his men without regard for his own safety. Australian War Memorial Indigenous Liaison Officer Michael Bell described the discovery as a significant moment in Australian military history. Mr Bell noted that finding an Aboriginal man who moved through the ranks and was recognised for such service is a magnificent achievement for the ongoing research into identifying Indigenous servicemen and women. The story remained hidden for decades until a volunteer historian discovered the connection while collating family trees at the memorial. While more than 2,900 Australians received the Military Cross before the 1970s, curator Shane Casey explained that research is ongoing to determine exactly how many Indigenous soldiers were among them. The news has brought pride to Captain Morse's distant relatives in Tasmania. His relative, Aunty Brenda Hodge, told ABC News she felt “excited and amazed” by the connection. Captain Morse passed away in 1991, and the Australian War Memorial is now working to track down his direct descendants to celebrate his legacy.