Thomas Morland
Sir Thomas Lethbridge Napier Morland, was a senior British Army officer during the First World War.Early life
Born in Montreal, Canada East, Morland was the son of Thomas Morland and Helen Servante. Educated at Charterhouse School and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Morland was commissioned into the King's Royal Rifle Corps in 1884.Military career
Morland later served in Nigeria, reaching the rank of lieutenant colonel and being appointed commanding officer of the West African Field Force in 1900. The following year he was in command of an expedition to Yola, leading to the defeat and deposition of the Emir of Adamawa in September 1901, and to British occupation of the Adamawa Emirate, important for the later occupation of the Sokoto Caliphate as it reduced slave traffic through the Adamawa area. Morland was wounded by a poisoned arrow during the fighting, but stuck to his command. In a despatch describing the expedition, the acting High Commissioner of Northern Nigeria gave him "very great credit for the successful issue of this impotent expedition." The following year he was appointed a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order in recognition of his services. From 1905 to 1909, he was Inspector-General of the West African Field Force.First World War
In 1910, Morland was promoted to brigadier general and given command of 2nd Infantry Brigade, a position he held until the outbreak of the First World War.
Morland then became General Officer Commanding 2nd London Division in August 1914, then GOC of 14th Division in September 1914 and then GOC of 5th Division in October 1914. He was promoted to lieutenant general in 1915, and commanded X Corps through to April 1918. During this time, he was one of Plumer's corps commanders at the Battle of Messines.
At the end of the war, Morland took command of XIII Corps, a position he held until 1920, when he was promoted and made commander-in-chief of the British Army of the Rhine. Two years later, he was appointed General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Aldershot Command and promoted to full general. He retired the following year, in 1923.
Morland died on 21 May 1925 and was buried in the English cemetery at Villeneuve, Montreux.Family
In 1890, Morland married Mabel St. John, with whom he had two daughters.Morland was portrayed by Eric Carte in the 2006 BBC docudrama The Somme - From Defeat to Victory.
