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Morris Phillip Bayer Biography

Corporal Morris “Bill” Bayer was born 23 June 1919 in Johannesburg, to his parents Phillip Bayer and Anny Green, who were both from Lithuania. Bill attended the John Mitchell School, Jeppestown, Johannesburg. He worked as a diesel mechanic for Leyland Motors (SA) from 1935, until he was called up for war service on 17 June 1940. He joined the Fourth South African Armoured Car Regiment, also known as the “Desert Rats”, a name which became official during their reunion years. Bill never missed a Desert Rats reunion in 48 years.

The army photographs of Bill include a portrait from 1942, captioned, “Up North”. Bill was stationed in Egypt during the Second World War. He was nicknamed “Bill” by his army buddies, for whom he enjoyed making “vetkoek” and other meals. There are also several photographs of Bill and his army mates touring Cairo and Alexandria with pyramids and camels during his leave. A “Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year” card includes images of Bill and his wife Norah Werner.

The Officer-in-Charge of War Records wrote a letter to Bill’s mother on 9 June 1942 to tell her that her son, Lance Corporal Morris Bayer, was wounded in combat, and that he had been placed on the seriously ill list after suffering from a shrapnel wound in the right leg and arm. His recovery was very long and painful. A photograph from 1943 records Bill and his younger brother Israel “Solly” Bayer, while Bill was “recuperating in hospital blues”. On 27 February 1943 Corporal Bayer was released from service.

Bill was awarded several medals for his contribution to the army. An image of his medals is included in this collection. The Fourth South African Armoured Car Regiment was also awarded Battle Honours when after little more than a year of action they became known as the “Desert Rats”, a name made famous by the Seventh Armoured Division, who spent nine years in the Western Desert of Egypt. The two regiments operated together with an intimate knowledge of the terrain.

After the War, Bill’s regiment held annual reunions under the name Desert Rats. Bill attended every reunion for 48 years. Bill worked for Plate Glass, Johannesburg, for many years as Transport Manager, and retired when he was 65. Sadly, Bill passed away in Johannesburg, Lombardy West, on 27 May 1994, just shy of his 50th wedding anniversary, due to ill health. A number of the Desert Rats attended his funeral. On 17 January 1997, Norah and her daughter Beverly Ralph, and Beverly’s daughter Nicole, emigrated to Toronto, Canada. Beverly has had a memorial maple tree planted in memory of Morris and Norah Bayer at Edwards Gardens, Toronto’s Botanical Gardens, Toronto, Canada.

The last pages of this story include a Letter from Ditsong: National Museum of Military History on receipt of archival materials from donor Mrs B Ralph.

Beverly Ann Ralph