The former commanding officer of Arbroath’s 45 Commando Group has landed a top government posting after being named military adviser to Prime Minister David Cameron.
Colonel Jim Morris’ appointment makes him the first serving military assistant to a British premier since the second world war.
On Wednesday the PM announced he was appointing a military assistant to work in his private office in Downing Street to advise him on defence, including operations in Afghanistan.
His new aide is a battle-hardened Royal Marine who won honours for leading 45 Commando during a bloody six-month tour in the Taliban stronghold of Sangin over the winter of 2008.
Col Morris joined the Royal Marines in 1987 and, on completion of young officer training, joined 45 Commando Group and fulfilled a variety of troop command and regimental roles.
During his initial three years at RM Condor he completed two deployments to Norway, a jungle warfare instructor course and a sustained-fire machine gun troop commander’s course, as well as operational deployments to South Armagh and northern Iraq, the latter as part of Operation Haven.
In 1996, after junior command and staff training, Col Morris returned to the Commando Training Centre and took a batch of young officers through training before joining 3 Commando Brigade HQ.
He joined 40 Commando as the commanding officer of C Company, undertaking an amphibious deployment to the eastern Mediterranean and Egypt on Exercise Argonaut, Spearhead duties and another Northern Ireland operational tour to west Belfast.
Following promotion in 2004, he took over responsibility for the career management of senior Royal Marines officers at the Directorate of Naval Career Management.
In 2006 he became operations officer at the Combined UK Amphibious Forces HQ and assumed overall command of 45 Commando in December 2007.
Col Morris, previously military assistant to defence secretary Liam Fox, was decorated with a Distinguished Service Order for his role as commanding officer of 45 Commando in Sangin, scene of the bloodiest fighting for British troops in Afghanistan.
He was succeeded at RM Condor by Lieutenant Colonel Oliver Lee in September 2009.
Col Morris is expected to focus on operations in Afghanistan, working with Gen Richards and national security adviser Sir Peter Ricketts to support Mr Cameron.
The Prime Minister said, “His appointment reflects the very high priority I attach to ensuring the needs of the armed forces are heard right at the centre of government.
“Jim will bring a wealth of military experience to my team, including direct experience of working in Afghanistan.”