Major General Basil Moorhouse Morris, CBE, DSO (19 December 1888 – 5 April 1975) was an Australian Army officer.

[1] His older brother was Anglican priest William Perry French Morris, who founded Brisbane's Church of England Grammar School in 1912.

[4] After arriving in Palestine in January 1940, he began establishing the base at Jerusalem after deciding the site originally proposed, Gaza, was too small.

To replace the civilians who had left, Morris set up the Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit (ANGAU) which would continue to run the territory.

[7] His superior officer (and friend), General Sir Thomas Blamey, later defended Morris from criticism of his handling of the militia during this time.

[1] In June 1942, Morris was queried by General Douglas MacArthur on his plans for defending Kokoda, recognised for its value as an airstrip for the advancing Japanese.

[6] Much to Morris' relief, in August 1942, Blamey replaced him as commander of Australian forces in New Guinea, which would shortly be expanded by experienced elements of the 2nd AIF recalled from North Africa, with Lieutenant General Sydney Rowell.

[11] Morris retired from the army on 19 October 1946 and the following year, in recognition of his services in the Southwest Pacific during the war, was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire.