Morris was born on 8 May 1905 in Liverpool to Lithuanian parents Harris, who worked as a tailor, and Rachel nee Glickberg and he had seven brothers and sisters. On 13 February 1938, he married Ethel Betsy Goldstone in Salford, Greater Manchester.

The motor tanker Arthur F Corwin was travelling from Aruba to Avonmouth with 46 crew members onboard. At 16.25 hours on 13 February 1941 U-Boat U-103 damaged the ship with two torpedoes southeast of Iceland. The U-boat then left the burning tanker in a sinking condition.

At 19.50 hours the same day, U-boat U-96 came across the wreck of the ship which was still afloat and sank her with two torpedoes. Later, escort vessels reached the spot where the Corwin went down but no survivors were found. The master, 44 crew members and one gunner were lost.