Dr. Isaiah Morris, the son of Nathan – also a doctor – and Chaya, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, June 19th 1917. He grew up as an enthusiastic member of the Habonim Zionist youth movement, and from an early age had his heart set on ‘Aliyah’ to Palestine.
After completing high school in Glasgow, he studied medicine at the University College Hospital, obtaining his degree during World War II. He immediately joined the Royal Army Medical Corps and participated in the final battles in Europe. He was awarded the Military Cross (M.C.) while serving as regimental medical officer of the 1st Suffolks. The citation, quoted in The Lancet of October 27th 1945, states that the award was given “For Gallant and Distinguished Service in the Field.”
While serving in Germany, he met members of the Jewish Brigade from Palestine and assisted them wherever possible. He also assisted in treating survivors of the concentration camps.
After further studies in medicine to specialize in Pediatrics, in 1947 he went to the South of France where he served as Medical Officer in a large Displaced Persons Camp.
When the illegal immigrant ship “State of Israel” (Andreas) sailed for Palestine in January 1948, he served as the ship’s doctor. Intercepted by the Royal Navy outside Haifa, all the passengers and crew were sent to the internment camps in Cyprus, where once more Isaiah Morris was mobilized as a camp doctor. However, and possibly because of his distinguished British army service, he was released early and eventually reached Palestine in March, 1948.
He immediately joined the Haganah, even before the general mobilization of doctors, and was sent to the Galilee where he become the medical officer of the Golani Brigade. Always a man of action, he took part in the most dangerous missions, and was able to solve many problems resulting from the lack of sufficient medication and medical equipment.
On June 11th 1948 he was killed, while treating wounded, by an enemy mortar shell during the heavy defensive battles at Sejera, (Ilaniya), by a direct hit on a forward outpost The same shell seriously wounded Dr. Max Goldberg and two nurses.
On June 11th 1948, while attending to the wounded during the heavy defensive battles at Sejera, (Ilaniya), he was killed by enemy mortar fire on a forward outpost; the same shell seriously wounded Dr. Max Goldberg as well as two nurses. Dr. Morris had replaced another wounded doctor during the fierce fighting at Sejera against Kaukji’s Arab Liberation Army.
He was laid to rest in the military section of the Afula Cemetery, on June 13th, 1948.
OBITUARY NOTICE FROM THE LANCET MEDICAL JOURNAL, U..K.
7TH AUGUST ,1948
Obituary
ISAIAH MORRIS
M.C., M.R.C.S., D.C.H
Dr. Isaiah Morris was killed in Galilee on June 11, while commanding an Israeli medical unit. He was 30 years of age. Born in Glasgow, the youngest son of Dr. Nathan Morris, he received his early education in that city. He studied medicine at University College Hospital, qualifying in 1942. During the invasion of Europe he was awarded the Military Cross while serving as regimental medical officer to the 1st Suffolks. He worked in England for over a year after his demobilization and in November last he left for France, where he worked for some months in camps for displaced persons. For many years he had wished to practice as a children’s doctor in Palestine, and he eventually reached that country this year.
“Isaiah Morris”, writes a colleague, “was outstanding among his generation for the intensity with which he thought and acted, and for the clear light of principle which guided him. He was naturally friendly; his gaiety and lightness of heart attracted people to him, and they found a spirit of unbounded generosity and deep humanity. He was a delightful colleague and companion; he had many friends, on whom his influence was profound. He set himself the highest standards of life, and he lived up to them, selflessly devoting himself to the cause of the relief of the suffering. He died as he would have chosen to die, serving humanity among his own people, where service was most needed.
Machal/isaiahmorrisjoe16709finaljoe30709finalzippy5809