Thank you to Patricia Brazier for the following research and to Phil Cooper from Surrey History Centre for the photograph. Thank you to Christine Cullen for the information and photographs of Sydney’s watch.
Sydney was born on 11th May 1875. He was baptised at the Parish Church of Great Bowden in Leicestershire. His parents are William Edward, a Congregational Minister and Hannah Garland Wilkinson.
Shortly after Sidney’s birth his parents must have spent some time in India, as his brother Ernest William was born there around 1877. In the 1881 census the family are back in Leicestershire.
He attended Wyggleston Hospital Boys school from 1885 – 1887 and then Market Harborough Grammar School.
He received his medical training at Edinburgh University and in 1901 he is working as a surgeon in The Seaman’s hospital in Greenwich. He then spent 2 years in North East Rhodesia as a Medical Officer.
Returning to England, due to ill health, he then went to Frizington in Cumberland, where he became Medical Officer of Health. This is where we found him in the 1911 census. The residents presented him with a gold watch when he left.
In July 2022, Christine Cullen contacted the Museum “My Father bought the watch locally many years ago. One or two of the older residents of Frizington can indeed remember Sydney from when they were children.”
The inscription on the watch reads “Presented to S. H. Morris. M. B. as a mark of esteem and high appreciation from the inhabitants of Frizington and District on his leaving to join H. M. Forces – Nov 1915
At the outbreak of war he applied for a commission, but was rejected due to ill health. He then volunteered to help at the London Hospital, where his brother, Ernest William was the House Governor. He was eventually granted a commission and he was put in charge of the Officers Section at the same hospital. He was a very popular man, devoted to his duty.
St Mary Magdalene Churchyard
© Phil Cooper – Surrey History Centre
Sadly he died on 11th January 1918 at the London Hospital. He loved the Surrey countryside and had requested that he be laid to rest at St. Mary Magdalene Church in South Holmwood.
SYDNEY HERBERT MORRIS, M.B, Ch. B. (Edin).,
(Captain, Royal Army Medical Corps),
who died at the London Hospital on January 11th 1918, at the age of 42, was the son of the late Rev. W. E. Morris, of Market Harborough. He received his medical education at the University
of Edinburgh, and afterwards went to Africa as Medical Officer, North-East Rhodesia.
Owing to impaired health, he returned home, and went into practice at Frizington, Cumbria, which he gave up at the outbreak of war, and applied for a commission in the Royal Army Medical Corps, but was rejected because of his ill-health. He then offered his voluntary help to this hospital, and was gladly received by his brother, Mr. E. W. Morris, the House Governor.
Just over a year ago he was granted a commission in the R. A. M. C., and was put in charge of the Officers’ Section at the “London” which made he performed with the greatest success.
Sydney Morris was a singularly amiable and unselfish man whose simplicity, straightforwardness, and generosity won him the affectionate friendship of all who worked with him. In spite of steadily failing health, he persistently devoted himself to his duties, and was always ready to help and advise in a most cheery manner.
He loved the country, especially Surrey, and according to his wish was laid to rest at
Holmwood, one of his favourite rural spots. Wreaths came from everybody in the Hospital, as small tokens of the love and esteem of the many sorrowing hearts he left.
Sydney Morris Obituary © Barts Health NHS Trust
| Son of | William Edward Morris and Hannah Garland Wilkinson | |
| Regiment | Royal Army Medical Corps | |
| Date of Death | 11th January 1918 | |
| Place of Death | London Hospital | |
| Age | 43 | |
| Cemetery | St. Mary Magdalene Churchyard, South Holmwood |
