He was a sergeant major, later a lieutenant, in the British Army (1st battalion of the Welch Regiment (note archaic spelling)) during World War II,[3] and he was killed aged 27 in Northern Italy, whilst fighting on the Gothic Line, during the Italian Campaign.

Weighing just nine and a half stones, there was great doubts about his ability to make it in professional rugby league.

[7] Oliver Morris played stand-off in Leeds' 19–2 victory over Halifax in the 1940–41 Challenge Cup Final during the 1940–41 season at Odsal Stadium, Bradford, in front of a crowd of 28,500, and played stand-off in the 15–10 victory over Halifax in the 1941–42 Challenge Cup Final during the 1941–42 season at Odsal Stadium, Bradford, in front of a crowd of 15,250.

During the war, Morris became a Lieutenant in the Welch Regiment, and was killed in Italy on 21 September 1944 aged twenty-seven.

[5][9] Oliver Morris' marriage to Muriel M. (née Walker) was registered during fourth ¼ 1941 in Leeds district.