Illustrated Chronicle 1916
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Henry Murray was born January 4th 1893 at Hebburn, County Durham, the eldest of 9 children of whom only 6 survived, 3 sons and 3 daughters. His father Henry Murray Snr was a native of Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland born October 5th 1866 who married in the district of South Shields in 1892, Lavinia Emma M. Wales born 1872 at Lanchester, County Durham. In 1911, living at 17, Rothbury Avenue, Pelaw, Henry Snr. was employed as a labourer at the shipyards, Henry Jnr and brother Albert were apprentice riveters.
Henry Murray enlisted January 31st 1912 and was assigned as Private 1257 to the coastal defences at Scarborough July 28th-11th August 1912 then returned to his employment until being recalled to the colours and reembodied at Gateshead to the 9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry August 5th 1914 under the orders of the 50th Northumbrian Division. Moved to Boldon Colliery and on to Ravensworth Park in early August 1914 they returned to Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the October. Taken over by the War Office they were mobilised and after final training Private Murray departed with his division as part of the British Expeditionary Force, April 20th 1914, Folkestone to Boulogne, where they were attached to the 151st Brigade, 50th Northumbrian Division. Concentrating at Steenvoorde in Belgium just a few days later the Germans attacked Ypres on the 22nd, the territorial battalions were rushed into battle without any nursery training. Deployed on the northern part of the salient around St Julien and Gravenstaff Ridge they were subjected to continual attacks throughout April and May 1915 and forced to withdraw towards Ypres. In late May, the 5th, 7th, 8th and 9th battalions slowed down the German attack on Bellewaarde Ridge, the last battle of the 2nd Battle of Ypres sustaining heavy losses. With the arrival of the service battalions of the New Army they were relieved from the front line back to reserve undergoing field training in preparation for the forthcoming Battles of the Somme, also burying the dead and digging trenches.
Whilst fighting on the southern sectors of the Ypres salient Private 1257 Henry Murray Durham Light Infantry was killed in action July 6th 1915 aged 22 years. His body was interred at Kemmel Chateaux on the north side where a cemetery was originally created by the division fighting in the sector, grave 415. The cemetery area was taken by the Germans in April 1918 but recaptured later that same year. After the conclusion of hostilities Kemmel Chateaux Military Cemetery, West Vlaanderen near Ypres, Belgium, was laid out in its present form, his body was exhumed and reburied within its boundaries with all honour and reverence grave L. 74, August 23rd 1920.
As a single man his parents received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. His father living at 14, Anne Street, Bill Quay, paid 12 shillings 10 pence for an additional inscription to be added to his military headstone, it reads, “ Ever Remembered By Father Mother Sisters & Brothers”.
Albert Ellis Murray also served as Private 8706 Gordon Highlanders and perished on the Somme August 29th 1916 aged 21 years, 13 months after the death of his brother. Interred Bazentin-le-Petit Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France, grave H. 8. Recipient of 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Their father Henry Murray died in 1934 aged 68 years, their mother Lavinia Emma M. Murray nee Wales aged 80 years in 1952, both registered in the district of Gateshead, County Durham.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Henry Murray is remembered at Heworth on H92.03 and at Felling on F32.06
