Lieutenant Percival William Murray
Percival William Murray was the son of Mr and Mrs W. A. Murray of 10 Claremont Terrace, Norton on Tees, born in 1896.
Educated at Armstrong College, and Durham University, Murray was studying for qualification as a mechanical engineer when the war intervened. Volunteering immediately, he was gazetted as a 2nd Lieutenant to the 6th Battalion Durham Light Infantry on the 24th August 1914. Secondment to the Northumberland Division Cyclists Mounted Troops followed on the 12th September 1914. He landed at Boulogne with his battalion on the 17th April 1915, and was promoted temporary Lieutenant on the 5th November 1915. Murray survived the murderous fighting around Ypres when the 6th and the 8th Battalions of the DLI both suffered so many casualties that they were forced to combine so as to remain a viable fighting unit.
Next, Murray successfully applied for transfer to the Royal Flying Corps and, after training, was appointed Flying Officer, RFC on 29th October 1916.
He died from the effects of his wounds shortly after his machine was forced down behind German lines. He was 20 years of age.
Source:- Franks, Norman, Giblin, Hal and McCrery, Nigel, Under the guns of the Red Baron. The complete record of von Richthofen's victories and victims London, Grub Street, 2007. ISBN 13:978190494376
Percival William Murray is remembered in Newcastle on NUT063
