In Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, West Vlaanderen, near Poperinge, Belgium is the Commonwealth War Grave of 1486 Corporal Timothy Johnson Murray serving with the 1st/9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry who died 28/02/1916.
He was the son of William and Tamar Kendle Murray, of Felling, County Durham.
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Timothy Johnson Murray was my grandmother’s first cousin on her mother’s side (Smith). He was born at Felling Shore, Gateshead in 1894 the eldest of 3 sons and 6 daughters offspring of William Murray born June 18th 1869 district of South Shields and his wife Tamar Kendle Smith of Felling Shore, near Heworth, historically in County Durham born about 1870. His parents married April 1st 1889, district of South Shields but had moved to Wesley Lane, Heworth by 1891 with their one year old daughter Margaret, William was employed as a shipyard labourer.
By the time, Timothy was 6 years old they had moved to 8, Prince Consort Lanes, Hebburn, his father was now employed as a brick maker’s labourer. Timothy aged 14 was also employed as a brick maker, this may well have been at The Cooperative Wholesale Society Pelaw Works as the family had returned to live in Gateshead at 4b Church Place, Felling on Tyne, his father now working as a sinker at the coal pit, a highly skilled job, sinking the main shafts.
Timothy Johnson Murray enlisted in 1914 and was assigned to the 1st/9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, a Territorial Force. as Private 1486. The battalion attached to the 50th Northumbrian Division was moved to Boldon Colliery in early August, then Ravensworth Park and was in Newcastle upon Tyne by October. Taken over by the War Office they were mobilised and once final training was completed departed for the front landing at Boulogne, April 17th 1915 concentrating at Steenvoorde in Belgium as part of the 151st Brigade, 50th Northumbrian Division.
When just a few days later the Germans attacked Ypres in Belgium 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.
February 14th 1916 they were put on standby and returned to the Ypres salient. Having risen through the ranks Corporal 1486 Timothy Johnson Murray Durham Light Infantry was wounded in action during day to day trench warfare near Hazelbrook. Taken by the Field Ambulance for medical attention he died February 28th 1916 at the 10th Casualty Clearing Station at Abeele, east of Ypres. His body was interred at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, West Vlaanderen, near Poperinge grave IV. D. 39A. He was 22 years old and single. Neither of his two brothers served as fortunately the war was over before they reached enlistment age.
His mother Tamar as his sole beneficiary received all monied due to him, a pension and his awards of the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at 16, George Street Heworth Lanes, Felling on Tyne. She commissioned, paying the sum of 4 shillings 11 pence, an addition inscription to be added to his military headstone, it reads, Still To Memory Dear.
His father William Murray passed away aged 62 in 1932, his mother Tamar Kendle Murray nee Smith in 1935 aged 65 years, both registered in the district go Gateshead, County Durham.
His death was reported in Heslop’s Local Advertiser 26/05/1916
Remembered with immense pride.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest in Peace.
Timothy Johnson Murray is remembered at Heworth on H92.03, in the 9th Battalion Book of Remembrance page 30 and in the D.L.I. Book of Remembrance page 38.
