Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Arrived in Australia aged 19 years

At the time of enlistment he was residing at C/- Baylis Street, Wagga, NSW

Son of George and C Murden of Alconbury, Huntingdon, England

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

Births Mar 1893   Murden James Huntingdon 3b 264.

It is believed that his mother was Clara and that she was the second wife of George Murden [also a baker] and that George died in 1916/1917

Marriages Sep 1892   
Chattle Clara    Huntingdon 3b 541
  
Murden George Huntingdon 3b 541
 

Deaths Mar 1917  Murden George 85 Huntingdon 3b
368.

At the time of the 1911 census, 18 year old James was living with the Green family at Higham Ferrers. William Henry and Selina Green were his uncle and aunt. James made his home with his aunt, Mrs Green, of 16 Denmark Road, Rushden, Northamptonshire-see photograph of the Street Shrine.

James enlisted at Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia, 9 January 1915

[Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll 11 January 1915.

Age at embarkation 22

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli

Joined 2nd Bn, at Gallipoli, 26 May 1915.

Reported missing, 7-14 August 1915; CO subsequently confirmed fate as killed in action, 17 August 1915.

He is remembered on the brass war memorial plaque in the church at Alconbury and on the Rushden, Northamptonshire War Memorial where his surname is spelled Murdin.

During the First World War several streets erected memorials to the men who were away serving their country, and sadly added names of those killed or missing. Photographs of these street memorials [street shrines] were published as postcards, and were probably sold to raise funds to send comforts to the soldiers.

The Rushden Echo, Friday 29 October 1915.

Rushden Soldier Missing - Private James Murden - of the Australian Expeditionary Force - News Wanted

Pte James Murden (formerly of Rushden), 2nd Battalion, Australian Expeditionary Force, son of George Murden, jun., baker of Alconbury Weston, Hunts, is reported missing as from August 14th. He was for four years baker with Mr Charles Ette, Newton-road, Rushden, and made his home with his aunt, Mrs Green, of 16, Denmark-road, Rushden, Northamptonshire, who would be glad to hear any news of him. Pte Murden, who was 22 years of age, emigrated to Australia about 3½ years ago. When war broke out he joined the Australian Force, and after training in Egypt, was engaged in severe fighting in the Dardanelles.
[This piece was repeated on the 5, 19 and 26 November, and 3 and 10 December]

The Rushden Echo, Friday 10 December 1915.

Rushden Soldier Killed - Pte James Murden

To-day we have received definite news to the effect that Pte James Murden, 1785, 2nd Battalion. Australian Expeditionary Force, was killed in action on August 17th. For four years deceased was baker for Mr C Ette, Rushden. His major writes: " He was well liked by his comrades, who deeply mourn his loss."

His name was put on the Roll of Honour of the Street Shrine in Denmark Road

The Rushden Echo, Friday 2 March 1917.

Street War Shrines for Rushden - Four More Dedicated Services by the Rector

Four more war shrines have now been erected in Rushden, one each in Roberts Street, Harborough Road, Crabb Street and Denmark Road, and these were dedicated in their respective order by the Rector (Rev. P Robson) on Saturday afternoon. The services were short but impressive, being conducted in the same form as the services over the shrine in Cromwell Road, and there were a good number of people present at each dedication. All the shrines are similar in structure to the one in Cromwell Road, the first one erected in Rushden, and all four have two small Union Jacks crossed over them, and a golden cross painted on the top of the woodwork with the Union Jack painted on one side of it and the red cross of St George on the other. An appropriate prayer is printed at the bottom of each roll, underneath the names.

The Roll of Honour in Denmark Road, is erected outside a dwelling-house half-way up the street. As yet it has only one name; Jim Murdin [sic] on its list of dead, and 15 names on the active service list. White flowers on its base are prettily arranged with green foliage.

All the street shrines have a box underneath for gifts of cigarettes and money, etc, and the response to these is, we understand, generous. Altogether the matter of street shrines is being taken up with great enthusiasm.

Rushden Echo, 26th April 1918.

The Denmark Road Roll of Honour Committee have just issued their balance sheet, which shows the receipts from all sources to be £42 13s. 6½d. The expenditure, which includes the cost of money-box and registering all letters, amounts to £1 16s. 2d. The total amount sent to the soldiers, including a donation to the Prisoners of War Fund, amounts to £40 10s. 6d., leaving a balance in hand of 10s. 10½d. This is probably a record for a street with only 34 houses in it, but there are 26 names on the roll, of whom twelve have received the sum of £2 and over,. Four over £1 15s., and the rest £1 and under. The committee consists of Mrs. Packwood, Mrs. Green, Mrs. Benning, and Miss E. Dixon, with Mrs. E. Pashler as hon. secretary, and Mr. C. Bates as auditor. The latter congratulated the committee and secretary on the splendid results of the efforts for the lads in khaki. A typical letter received from one of the lads in thanking the committee for the money reads: “Dear old Rushden, good old Rushden; it is to me the one bright spot on God’s earth; the town where they are always thinking about us. One ounce of help is worth a ton of pity.”