MURRAY, William James Gunn
| Service Number: | 5147 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 31 January 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 58th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Warracknabeal, Victoria, Australia, 2 December 1896 |
| Home Town: | Warracknabeal, Yarriambiack, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Warracknabeal State School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Teacher |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 27 March 1917, aged 20 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Warracknabeal War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 31 Jan 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 5147, 6th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Apr 1916: | Involvement Private, 5147, 6th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Suffolk embarkation_ship_number: A23 public_note: '' | |
| 1 Apr 1916: | Embarked Private, 5147, 6th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Suffolk, Melbourne | |
| 27 Mar 1917: | Involvement Private, 5147, 58th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 5147 awm_unit: 58th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1917-03-27 |
Help us honour William James Gunn Murray's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Private William James Gunn Murray was born in 1896 in the small wheat-belt town of Warracknabeal. William Murray was a junior teacher at neighbouring Antwerp and later Horsham, where he was teaching at the time of his enlistment in January 1916. Records show that he was an earnest and diligent teacher.
Serving first in the 6th and then the 58th Battalion, Murray was reported to have served as a a runner. His mother noted on his roll of honour form that "For conspicuous bravery as a runner to "C" Company 58th Battalion he was twice mentioned in despatches. He was admired by his officers and comrades for his gallant conduct and exemplary life. Written to his parents by the late Lieut Kidd (58th Batt)"
His name appears on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial. No record exists of him being mentioned in despatches. Private Murray was one of three brothers who enlisted as soldiers. His brother Leslie was the only one to survive the war.
His other brother, 1379 Sergeant George Alexander Hugh Murray, 14th Battalion AIF, was later killed in action 30 March 1918.
Hilda Murray, sister of the late Private William Murray, wrote to Frank Tate, Director of Education, 6 August 1918. “We see them go forth from home in the prime of their manhood, and then the dreaded news arrives that never more will they return to those waiting and watching for their return.”
Biography contributed by Andreena Hockley
"Private William James Gunn Murray, killed in action about the 26th of March, 1917, was the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Murray, of "Murray Hill," Warracknabeal, and brother of Miss B. Murray, of the Warracknabeal School, and Miss H. Murray, of George's Creek, Tallangatta.
The deceased soldier was born on the 2nd of December, 1896. He attended the Warracknabeal Higher Elementary School, and began his teaching career at the Antwerp School. He was transferred to Horsham, where he was teaching at the time of his enlistment, January, 1916. He sailed direct to Egypt, thence to France.
His record as a teacher shows him to have been a man earnest in his profession, doing serviceable teaching on good lines.
The following is an extract from a letter from Lieutenant Kidd (since killed in action), C Company, 58th Battalion: "About March 25th, the company was in action, and your son and his mate volunteered as runners, their duty being to carry mesages from the front line to head-quarters, under very severe conditions. They were mentioned in dispatches for their gallant conduct. On March 26th, they went out with a message and failed to return.""
Source: The Education Department's Record of War Service, Victoria, 1914-1919.
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