Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Captain Kenneth Basil McKenzie Muirson (who served as Kenneth Muirson) was a 21-year-old farmer from Nathalia, Victoria, when he enlisted for service with the AIF in September 1914, service number 998. An original member of C Company, 7 Battalion, Muirson served with the battalion through the entirety of the Gallipoli campaign without suffering wounds or sickness, which was a considerable achievement given 7 Battalion's heavy casualties. He was promoted to sergeant in February 1916 and was soon after commissioned and transferred to 59 Battalion. In mid-1916, he transferred again, this time to 15 Machine Gun Company, where his gallantry quickly brought him to the attention of his superiors. Muirson was promoted to captain in mid-1916 and was Mentioned in Despatches in November of the same year.

In June 1917, he was awarded the Military Cross (MC) in recognition of his leadership at Gueudecourt on the Somme. The recommendation reads: 'The Company which this Officer commands has occupied various portions of the line North and East of Gueudecourt for a total of 10 weeks. During this period, he has, under trying weather conditions, personally selected every position occupied by his guns and has visited the whole of the front line guns once every 24 hours. Communication has mainly been over the open, and Captain Muirson has shown exceptional devotion to duty in carrying out this work. He has shown great skill in the selection of his gun positions and has caused enemy working parties a great deal of loss. He was additionally in the New Year's Honours list on having previously performed good work.'

Muirson was recommended for the Distinguished Service Order, but instead received a Bar to his MC for his gallant actions at Polygon Wood. The citation reads: 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. Capt. Muirson was in charge of the Mobile M. Guns attached to this Brigade for the attack on POLYGON WOOD on the 26th September last. During the advance our right flank became much exposed by the partial failure of the Brigade on our right. Capt. Muirson advanced through the hottest enemy barrage, correctly appreciated the situation and so placed his mobile guns as to quite cover this flank and gave very great assistance to the infantry in repelling the enemy's counterattack. During the action he traversed our entire front line in spite of the heaviest machine and rifle fire. The reports he sent to me were of the very utmost value to me, in deciding as to the points which needed to be attacked in cleaning up the situation. Whilst out of the line Capt. Muirson had taken the opportunity of training a number of infantrymen in the use of German Machine Guns and when a great number of these were captured by the 59th Battalion in its advance to the BLUE LINE, 15 of them were collected and by improvising crews from the Infantry who had been previously trained he brought all of them into action against the enemy. Five were subsequently destroyed by the enemy's fire but the other 10 were still in his possession. It is to be noted too that Capt. Muirson and his Company have been in the line almost continuously since the commencement of the present operations. I cannot speak too highly of the courage, energy and devotion to duty of this very fine young officer who has repeatedly distinguished himself.'

Almost immediately after this, he applied for, and was granted, a permanent commission in the Indian Army. He was thus discharged from the AIF in December 1917 and moved to India to join the 1st Duke of York's Own Lancers. Prior to taking up his duties, he married Eleanor Ethel Rupert, the daughter of a British officer, in England.

Suffering the effects of severe sun-stroke, Muirson obtained three months sick leave and returned to Australia in late 1919. Nearing the end of his leave he disappeared, believed drowned at Elwood Beach in Melbourne, but he re-appeared in May 1921 where he was arrested for desertion.

Following the intervention of the Minister for Defence and the support of Brigadier General Harold Edward 'Pompey' Elliott, now a Victorian senator, no further action was taken. Muirson moved to New Zealand and continued his military career with distinction, commanding New Zealand's 36 Battalion during the Second World War.

Source: AWM