Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”

Died on this date – 19th July…… Robert Hampden Keith Murray was born at Blackheath, NSW in early 1896.

He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 3rd March, 1917 as a 21 year old, single, Porter (Railway Employee) from Blackheath, NSW

Private Robert Hampden Murray, Service number 18356, embarked from Sydney, New South Wales with the Army Medical Corps, July 1917 Reinforcements on HMAT Euripides (A14) on 31st October, 1917 & disembarked at Devonport, England on 26th December, 1917.

Reinforcements were only given basic training in Australia. Training was completed in training units in England. Some of these were located in the Salisbury Plain & surrounding areas in the county of Wiltshire.

He was marched in to A.A.M.C. (Australian Army Medical Corps) Training Depot on 27th December, 1917.

Private Murray was written up for an Offence at Parkhouse, Wiltshire. He was absent without leave from 22.00 on 6th February 1918 until 20.00 on 9th February, 1918. He was punished with 7 days Field Punishment & forfeited 4 days’ pay.

On 2nd April, 1918 Private Murray proceeded Overseas to France from Parkhouse, via Southampton. He was marched in at Rouelles, France on 3rd April, 1918. Private Murray was marched out to 2nd Dep. A.A.M.C. & taken on strength with 7th Australian Field Ambulance “Supernumerary to Establishment” on 11th August, 1918. Private Murray was taken on strength from Supp.to Establishment on 9th September, 1918.

He was sent sick to Hospital on 28th December, 1918 & admitted with diarrhoea. He rejoined his Unit the same day.

Private Murray was attached for duty with 5th Field Ambulance from 19th March, 1919 & attached for duty to 5/6/7 Field Ambulance from 24th March, 1919.

On 13th April, 1919 Private Murray was marched out to England ready for return to Australia – Quota 33. He was admitted to 39th General Hospital on 16th April, 1919 with Scabies. Private Murray was marched out to England on 24th April, 1919 & disembarked at Southampton on 25th April, 1919. He was marched in to No. 2 Group at Sutton Veny, Wiltshire the same day.

He was admitted to 1st Australian General Hospital on 29th April, 1919 with “I.C.T. Left Knee” & was discharged a month later, on 29th May, 1919 to Training Depot. Private Murray was marched out to A.A.M.C. Training Depot at Fovant, Wiltshire on 5th June, 1919. He was sent sick to hospital & admitted to 1st Australian General Hospital on 13th July, 1919 with a “swollen jaw”.

Private Robert Hampden Keith Murray died at 1 a.m. on 19th July, 1919 at the 1st Australian General Hospital, Sutton Veny of “Oedema of Face”.

He was buried in St. John the Evangelist Churchyard, Sutton Veny, Wiltshire, England where 140 other WW1 Australia War Graves & 2 Australian WW1 Nurses are laid to rest.

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)

https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/k--m.html

Robert Hampden Keith MURRAY was born on 13th February 1896. He was born and raised at Blackheath, NSW. On 13th June 1912 he joined the NSW Government Railways and Tramways as a gatekeeper (temporary) in the Eskbank District of the Railways’ Traffic Branch. His position was made permanent on 1st November 1912. On 29th March 1913 he became a junior porter in the same District. On his 21st birthday, 13th February 1917, his position was changed to porter, with the appropriate pay rise. On 23rd March 1917 he was released to join the Expeditionary Forces.

The date Robert officially joined the AIF is 19th March 1917. He joined with the rank of Private (Service Number 18356). Two months later, on 19th May 1917, he was assigned to the General Reinforcements to the Army Medical Corps. At enlistment he nominated his father, Matthew Murray of Blackheath, as his next of kin.

Robert embarked for England aboard HMAT A14 ‘Euripides’ at Sydney on 31st October 1917 and disembarked at Devonport, England, on 26th December 1917. On arrival he went to the Australian Army Medical Corps Training Depot at Parkhouse, England, where he stayed until 2nd April 1917 when he left for France. While in England he was found Absent Without Leave for three days from 6th February 1918, for which he received seven days Field Punishment No. 2.

In France he was at the Australian General Base Depot at Rouelles from 3rd April 1918 to 7th August 1918. On 11th August 1918 he was taken on strength of the 7th Field Ambulance. After the Armistice he remained on duty, being attached to the 5th Field Ambulance on 19th March 1919 and then to the 5/6/7 Field Ambulance on 24th March 1919.

On 13th April 1919 he left ‘B’ Divisional Ambulance en route to England in preparation for return to Australia. However, three days later, on 16th April 1919, he was admitted to the 39th Field Hospital with scabies. He was in hospital for a week and finally left France for England on 24th April 1919. He marched in to No. 2 Group at Sutton Veny, England, on 25th April 1919. Four days later he was admitted to hospital again, this time with inflammation of the connective tissue (I.C.T.) of the left knee. He was in hospital recovering until 29th May 1919 when he returned to No. 2 Group at Sutton Veny.

On 5th June 1919 he was sent to the Australian Army Medical Corps at Fovant, England, where he stayed until 13 July 1919 when he was admitted to the 1st Australian General Hospital at Sutton Veny with a swollen jaw. At 1 am on 19th July 1919 he died. The cause of death was oedema of the face.

Robert’s grave is in St John the Evangelist Churchyard (Military Section), Sutton Veny, Wiltshire, England. His place of association is Blackheath, NSW.

- based on the Australian War Memorial Honour Roll and notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board.