MURRIN, Albert Harry
| Service Number: | 5581 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 13 April 1916, Kadina, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Sapper |
| Last Unit: | 1st Tunnelling Company (inc. 4th Tunnelling Company) |
| Born: | Moonta, South Australia, 7 June 1884 |
| Home Town: | Moonta, Copper Coast, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Miner |
| Died: | Killed in action, Belgium, 18 September 1917, aged 33 years |
| Cemetery: |
Menin Road South Military Cemetery Plot I, Row U, Grave No. 5. |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Moonta All Saint's Anglican Church Memorial Honour Roll, Moonta Corporation of The Town of Moonta Roll of Honour, Moonta War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 13 Apr 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 5581, Kadina, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Oct 1916: | Involvement Sapper, 5581, Tunnelling Companies, Third Ypres, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '6' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ulysses embarkation_ship_number: A38 public_note: '' | |
| 25 Oct 1916: | Embarked Sapper, 5581, Tunnelling Companies, HMAT Ulysses, Melbourne | |
| 18 Sep 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Sapper, 5581, 1st Tunnelling Company (inc. 4th Tunnelling Company), Third Ypres, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 5581 awm_unit: 1st Australian Tunnelling Company awm_rank: Sapper awm_died_date: 1917-09-18 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Albert Harry Murrin was the son of James and Ann Maria Murrin of Moonta, South Australia. Albert’s father had passed away in 1903 leaving a widow and 10 children. Albert was then 18 years of age. His mother passed away in 1911. Many of the sons worked in the mines. Albert’s brother had died in a mining accident in the Yelta Mine near Moonta during 1905.
Albert’s older brother, 2415 Pte. Thomas John Murrin 50th Battalion AIF, had been killed in action in France on 2 April 1917, aged 34.
Albert joined the 1st Australian Tunnelling Company in the field during February 1917. He was badly gassed on 17 March 1917 and was out of action in hospital for two months. He rejoined the Tunnellers on 17 May 1917.
On the night of 18 September, a lorry containing a squad of twenty-five men from 1st Australian Company was making its way to a shift relief at the Hooge Crater Dugout. The truck stopped on the Menin Road between Hellfire Corner and the Birr Cross Roads and the men decided to climb out and were milling around. A high explosive artillery shell slammed into it, exploding directly under it. The accuracy of this fire demonstrated just how well the German artillery had the intersection ranged from the heights around the Ypres salient.
The truck was destroyed, and three men including Albert Murrin, were all fatally wounded. The remaining men were left shell-shocked and traumatised by the incident.
The Moonta People's Weekly reported during October 1917, under the heading ‘Sad News’, “We regret to report that Sapper A. H. Murrin, of Cross Roads, was killed in action in France on September 18. The sad intelligence was received by the Rev W. H. Robinson on Tuesday, who broke the news to deceased relatives at Cross Roads the same day. The deceased soldier, who was unmarried, was 32 years of age, and left Melbourne for the front on October 25th last year. His brother (Pte T. J. Murrin), it will be remembered, was killed in action some time since.”
Albert named his younger sister as next of kin but his medals and entitlements went to his brother Percy Murrin.
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