MURRAY, Ernest
| Service Number: | 151 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 27 August 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 14th Field Company Engineers |
| Born: | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, January 1876 |
| Home Town: | Nowra, Shoalhaven Shire, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Mechanic |
| Died: | Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia, 28 July 1935, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 27 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Sapper, 151, 1st Field Company Engineers | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Oct 1914: | Involvement Sapper, 151, 1st Field Company Engineers, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '5' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Afric embarkation_ship_number: A19 public_note: '' | |
| 18 Oct 1914: | Embarked Sapper, 151, 1st Field Company Engineers, HMAT Afric, Sydney | |
| 22 Jan 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 1st Field Company Engineers | |
| 10 Mar 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 14th Field Company Engineers | |
| 1 Jun 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 14th Field Company Engineers | |
| 20 Oct 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 14th Field Company Engineers | |
| 1 Jun 1917: | Honoured Mention in Dispatches, Battle for Pozières , For bravery and devotion to duty digging trenches under fire at Pozieres 19/20 July 1916 | |
| 31 Jan 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Sergeant, 151, 14th Field Company Engineers, Gassed | |
| 7 Mar 1918: | Honoured Military Medal, Polygon Wood, During the operations of 25/26th September 1917 at POLYGON WOOD, as one of a party of 5 officers and 5 N.C.Os. he, in daylight, assisted in the fixing of 40 pegs out in No Man's Land required for the Brigade Jumping Off Line. This was done under sniper's fire. Going up and getting back, the party had to get through a very intense barrage. Only 6 of the party returned. At night he supervised the laying of tapes for the forming up of the Brigade. The success of the jumping off of the Brigade was due to a great extent to his bravery and determination to get the work done at all costs. He always sets a splendid example to his men. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty he deserves special recognition. | |
| 25 Jul 1918: | Honoured Military Medal and bar, 2nd Passchendaele , On the 30th October 1917 near Westhoek, recovered wounded (5.9" shell burst) of a working party in charge of, recovered under bombardment | |
| 19 Apr 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Sergeant, 151, 14th Field Company Engineers, MD due to gassing |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
Summary biography from AWM
151 Sergeant (Sgt) Ernest Murray, MM and Bar, MID, 11th Battalion, of 'Kurrumbene', Canberra, ACT. Murray was a mechanic prior to enlisting with other Canberra boys on 27 August 1914, he embarked from Sydney, NSW, on 18 October 1914 aboard HMAT Afric. He is believed to be the first Canberra resident to have landed on Gallipoli at dawn on 25 April 1915. He was Mentioned In Despatches on 1 June 1917, and awarded the Military Medal for his bravery and determination during operations beteween 25 September 1917 and 28 September 1917 at Polygon Wood. He was awarded the bar to the Military Medal for his actions at Westhoek just a month later on 30 October 1917. He returned to Australia aboard HMAT Boorah on 21 July 1918.
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