Victoria Cross : Captain H W Murray, 13 Battalion, AIF

Victoria Cross. Engraved reverse with date of action. Engraved suspender with recipient's details.

Henry William 'Harry' Murray holds a unique place in the history of the AIF. For his actions in fighting at Stormy Trench near Gueudecourt on 4-5 February 1917 he was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC). This inspirational soldier had already been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) and the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) before receiving the VC. By war's end he would also be Mentioned in Despatches four times, receive a second DSO (or Bar), appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George, and be awarded the French Croix de Guerre.

The capture of Stormy Trench preceded almost 24 hours of the most intense enemy counter-attacks. In desperate close quarter battles and under intense enemy shell fire, Murray inspired his company throughout the night and the next day, and was instrumental in the Germans abandoning the position. By the time the company was relieved only 48 of the original 140 men remained. The recommendation for the award reads:

'For conspicuous gallantry on the night of the 4/5th February, 1917, when he commanded the right flank Company of his Battalion in the attack on STORMY Trench, North East of GUEDECOURT [sic].

This Officer was placed on the right flank because it was the most dangerous and critical. He led his Company to the assault with great skill and courage, and the position was quickly captured. Then followed the severest fighting in the history of the Battalion, and the position could not have been had and our efforts crowned by victory but for the wonderful work of Captain MURRAY. His Company beat off one counter-attack after another – three big attacks in all, although one of these consisted of no less than five separate bombing attacks. All through the night the enemy concentrated the fire of many 4.2s and 5.9s on the sector of trench held by this company, and in 24 hours the fighting strength dwindled steadily from 140 to 48, i.e. 92 casualties, including 1 Officer killed and 2 Officers wounded. On one occasion the men gave ground for 20 yards, but Captain MURRAY rushed to the front and rallied them by sheer valor, with his revolver in one hand and a bomb in the other. He shot three Germans with his revolver and took three others prisoners, singlehanded. From one end of the line to the other he was ubiquitous, cheering his men, heading bombing parties, leading bayonet charges, or carrying wounded from the dangerously shelled zones, with unequalled bravery. So great was his power of inspiration, and great his example, that not a single man in his Company reported himself shell-shocked, although the shelling was frightful, and the trench at times was a shambles which beggars description.

Captain MURRAY’s Company would follow him anywhere, and die with him to a man.

He won the D.C.M. at ANZAC and the D.S.O. at MOUQUET FARM in France.’

Murray was born at Evandale, Tasmania on 1 December 1880 and was working in Western Australia when he enlisted in the 16th Battalion as private soldier 315. Later commissioned in the 13th Battalion, by the end of the war he commanded the 4th Machine Gun Battalion and was more highly decorated than any other AIF soldier.

He settled in Queensland on his return to Australia and during the Second World War commanded the 26th Battalion and later the local Volunteer Defence Corps. Murray died in the Miles District Hospital on 7 January 1966.

Murray's Victoria Cross is accompanied by the DSO and Bar, the Distinguished Conduct Medal, service medals for the First and Second World Wars, coronation medals for King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II, and the French Croix de Guerre. The medals are on loan from the direct descendants of Harry Murray.

• Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George : Lieutenant Colonel H W Murray, 4 Machine Gun Battalion, AIF
• Distinguished Service Order and Bar : Captain and Temporary Major H W Murray, 13 Battalion, AIF
• Distinguished Conduct Medal : Lance Corporal H W Murray, 16 Battalion, AIF
• French Croix de Guerre : Lieutenant Colonel H W Murray, 4 Australian Machine Gun Battalion, AIF