Lieutenant Colonel Henry William (Harry) Murray

Service number 315, QX48850
Ranks Held Captain, Lance Corporal, Lieutenant Colonel, Major, Private, Temporary Major
Birth Date 01/12/1880
Birth Place Australia: Tasmania, Launceston
Death Date 07/01/1966
Death Place Australia: Queensland, Miles
Final Rank Lieutenant Colonel
Service Australian Imperial Force
Units
  • 13th Australian Infantry Battalion
  • 13th Australian Infantry Battalion
  • 13th Australian Infantry Battalion
  • 13th Australian Infantry Battalion
  • 13th Australian Infantry Battalion
Places
Conflicts/Operations
  • First World War, 1914-1918
  • Second World War, 1939-1945
Description

Harry Murray was born at Launceston, Tasmania, on 1 December 1880. As a youth he helped run the family farm. He was also interested in the military and joined a militia unit, the Australian Field Artillery, in Launceston. Murray moved to Western Australia at the age of 19 or 20 where he worked as a mail courier on the goldfields. He was employing timber-cutters for the railways in the south west of Western Australia when at the age of 30 he enlisted with the AIF as a private on 13 October 1914.

Murray landed at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915 with the 16th Battalion as a member of a machine gun crew. He was wounded several times, spent June in hospital, was promoted to lance corporal and on 13 May 1915 won the Distinguished Conduct Medal [DCM] for "exceptional courage, energy and skill' between 9-31 May. He was wounded again on 8 July and a month later experienced a remarkable series of promotions. On 13 August he was made a sergeant, commissioned second-lieutenant and transferred to the 13th Battalion.

By 1 March 1916 Murray had reached the rank of captain and soon after sailed for France with the 13th Battalion. On the Western Front Murray defied the statistics, participating in each of his unit's major actions and surviving. For his role in the fighting at Mouquet Farm he received the Distinguished Service Order [DSO] "Although twice wounded, he commanded his company with the greatest courage and initiative, beating off four enemy counter -attacks . when an enemy bullet started a man's equipment exploding, he tore the man's equipment off at great personal risk". His wounds kept Murray from returning to the front until October of that year.

Four months later, on the night of 4-5 February 1917, Murray led his company's attack on Stormy Trench, near Gueudecourt. Over almost 24 hours they repelled counter-attacks, fought in merciless close quarter battles and suffered under intense shell-fire. Some 230 members of the 13th Battalion were killed. For his bravery and exploits during this action he was awarded the Victoria Cross. Murray "made his presence felt throughout the line, encouraging his men, heading bombing parties, leading bayonet charges, and carrying wounded to places safety".

In March 1918 he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and given command of the 4th Machine Gun Battalion. He remained in this command until the end of the war. In April, during the attack on Bullecourt, Murray won a bar to his Distinguished Service Order "He is not only brave and daring, but a skilful soldier possessing tactical instinct of the highest order". In October Murray was awarded the French Croix de Guerre and in May 1919 was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George [CMG].

With the fighting over, Murray toured England studying agricultural methods. His service in the AIF ended on 9 March 1920 and he settled on a grazing property at Muckadilla in Queensland. The following year he married Constance Cameron, but the marriage did not last and in 1925 he moved to Zealand where he married Ellen Cameron. The couple returned to Queensland in 1928 and purchased another grazing property at Richmond.

Murray enlisted for service during the Second World War and commanded the 26th Battalion in north Queensland until August 1942. He retired from the army in early 1944. Although the most decorated Australian soldier of the First World War, he was regarded as a shy and modest man. Murray died of a heart attack following a car accident on 7 January 1966.

Rolls

Timeline

Date of birth 01/12/1880 Launceston, Tasmania.
Date and unit at enlistment (ORs) 1902 Enlisted in the militia, Australian Field Artillery, Launceston.
Date and unit at enlistment (ORs) 30/09/1914 Enlisted in the 16th Battalion, AIF, as a private.
Date of embarkation 22/12/1914
Date of honour or award 20/06/1915 Awarded Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) for his bravery during actions between 9-31 May.
Other 25/04/1915 Landed at Gallipoli with the 16th Battalion.
Date wounded 30/05/1915 Wounded in action, recieved gun shot wound to right knee.
Other 26/09/1915 Arrived in Egypt from Gallpoli. Murray was evacuated from gallipoli due to a medical condition.
Date commissioned 13/08/1915 Appointed sergeant, comissioned 2nd lieutenant and transferred to the 13th Battalion.
Other 07/12/1915 Returned to Gallipoli.
Date promoted 13/05/1915 Appointed lance corporal.
Date wounded 08/07/1915 Wounded in action, remained on duty.
Date promoted 20/01/1916 Appointed lieutenant.
Date of honour or award 25/10/1916 Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). 'On 29th Aug during the attack at Mouquet Farm, this officer commanded the left flank Coy of the 13th Bn front line which was heavily shelled from daylight until dark. By his personal example he inspired confidence and resolution into his men throughout the day so that at 11pm when the assault was delivered they moved steadily forward to the attack. Despite extremely heavy rifle and machine gun fire and bombing the objective was taken but the C
Date wounded 30/08/1916 Wounded in action, gun shot wound in left thigh and back.
Date of honour or award 31/12/1916 Mention in Despatches.
Date promoted 01/03/1916 Appointed captain.
Other 08/06/1916 The 13th Battalion arrived in France.
Date of recommendation honour or award 03/09/1916
Date of honour or award 02/01/1917 Mention in Despatches.
Date of recommendation honour or award 07/02/1917
Date of recommendation honour or award 05/02/1917
Date promoted 12/07/1917 Confirmed major.
Date of honour or award 18/06/1917 Bar to Distinguished Service Order.
Date of honour or award 25/12/1917 Mention in Despatches.
Date promoted 18/04/1917 Appointed temporary major.
Date of recommendation honour or award 16/04/1917
Date of honour or award 07/11/1917 Mention in Despatches.
Date of honour or award 1917-02-04 - 1917-02-05 Awarded Victoria Cross. Murray's recomendation for this award stated 'Capt Murray commanded the Right flank Coy in the attack by the 13th Battn on Stormy Trench, N.E. of Guedecourt on night of 4-5/2/17. I placed him on the Right flank because it was the most dangerous and critical. He led his Coy to the assault with great skill and courage and the position was quickly captured. Then followed the severest fighting in the history of the 13th Battn and I am sure that the position could not have bee
Other units 1918-09-24 - 1918-10-02 Attached to the 2nd American Corps in the role of technical advisor.
Date of recommendation honour or award 30/09/1918
Other units 08/03/1918 Joined 4th Machine Gun Battalion.
Date promoted 24/05/1918 Appointed lieutenant colonel.
Date of recommendation honour or award 27/09/1918
Date of recommendation honour or award 17/09/1918
Date promoted 15/03/1918 Appointed temporary lieutenant colonel and commanding officer 4th Machine Gun Battalion.
Date of honour or award 05/10/1918 Awarded the French Croix de Guerre.
Date of honour or award 05/1919 Created Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG).
Date of recommendation honour or award 30/01/1919
Date of honour or award 11/07/1919 Mention in Despatches.
Date returned to Australia 26/11/1919
Other 01/01/1920 Transferred to the Reserve of Officers
Date of discharge 09/03/1920 AIF appointment ended.
Date and unit at appointment (Officers) 21/07/1939 Returned to the Active List to command the 26th Battalion which performed coastal defence tasks in North Queensland until September 1942.
Date and unit at appointment (Officers) 17/04/1939 Transferred to the Reserve of Officers.
Other 05/09/1941 Returned to full time duty.
Other 1941-11-17 - 1941-11-22 Attended a Motor Transport course at Annerly.
Other 10/08/1942 Relinquished command 26th Battalion
Other units 19/08/1942 Appointed in command of F group Volunteer Defence Corps.
Other units 03/08/1942 Seconded 23rd Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps.
Other 18/08/1942 Transferred to the Reserve of Officers.
Date of discharge 07/02/1944 Relinquished command F group Volunteer Defence Corps and retired from active military duty.
Other 1956 Attended Victoria Cross Centenary in London.
Date of death 07/01/1966 Died in hospital of a heart attack following a car accident in Miles, Queensland.