Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Memorial: | Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, Cuinchy | Sp. Mem. 5. | |
| 2. Book: | The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918 | Pg.130 | |
| 3. Memorial: | The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour | 41A GQS | |
Awards & Titles: | Distinguished Conduct Medal | ||
Family :
Son of John and Emily Murray, of Islington, London; husband of Ada F. Murray, of 98, Thorpedale Rd., Finsbury Park, London.Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: 3rd Battalion London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers) |
1/3rd (City of London) Battalion (Royal Fusiliers) August 1914 : at Edward Street in Hampstead Road. Part of 1st London Brigade, 1st London Division. Moved on mobilisation to guarding the Basingstoke-Eastleigh railway. 4 September 1914 : sailed with Brigade from Southampton to Malta, arriving Valetta 14 September. 2 January 1915 : left Malta, arrived at Marseilles on 6 January. 10 February 1915 : joined the Gharwal Brigade in 7th (Meerut) Division. 17 February 1915 : transferred to Dehra Dun Brigade in same Division. 4 November 1915 : transferred to 139th Brigade in 46th (North Midland) Division. 16 November 1915 : transferred to 142nd Brigade in 47th (2nd London) Division. 9 February 1916 : transferred to 167th Brigade in 56th (London) Division. 3 January 1918 : transferred to 173rd Brigade in 58th (2/1st London) Division, absorbed the disbanded 2/3rd Bn and renamed 3rd Bn. |
| Action : The Battle of Aubers |
Fought on 9th and 10th May 1915 and intended to support the French attacks near Arras, this battle was notable for the remarkable bravery of infantry having to cope with inadequate planning, poor artillery support and not least a very competent enemy that had learnt the lessons of Neuve Chapelle just two months before. It also highlighted the problems of quantity and quality in artillery shell supply - a symptom of the general unpreparedness of Britain to fight a major European war, and not really rectified until well into 1917. Possibly one of the least known but most heartbreaking battles of the war, fought in an attempted pincer attack around the village of Neuve Chapelle with the intention of securing the 'high' ground that dominated the approaches to Lille.
Detail :
He fell at the Battle of Aubers Ridge on 9th May 1915. This battle was a dreadful failure illuminated with moments of extraordinary bravery by the men who tried their best in impossible conditions. A pincer attack to the north and south of the village of Neuve Chapelle, already fought over in March 1915, was called off after two days at a cost of nearly 12,000 casualties. A significant reason for the failure was the probelm of shell quantity and quality - a symptom of the problems of having to gear up production to meet the requirements of the army. 12 Freemasons fell in this battle, mostly men of battalions of the London Regiment. The London Gazette had previously recognised his bravery at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle in March 1915: Act.-Co.-Sgt.-Maj. C. A. MURRAY D.C.M. For gallant conduct during the assault on the German trenches at Neuve Chapelle, on March 10, 1915, and again on the following day during the enemy's counter-attack. Source; The fighting Territorials (Volume 2) - Hurd, Percy
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Royal Rose No. 2565 E.C. | London |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
9th November 1908 | 14th December 1908 | 8th February 1909 |
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley