Corporal 265839, George Strachan Murray – Killed in Action

1st/6th Seaforth Highlanders, 25th April 1917

Seaforth Highlanders Cap Badge, similar to the one which would have been worn by George Strachan Murray.

Banffshire Herald

The following is an extract from the Banffshire Herald dated the 5th May 1917 – Corporal George S. Murray, Seaforths, has been killed in action. He was the second son of Mr Adam Murray, Hillside, Kininvie, Dufftown, and was 23 years of age. He enlisted in September 1914, and was wounded at Festubert on 13th of June 1915, and has been at the front for over 14 months. Prior to enlisting he was a farm servant in the Morayshire district.

Further Military and Civilian Research

George Strachan Murray was born at Boharm, Banffshire and he enlisted in September 1914 at Elgin, Morayshire. He served within the Seaforth Highlanders, the 6th Battalion and his military numbers were 2448 followed by 265839 and achieved the rank of Corporal. He served in the France / Belgium Theatres of War from 1 May 1915 and had been previously wounded at Festubert on 13th June 1915. That was the day the 6th Battalion moved up to the front trench and took over from the 1st/8th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.

He was killed in action on 25 April 1917 at the age of 23 years and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France as either his body was never identified or was never recovered. The sad fact is that the 6th Seaforth Highlanders were not meant to be in the Line of the 25th April, they were meant to have been relieved on the previous day by the 26th Northumberland Fusiliers (3rd Tyneside Irish) but they were delayed so the 6th Seaforths had to spend and extra day in the forward trenches near Roeux, Pas de Calais which resulted in the death of George Murray.

Seaforth Highlanders Memorial, Elgin now outside the Public Library, Cooper Park, Elgin which was once a Regimental Headquarters for the regiment.

Family

Alexander Lawrence was born around 1894. In the 1901 Census his family was shown as the following :-

  • Mother – Margaret Murray
  • Father – Adam Murray
  • Brother – Adam G. Murray born about 1896
  • Sister – Ada E.J. Murray born about 1898
  • Sister – Mary F. Murray born about 1894

He was a Farm Servant prior to enlisting. His family at the time and following his death were at Hillside, Kininvie, Dufftown, Banffshire.

Medals

Following his death, George Murray was awarded the 1914-15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Memorials

He is honoured and remembered on the Mortlach, Dufftown War Memorial and Our Lady of the Assumption Church Memorial, Dufftown, Banffshire and Boharm Memorial, Banffshire and also on the Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.

Links to Additional Information

References

  • Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
  • Medal Index Card.
  • Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-1919.
  • 1901 Census.
  • Lives of the First World War website.
  • Pension Card.
  • Banffshire Herald dated 5th May 1917.
  • Medal Roll – Seaforth Highlanders – Victory and British War Medal.
  • Book – The Spirit of the Troops is Excellent by Derek Bird.

Contributors:-

  • Vincent Stuart
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