From:Rocky Hill War Memorial Museum
Name/TitleLetters from Harold D Murray from the Great War.
About this objectThis collection consists of a Postcard 'Goodbye To My Dear Sister' - We're off, old girl,
From England's shores, to take our chance and do our bit; there's no mistake the drill, though hard, has made us what you may call fit.
No time for more, I must look sharp - There goes the good old bugle call; write often and I'll do the same.
Goodbye, don't worry, Love to all.
Letter to Flo dated 27 July 1916, 1st August 1916; 3rd August 1916; 7th August 1916; 9th August 1916;15th August 1916; At Sea Sunday 12th. 5th Brigade 11th January, 1917; Military Camp Feb 2nd 1917; 20th Btn AIF Flo and Reg Feb 12th 1917; 20th Btn AIF March 31st 1917; France Flo June 29th 1917; to Flo France August 10th; Flo France August 20th 1917.
Harold David Murray, Regimental Number 6210 was born in North Sydney, New South Wales. He attended Forest Lodge Public School, New South Wales. His religion was Church of England and his occupation was a Wool Wash Labourer, his address was 101 Caroline Street, Redfern, New South Wales and he was aged 18 and single when he enlisted in the Australian Commonwealth Military Forces on 28 June 1916. His next of kin was his sister Miss Florence A Murray, 44 George Street, Waterloo, New South Wales. His Unit was 20th Battalion, 17th Reinforcement and they embarked from Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A11 Ascanius on 25 October 1916. His rank from the Nominal Roll was Private and his Unit from the Nominal Roll was 20th Battalion, Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
David was killed in action 20 September 1916 in Polygon Wood, France, aged 19 years 6 months and he has no known grave.
'Private J. Maguire, No. 6387 reported 'I saw him killed by a bullet, which went through his head killing him instantly. This happened at West Hoek Ridge. I was with him when he died. This happened in No Man's Land, just as we were going over. I do not know what became of his body.
Taken at No. 4. C.D. 27-2-18.'
He is Remembered with Honour at the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial on Panel 23. He was the son of George Andrew and Ellen Murray, of Trades Hall, Goulburn St., Sydney, New South Wales.
The Menin Gate is a large war memorial in the city of Ypres, built to commemorate soldiers of the British and Commonwealth forces who died in the First World War and have no known grave.
Unveiled in 1927, the monument stands on the site of a former medieval gateway through which troops marched to the front lines. The names of more than 54,000 missing soldiers are inscribed on its walls. It is also the site of the nightly Last Post Ceremony, a tradition held since 1928 (with only a brief interruption during the Second World War), where buglers sound the Last Post in remembrance of the fallen.
MakerDavid Murray
Maker RoleAIF Soldier
Date Madec.1914-1918
Period20th-century
Place MadeThe Western Front
Medium and MaterialsPaper, cardboard, plastic.
MeasurementsVarious. The folder is A4.
Subject and Association KeywordsAustralian expierence of war
Subject and Association KeywordsThe Great War
Subject and Association KeywordsHomefront
Subject and Association KeywordsPostcards
Named CollectionMurray Collection
Object TypeCorrespondence
Object number2025.980
Copyright LicenceAll rights reserved
PDF Files2025-980 transcripts
