Private Thomas McMurray
Thomas McMurray was born on 27 March 1893 at Athelbye Terrace, Warrenpoint, County Down, the last of three children of contractor Thomas McMurray and his wife Henrietta (née Orr). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living with his parents at Ballyrussell, near Warrenpoint.
McMurray enlisted in the North Irish Horse on 26 October 1914 (No.1336 – later Corps of Hussars No.71342). On 1 May 1915 he embarked for France with D Squadron, which at the time was serving as divisional cavalry to the 51st Division.
In May 1916 D Squadron came together with A and E Squadrons to form the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment, serving as corps cavalry to VII, XIX, then V Corps until February-March 1918, when the regiment was dismounted and converted to a cyclist unit, serving as corps cyclists to V Corps until the end of the war.
McMurray remained with the regiment throughout the war. On 28 February 1919 he was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve.
McMurray's brother, Robert Orr McMurray, also served in the war, as an officer in the Canadian Expeditionary Force. More family information can be found in the obituary notice on the death of their father in November 1916 (below).
Belfast News-Letter, 16 November 1916