Sergeant William McMurray, MM
William McMurray was born on 10 September 1892 in Union Street, Lurgan, County Armagh, the second of six children of cloth printer William John McMurray and his wife Elizabeth McMurray (née Neill). At the time of the 1911 Census he was living with his parents and siblings at 77 Avenue Road, Lurgan, and working as a power loom tenter in a linen works.
McMurray enlisted in the North Irish Horse on 10 September 1914 (No.1203 – later Corps of Hussars No.71279). He embarked for France with D Squadron on 1 May 1915.
D Squadron served as divisional cavalry to the 51st Division until May 1916, when in joined A and E Squadrons to form the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment, serving as corps cavalry to VII, XIX, then V Corps. In February and March 1918 the regiment was dismounted and converted to a cyclist unit, serving as corp cyclists to V Corps until the end of the war.
McMurray was one of a number of men of the regiment awarded a Military Medal in the early months of 1919 for gallantry and other good service in the last months of the war during the Advance to Victory offensive. The Lurgan Mail of 11 January 1919 reported the following details:
Sergeant Wm. McMurray, North Irish Horse, of Avenue Road, Lurgan, has been awarded the Military Medal for gallantry in the field.
The following recommendation, dated 16th December, 1918, from Sergt. McMurray's Squadron officer, indicates the service for which the award was conferred:–
"I would like to bring to your notice the good work done by Sergeant McMurray during the recent advance.
"Sergt. McMurray got his patrol into action at Bon Eneance [Bonne Enfance] Farm on the 5th October, against about 200 of the enemy, who were digging-in along the sunken road north of Monteco Uvex [Montecouvez] Farm, and drove them back to a fresh position behind the farm. As he had only a small troop of 14 men, he had to withdraw later owing to heavy gas shelling and machine-gun fire. While withdrawing he saw a battalion of the K.R.R. coming up on his left flank some distance away, and he immediately rode across under heavy shell fire to inform them of the enemy's position, thus saving them heavy casualties.
"On the 10th October, in making a personal reconnaissance, we were cut off from the troop, and this sergt. took a message back under very heavy machine-gun fire.
"Sergt. McMurray has set his men a fine example by his coolness under fire, and has shown great devotion to duty."
The same officer, writing to Sergt. McMurray after the award had been made, says: "I was talking to the troop this morning. They are all pleased to hear about your getting the medal. No one is more pleased than myself."
We may mention that Sergt. McMurray is well known in local football circles. He assisted the Lurgan Rangers to win the Beattie Cup, the Mid-Ulster Cup and the Junior Cup, and his team were the runners-up for the Belfast Combination, first division. Prior to joining up he was employed as a tenter by Messrs. Johnston, Allen and Company, Lurgan.
McMurray was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve, on 3 March 1919.
This page last updated 23 April 2024.