John Murray (Australian Army general) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Joseph Murray
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Major General John Murray at Headquarters First Army in September 1944
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| Born | 26 April 1892 Sydney, New South Wales |
| Died | 8 September 1951 (aged 59) Concord, New South Wales |
| Buried |
Frenchs Forest Bushland Cemetery
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| Allegiance | Australia |
| Service/ |
Australian Army |
| Years of service | 1911–1946 |
| Rank | Major General |
| Commands held | Northern Territory Force (1945–46) Rear Echelon, First Australian Army (1944–45) 4th Division (1942–44) 10th Division (1942) Newcastle Covering Force (1942) 20th Infantry Brigade (1940–41) Eastern Command Recruit Training Depot (1940) 9th Infantry Brigade (1938–40) Australian Army Service Corps, 1st Division (1934–38) 53rd Infantry Battalion (1930–34) 56th Infantry Battalion (1925–30) |
| Battles/wars | First World War |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Order & Bar Military Cross Mentioned in Despatches (3) Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Madeline Cannon |
| Other work | Trade Commissioner to New Zealand (1946–49) Trade Commissioner to Ceylon (1949) |
Major General John Joseph Murray was an important Australian Army officer and a successful businessman. He was born on April 26, 1892, and passed away on September 8, 1951. Murray was a brave soldier who fought in both the First World War and the Second World War. He earned several awards for his courage and leadership.
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Early Life and Military Start
John Murray was born in Sydney, New South Wales, on April 26, 1892. He was the fourth child in his family. He went to a local Catholic school. In 1910, he started working as a salesman.
Murray also joined the Citizen Military Forces, which was a part-time army. He served there for two years. In 1913, he joined the 33rd Regiment, continuing his military journey.
Fighting in the First World War
When the First World War began, Murray joined the Australian Imperial Force (AIF). He became a second lieutenant in March 1915. Soon after, he sailed to Egypt.
In March 1916, he joined the 53rd Battalion. This battalion was part of the 5th Division. The 5th Division then moved to France to fight on the Western Front.
The Battle of Fromelles
On July 19, 1916, Murray's 53rd Battalion fought in the terrible Battle of Fromelles. This was the first major battle for the AIF on the Western Front. It was a very difficult day for Australia. Over 5,500 Australian soldiers were killed, wounded, or captured.
Even though the battle was a loss for the Australians, Murray showed great bravery. He led a charge and held his position. For his courage, he was given the Military Cross award.
Leadership and Awards
Murray was promoted to major in June 1917. He became known for his excellent leadership. He was also famous for daring night raids on enemy trenches.
In September 1918, during the Second Battle of the Somme, Murray again showed strong leadership. After battles near Péronne, he received the Distinguished Service Order. This is a very high award for bravery.
The war ended on November 11, 1918. Murray was still serving on the Western Front. He had earned two major awards and was mentioned in official reports three times. He returned to Australia in May 1919.
Life Between the Wars
After the First World War, the AIF was disbanded. Murray went back to his job as a salesman in Sydney. However, he stayed involved in the military. He rejoined the Citizen Military Forces. His experience as a commander was very useful.
On January 4, 1923, Murray married Mary Madeline Cannon. His civilian career also grew. He became a manager at his company.
By 1925, Murray was a lieutenant colonel. He commanded the 56th Battalion. Later, he commanded the 53rd Battalion. He balanced his civilian work with his military duties.
Fighting in the Second World War
As another war approached, John Murray was given command of the 9th Infantry Brigade in February 1940. He later commanded the 20th Brigade. This brigade sailed to the Middle East in October to train in Palestine.
Defending Tobruk
In February 1941, Murray's 20th Brigade moved to Libya. They were sent to help defend Tobruk. On April 4, 1941, Erwin Rommel's strong Afrika Korps attacked Murray's brigade.
The Australians fought hard and slowed Rommel's advance. Even though they were outnumbered, they made the Germans work for every inch. Murray's brigade had to pull back into Tobruk. On April 14, Rommel tried to capture the city. But the 20th Brigade bravely fought back. The Germans suffered heavy losses. For his leadership that day, Murray received another Bar for his Distinguished Service Order. This showed his continued bravery.
Murray's past experience in trench warfare was very helpful during the Siege of Tobruk. He was 49 years old, and the constant fighting was tough. In November 1941, he was mentioned in official reports for a third time. This was for his strong resistance against Rommel.
However, a senior general decided that Murray needed to leave the front lines. He felt Murray's age made it hard for him to keep up with modern warfare. Murray was sent back to Australia.
The Pacific War
Murray returned to Australia in January 1942. Japan was starting to push south towards New Guinea. Instead of a desk job, Murray was put in charge of the Newcastle Covering Force. He was quickly promoted to temporary major general.
His command was later renamed the 10th Division. Murray then led the 4th Division in Western Australia and North Queensland. In October 1944, he commanded the Rear Echelon of the First Australian Army. From March 1945 to January 1946, he led the Northern Territory Force. After 35 years of service, he left the Australian Army.
After the War
After the Second World War, Murray returned to his civilian life. He became Australia's trade commissioner to New Zealand from 1946 to 1949. He also served briefly as trade commissioner to Ceylon in 1949.
He wrote a book about his experiences in Tobruk, called I Confess; a memoir of the Siege of Tobruk. This book was not published until 2011.
The challenges of two world wars and a demanding career took a toll on his health. John Murray passed away on September 8, 1951, in Concord, Sydney. He received a funeral with full military honors and was buried in Frenchs Forest General Cemetery. He was survived by his wife, three sons, and two daughters.
Images for kids
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Major General John Murray at Headquarters First Army in September 1944
