Norman Murray

Norman Murray (Service No 1147) was born in Woonona, NSW around 1895 and attended Woonona Public School.

At enlistment Norman was single, 20 years old and worked as a labourer; he had served 12 months in the CMF.  Norman's brother, Owen, also enlisted.  Norman nominated his sister Doris as his next of kin. After his death, Doris provided details about their childhood.  Their mother died when his sister was born and their father abandoned the children who were taken in by a local woman.  At the age of 12 Norman left his adoptive family and gained employment with a Mr Samuel Kirton until he enlisted.

He embarked on HMAT A14 Euripides with A Company, 3rd Battalion on 20th October 1914.  Norman arrived in Egypt in December 1914 and after training arrived on Gallipoli on 25th April.  He served on Gallipoli through the early days and the Lone Pine campaign, but on 5th September 1915 was admitted to hospital on Gallipoli with rheumatism.  He was sent to Mudros and then to England for treatment.

Norman was discharged from hospital on 6th January 1916 and re-joined the battalion in France on 31st July 1916. He saw service on the Western Front where he was promoted to Lance Corporal on 13th May 1917. 

Norman Murray was a brave and determined soldier and was awarded the Military Medal and Bar to the Military Medal. The recommendation for the Military Medal reads: "At Bullecourt on 8th May 1917 during an enemy attack this man with Lance Corporal Roberts advanced into no mans land with a Lewis gun and took up a position from which they brought fire to bear on advancing Germans. Private Murray was under heavy rifle and machine gun fire the whole time and although our own Artillery Barrage was placed all around them they kept the gun in action until the enemy retired."  -London Gazette 18th July 1917.

Norman was also recommended for a Distinguished Cross Medal, was awarded the Bar to the Military Medal on 31st October 1917. The recommendation for Distinguished Cross Medal reads: "East of Ypres on 31st September 1917 Lance Corporal Murray showed utter contempt of danger in patrolling foreward positions. He patrolled no mans land on 4 different occasions both under our own and enemy barrages and did invaluable work in guiding reliefs after several others failed under intense fire."  - London Gazette 17th December 1917. 

Norman was promoted to Corporal on 25th April 1918.

On 18th September 1918 Norman was killed in action and there is no known grave.

He is commemorated on the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneaux & the Bulli-Woonona War Memorial.