He was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions at Elandsfonteri, Pretoria, South Africa in 1879.
Lance-Corporal. 2nd Battalion. Connaught Rangers.
London Gazetted on March 14, 1882.
He was born in February 1859 in St Michael’s, Cork, Ireland.
He passed away on July 19, 1942 in Dublin, Ireland.
Digest of Citation says:
Lance-Corporal Murray and Trooper Danaher, of Nourse’s Horse, advanced, under extremely heavy fire from approximately 60 Boers, for a distance of 500 yards, in the open air, at Elandsfonteri, Pretoria, South Africa. The two men managed to bring in a private from the 21st Infantry Regiment, who was seriously injured. Lance-Corporal Murray, during this brave act, was also seriously injured.
Additional Information :. A more concise statement says that the two men went out to rescue two men from the Second Royal Scots Fusiliers, namely Byrne and Davis, who had been seriously injured. As soon as they started moving forward, Murray’s horse was shot underneath him. He continued on foot.
In a letter dated March 25, 1891, Lance-Corporal Murray wrote that both (he and Danaher) caught up with them together, and as he bent to lift Byrne’s head, he was shot, the ball went in from the right side. and came out near the thorn. He ordered Danaher, seeing how useless it was for him to stay, to secure his (Murray’s) carbine and leave. Byrne died by his side shortly after. He went on to say that he and Davis, along with Byrne’s body, were taken prisoner by the Boers. They were well treated and returned, courtesy of Commander Boer, under a flag of truce, along with the bodies of their dead comrades. Five days later, Davis died.
His medals were: –
CROSS OF VICTORY
Introduced as the top prize for bravery, available to all ranks, to cover all actions since the outbreak of the Crimean War in 1854. A cross pattee. On observation, a stantant lion gardant on the royal crown, with the words FOR VALOR on a semicircular scroll. The Cross is suspended by a serif “V” ring attached to a suspension bar decorated with laurel leaves. It has a crimson ribbon
SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL with clasp 1879
The campaign began in 1877 and culminated in the clash between the Zulus and the British when Lord Chelmsford’s column was annihilated at Isandhlwana. The campaign concluded with the defeat of Cetshwayo’s warriors at Ulundi. The observation has Wyon’s profile of Queen Victoria and on the reverse, an African lion crouching in submission next to a protea bush with a
Zulu shield and four crossed assegais in the exergue. The ribbon is gold with wide and narrow deep blue stripes towards each end.
CORONATION MEDAL 1937
Issued to celebrate the coronation of King George VI on May 12, 1937. The observation shows the united busts of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in their state robes without any inscription. The stark simplicity of this motif is combined with a reverse showing the crowned GRI on the inscription CROWNED MAY 12, 1937, with the names of the King and Queen in block.
capitals around the circumference. The ribbon has a blue border with a red one and two white stripes.