Branch of Service

Army

Conflict

World War I (1914-1918)

Date of Enlistment

08/02/1915

Date of Discharge

28/06/1918

Place of Enlistment

Townsville, Queensland

Gender

Male

Date of Birth

24/10/1890

Place of Birth

Michelago NSW

Address (at enlistment)

c/- Gatton College, Queensland (previously Canberra ACT)

School(s) Attended

Monaro Grammar School (now Canberra Grammar School), Gatton College (Queensland)

Occupation

Agricultural chemist

Next of Kin

Victoria Murray (mother), 'Glebe', Canberra ACT

Final Rank

Lieutenant

Final Unit

25 Battalion AIF

Queanbeyan RSL Wall of Remembrance, Crawford St, Queanbeyan NSW
Michelago Public School Roll of Honour
Michelago District Roll of Honour World War 1, Ryrie Street, Michelago

John Cade Murray was born at Michelago and grew up at Cowra Creek near Bredbo. He moved to Canberra with his family in 1909 when his father established a bakery and store. He was secretary of a group of men who met to form the Canberra Rifle Club in May 1913. Murray was jackarooing in Queensland when the war started and tried to enlist but was discharged medically unfit in April 1915 due to a bout of malaria he suffered the previous year. He tried again to enlist and was appointed as 2nd Lieutenant in October 1915 serving with the 25th Battalion near Armentierres where he was hospitalised with an infected liver and influenza. He rejoined his unit in May 1916 and participated in the battle at Pozieres where he led two charges and was wounded. After three times being buried by exploding shells, he was finally shot in the ankle and rendered unconscious by gas. He was sent to hospital in England in August also suffering from shell shock and returned to Australia in February 1917. In August 1917 he embarked from Sydney with reinforcements to the 47th Battalion and applied to attend Engineers School at Brightlingsea. However he was suffering from a poor memory and depression and returned to Australia in April 1918 where his appointment was terminated in June 1918. On 27 October 1919 he married Alice Isabel Dawson. He also enlisted for service in World War 2. Murray died on 28 September 1958.

Description - height 5 feet 9 inches, weight 161 pounds, chest 40-41½ inches, dark complexion, grey eyes, dark hair, Church of England, upper false teeth.

First World War Unit Embarkation Rolls
NAA RecordSearch - Series B2455 (First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920)
National Archives (A202) 1913/1807 Use of RMC (Royal Military College) Rifle Range by Canberra Rifle Club
James Murray, 'Canberra's First Anzac', 1982 (unpublished biography of Ernest Murray)
Information provided by Mrs. Margaret Murray
WWII Nominal Roll http://www.ww2roll.gov.au
Queanbeyan Age - 28 January 1910, 6 May 1913, 24 October 1913, 18 May 1917
Sydney Mail - 25 April 1917 (p.8)
Image courtesy of June Sutherland