John Murray

John Murray (Service No 559) was born in Wollongong, N.S.W. around 1895.  John was the son of a Captain in the Garrison Artillery.  John was educated at Geelong College and Sydney Grammar School, and served in the school cadets.

When John enlisted he was 19 years old, single, and employed as an insurance clerk.  He embarked from Melbourne on board HMAT A3 Orvieto (pictured below) with F Company, 5th Battalion, on 21st October 1914.  He travelled to Egypt on the same ship as Charles Bean, the Australian War 1 correspondent and historian who was instrumental in the establishment of the  Australian War Memorial.

After arriving in Egypt in December 1914 John was sent to Gallipoli on 25th April 1915.  Sometime between 25th and 30th April he was wounded in action and evacuated to hospital in Egypt for treatment of a bullet wound to his scalp.

Later that year, on 20th October, John was admitted to hospital on Lemnos with eye problems and subsequently returned to Egypt.  On 27th January 1916 he was again admitted to hospital, having contracted the mumps.

John returned to his unit on 12th February 1916, but was back in hospital on 3rd March 1916, this time suffering from appendicitis.  

Finally, on 7th May 1916, he arrived in France rejoined his Unit on 21st May 1916. 

On 31st July 1917 John was promoted to Lance Corporal.

On 20th September 1917 at the Menin Road, John was killed in the fighting.

He is buried in Hooge Crater Cemetery, Zillebeke, Belgium: Plot X, Row A, Grave 6.