James Richard Parry (Dick) Murray

James Richard Parry (Dick) Murray

Personal Information
Date of Birth	Oct 1899
Place of Birth	Workington, Cumberland, England
Death	13 Mar 1948
Place of Death	Inglewood, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	19 years, 1 month
Description	5'3½" (1.61m) tall ; 107lbs 48.534 kg ; fresh complexion ; brown eyes ; brown hair
Occupation	Salesman
Religion	Church of England
Address	Station street, East Cannington, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr Thomas Murray
Military Information
Reg Number	7325
Date of Enlistment	17 Jan 1917
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	28th Battalion, 22nd Reinforcement transferred to 51st Battalion.
Date of Embarkation	13 Mar 1918 ‒ 4 Apr 1918
Ship Embarked On	RMS Ormonde Fremantle to Suez
Date of Embarkation	30 Apr 1918 ‒ 15 May 1918
Ship Embarked On	HMT Ellenga Port Tewfik to Southampton
Date of Return	3 Sep 1919 ‒ 17 Oct 1919
Ship Returned On	HMAT A37 Barambah
Fate	Returned to Australia
Monument	none at present
Medals	British War Medal

Pre War

Emigrated from Liverpool to Australia with family in 1912.

War Service

Entered camp on 22 Jan 1917, and three days later, perhaps due to his age and statue he was allocated to the Camp Band. On 12 Dec 1917 he was allocated to a training company, and required two days treatment in the camp hospital for Epididymitis from 17 - 18 Dec 1917. On 2 Feb 1918 he was allocated to the 22nd reinforcement draft for the 28th Battalion, travelling with them to England on RMS Ormonde.

On arrival in Southampton, England he was sent to the [5th Training Battalion]] at Fovant, and on 4 Jun 1918 while at Codford he was transferred to the 12th Training Battalion as a reinforcement for the 51st Battalion. Reported AWOL from 9 Jul 1918 until 17 Jul 1918, the case against him was dismissed on medical grounds at Tidworth Headquarters.

At Hurdcott he was AWOL from midnight 19 Sep 1918 until he reported back at 5:20am on 25 Sep 1918, for which he was awarded the loss of 12 day's pay, in addition to the 6 days he was absent. On 5 Oct 1918 he was absent from the 7:20am parade, despite being warned, and for this he was awarded 7 days Field Punishment No. 2 and forfeiture of 7 day's pay.

Finally on 25 Jan 1919 he proceeded overseas to France via Southampton, and on 2 Feb 1919 was taken on strength by the 51st Battalion, remaining with them until 10 May 1919 when he began the process of returning to Australia, disembarking at Southampton in England on 21 May 1919.

Posted to Hurdcott he was soon AWOL again, from midnight 9 Jun 1919 until 4:00pm 12 Jun 1919, for which the price was a loss of 7 day's pay. On 3 Jul 1919 he transferred to Sutton Veny, for the last two months before returning to Australia. Discharged at 5th Military District on 10 Nov 1919.

Post War

In 1922 married Lena Myrtle Stanley. They had 2 daughters (Nellie Myrtle 1923 - 1973) and 2 sons. Electoral Roll entries:1925 at Elizabeth street, East Cannington, labourer;1931 Welshpool, labourer; 1943 at 140 Crawford road, Maylands, pump attendant.