MURRAY, Harry

Harry Murray lived at The Hemplands, Stourbridge. He volunteered in 1914 for the Worcesters and was posted to the 4th Battalion on Gallipoli in September 1915.This battalion endured some of the worst conditions in the Autumn of 1915 and Harry Murray was seriously affected by dysentery after serving only 19 days. He was sent back to Britain to recover, convalesced in Wales and was then posted to the 3rd battalion. In April 1916 they moved to Vimy Ridge, which had been in French hands to that point. The British line was half way up the slope, which had already been honey-combed by tunnels. It was unusual fighting terrain. Each trench seemed to lead to a crater, and the two front lines, which were quite close, weaved between. There was little patrolling of no man's land, but frequent bombings as small groups of men tried to fight their way up a short stretch of trench. The battalion entered the front line trenches for the first time on 26th April and immediately a small party occupied a post on the lip of Broadmarsh Crater. Two days later the Germans responded by blowing one of their biggest mines to date under the left flank of the Worcesters' line. At the same time they attacked in force and overwhelmed the party on the crater. There was much dogged resistance, but the number of fourteen men missing believed killed probably represented those at the edge of the crater. They included Lance Corporal Harry Murray whose name is commemorated on the Arras, Stourbridge and the Roman Catholic church Memorials.