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Adam Anderson McMurray
SRoH. Private Adam McMurray. Home: Summerhill, Laurieston.
Enlisted June, 1918, 13th Royal Scots Fusiliers. Transferred to 16th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders and 5th Battalion. Home Service. Pre-war service – Galloway Rifles.
Girthon Gravestone : . Adam died in 1958 and his wife Annie died in 1952.
1881 Girthon Census, High Street : Adam A McMurray (age 7, born Gatehouse) with father James (letter carrier) and mother Margaret J. + 6 brothers and a sister.
1901 Census : Adam was no longer living in Gatehouse.
1901 Castle Douglas Census, Cotton Street : Adam McMurray (27, rural postman, born Girthon) with wife Annie.
Adam Anderson McMurray was born c.1873 in Gatehouse. Father: James McMurray, mother: Margaret Jane Anderson.
ScotlandsPeople : 1900, Adam married Annie Isabella Leith in Kirkcudbrightshire.
ScotlandsPeople : Adam & Annie had a daughter Mary Margaret McMurray in 1902 and a son Adam McMurray in 1908 when they were living in Balmaghie.
Brothers Adam, David, John, Walter and Wellwood McMurray all fought in the war and survived. Their nephew James was also a soldier but he was killed in1916.
Gatehouse link : Born and lived in Gatehouse.
David McMurray
SRoH. Gunner David McMurray. Home: Gatehouse.
Enlisted November 1915, Royal Garrison Artillery, 449 Seige Battery.
Served on Western Front (Somme, Le Cateau & Landrecies).
Medal Index Card : Gnr. David McMurray (197240) RGA Victory & British medals.
1891 Girthon Census, Catherine Street : David McMurray (age 4, born Gatehouse) with father James (postman), mother Margaret J. + 6 brothers.
1901 Girthon Census, Catherine Street : David McMurray (14, apprentice draper, born Girthon) with father James (retired postman) and mother Margaret J. + 4 brothers.
1911 Girthon Census : no longer with the family in Catherine Street.
ScotlandsPeople : David married Ann Mitchell Forbes in 1912.
Brothers Adam, David, John, Walter and Wellwood McMurray all fought in the war and survived. Their nephew James was also a soldier but he was killed in1916.
Gatehouse link : Born and lived in Gatehouse.
James McMurray
SRoH. Private James McMurray. Home: Catherine Street, Gatehouse.
Enlisted December 1915, 3/8th City of London Regiment (Post Office. Rifles). Served on Western Front (Somme). Killed 7th October 1916.
Anwoth & Girthon War Memorial, Gatehouse inscription : James McMurray R.F.A.
Girthon Church Memorial : J McMurray PO Rifles
Castle Douglas Post Office Roll of Honour : Pte. J McMurray (Gatehouse) Auxilliary P.O. Rifles.
CWGC : Rifleman James McMurray. 4844 London Regiment (Post Office Rifles) 1st/8th Battalion
Died 07/10/1916 On Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France Pier & face 9C & 9D
1901 Girthon Census, Catherine Street : James McMurray (5, born Girthon), with grandfather James (retired postman) and grandmother Margaret J.
1911 Girthon Census, Catherine Street : James McMurray, (15, mill worker, born Girthon) with grandparents James (retired postman) and Margaret McMurray + 4 uncles.
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser October 5th 1917: 'In loving memory of my dear nephew, Rifleman James McMurray, City of London Regiment, who was killed in action on October 7th 1916 and is interred in a cemetery near the village of Eaucort L'Abbaye, north west of Combles. 'They miss him most who loved him best' - Wellwood McMurray, now with R.F.C. in France.'
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser 12th August 1921: Unveiling of Gatehouse War Memorial. Wreath laid: ‘In loving memory of Pte. James McMurray’
McMurray family tree : His mother was Margaret Jane McMurray (daughter of James and Margaret J. McMurray), but father unknown.
He worked in the post office in Gatehouse before moving to London.
James’ uncles Adam, David, John, Walter and Wellwood McMurray also fought in the war.
Gatehouse link : Born and lived in Gatehouse.
John McMurray
SRoH : No mention in Stewartry Roll of Honour. We know about John McMurray from a book 'Answering the Call' by Stuart Wilson. The book is about Auchencairn soldiers in the First World War.
Auchencairn War Memorial : John McMurray, Seaforths
Le Touret Memorial, France : This memorial was erected to record men with no known grave.
Kirkcudbright Advertiser : John was described as
'a man of fine physique, standing six feet two inches in height, while his weight was 17 stone'
He was an ideal candidate to be a Bomb Thrower.
Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser : A letter sent to his uncle Alex, a policeman in Harrow, London, said
'He fell whilst charging a German sap-head, and died in the hour of success. It is a comfort to know that he was buried by his comrades with other Seaforths who fell that day. We are sorry to lose him.'
'Answering the Call' by Stuart Wilson :
Lance Corporal John McMurray 10634 1st Seaforth Highlanders. Killed in action 12/03/1915 (aged 29).
John McMurray was born in Fleet Street, Gatehouse on 13/05/1885. His mother was Elizabeth McMurray an unmarried cook/domestic servant. He was brought up by his grandparents John McMurray (shepherd) and Nicholas (nee McFegan) along with other brothers and cousins. The family moved around the area, living in Auchencairn, Tongland, Twynholm and Balmaghie.
1894 John was at Milton Farm, Kirkcudbright.
1901 Borgue Census, at Southpark: John McMurray (16, born Anwoth)was an agricultural labourer (horseman).
1909 March. John McMurray enlisted with the 1st Seaforth Highlanders in Dumfries. He served under the name McFeggen - a mis spelling of his grandmother Nicholas' maiden name - McFegan.
1914 August- John was in India (Agra) with the 1st Seaforth Highlanders.
06/09/1914 He sailed from Bombay on the HMT Devanha in a 42 ship convoy to France. The journey via the Suez Canal took 5 weeks.
John was involved in the 1st Battle of Ypres as a Bomb Thrower.
This was similar to a grenadier and was very dangerous work. The bomber threw bombs into enemy trenches and then rushed in with a bayonet.
Gatehouse link : Born in Fleet Street, Gatehouse.
John McMurray
SRoH. Private John McMurray. Home: Catherine Street, Gatehouse.
Enlisted April 1917Army Service Corps (Motor Transport). Home Service.
Military Records : Unmarried. Mother given as next of kin – Mrs Margaret McMurray, Catherine St, Gatehouse. Occupation : mechanic/motorman.
5’ 4½’’ tall & short sighted. Wore glasses and had previous injury to his left eye. Church of England. Worked as a mechanic with London Motor Transport – at the Repair Depot & Woolwich Dockyard. Demobbed 25/02/1919.
1881 Girthon Census, High Street : John McMurray (6, born Gatehouse) with father James (letter carrier) and mother Margaret J. + 6 brothers and a sister.
1891 Girthon Census, Catherine Street : John McMurray (15, born Gatehouse) with father James (postman), mother Margaret J. + 6 brothers.
1901 Girthon census, Catherine Street : John McMurray (25, journeyman blacksmith, born Girthon) with father James (retired postman), mother Margaret J. and 4 brothers.
1911 Girthon Census : no longer with the family in Catherine Street.
Ex George’s granddaughter Mary Cousins : John had a twin brother George. They were born 3/9/1875. John died in 1935 in Gatehouse, unmarried.
Brothers David, John, Walter and Wellwood McMurray all fought in the war and survived. Their nephew James was also a soldier but he was killed in1916.
Gatehouse link : Born and lived in Gatehouse.
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