John Murray

VC
Born1837
Birr, County Offaly
Died7 November 1911 (aged 73–74)
Derrinlogh, County Offaly
Buried
Eglish Churchyard, County Offaly
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchBritish Army
Years of service1852–1873
RankSergeant
Unit68th (Durham) Regiment of Foot (Light Infantry)
Battles/warsCrimean War
New Zealand Wars
AwardsVictoria Cross

Crimea Medal, Sebastopol, Inkermann, Balaclava, Alma clasps
Long Service & Good Conduct Medal
Turkish Crimea Medal[1]

Visit to Ireland Medal, 1900[2]

John Murray VC (February 1837 – 7 November 1911) was a British Army soldier and an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Early life

Murray was born in Birr, County Offaly, in February 1837.

Victoria Cross

Sergeant John Murray, 68th (Durham) Regiment of Foot (Light Infantry), was approximately 27 years old during the Waikato-Hauhau Maori War in New Zealand when the following deed took place on 21 June 1864 at Tauranga for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC):

For his distinguished conduct during the engagement at Tauranga, on the 21st of June, when the Enemy's position was being stormed, in running up to a Rifle Pit containing from eight to ten of the enemy, and, without any assistance, killing or wounding every one of them.
He is stated to have afterwards proceeded up the works, fighting desperately, and still continuing to bayonet the Enemy.[3]


Sgt. Murray, VC and others from the 68th (Durham) Regiment of Foot, 1866
Sgt. Murray, VC and others from the 68th (Durham) Regiment of Foot, 1866

Further information

Murray died at Derrinlogh in County Offaly on 7 November 1911.

The medal

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Durham Light Infantry Museum & Durham Art Gallery in Durham, England.

References

  1. ↑ "John Murray VC". Victoria Cross Online. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  2. ↑ "Coin, Medal and Banknote Auction, 14 June 2012: Sale 34—Gallantry". Corbits. 2012. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  3. ↑ "War Office, November 4, 1864". The London Gazette. No. 22908. 4 November 1864. p. 5187.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.