Muchty Remembers

Born: 1884, Leswalt, Wigtownshire.

Son of Thomas Murray, Inch, Wigtownshire, and Jeannie Agnew, Glenluce, Wigtownshire, and Montreal, Canada and wife of Marion Train Murray, Croft, Auchtermuchty.

Army Number: A/8894

Rank: Private

Death: Died of wounds, Mesopotamia, 18 April 1916. Age 32.

Buried: Buried Amara War cemetery, Iraq.

War Memorial. Parish Church Plaque. Church Roll. Photograph.

 

James Murray was the eldest son of Thomas Murray, born 1863, Inch, Wigtownshire, and Jeannie Agnew, born 1864, Glenluce, Wigtownshire.

In 1885 Thomas Murray, with his wife Agnes and son James Murray, emigrated to Canada. Three children were born in Canada: Agnes, 1886; Jeanie, 1887 and Jessie, 1889. In 1890 Thomas Murray, with his wife and four children returned to Scotland, to Inch, Wigtownshire, where Maggie was born in August 1890.

In 1891 Thomas Murray was a dairyman living at Mount Pleasant, Inch, Wigtownshire, with five children, including James, aged 7.

Young Maggie Murray died, and in 1892 Thomas Murray moved to Kirkcolm, Wigtownshire, where Gilbert was born in 1893, and Thomas in 1895. About 1898 Thomas Murray with his wife and six surviving children, including James, moved to Monkton and Prestwick in Ayrshire. John was born in 1899 and a second Maggie in January 1901.

In 1901 Thomas Murray was a builder living at Ervie, Monkton and Prestwick, with his wife and eight surviving children, including James Murray, 17, an apprentice mason.

James Murray volunteered during the Boer War , in 1902, and was awarded the South Africa medal.

Marion Train, aged 17, was a domestic servant to Samuel M Grieve, 42, bookseller, living at St Quivox, Prestwick, Ayrshire.

It was in Prestwick that Marion Train met James Murray, a mason, for their eldest child Maysie Murray was born there in 1906. In 1908 Marion and James Murray moved to Newburgh, Fife, where their third child Thomas Dickson Murray was born in 1909. The following year they moved to Pitmedden Wynd, Auchtermuchty, where their fourth child, James Angus was born in Jan 1911.

In 1911 Marion Murray was living in Pitmedden Wynd, Auchtermuchty, without her husband, and with four children, Maysie, 5, born Prestwick, Ayrshire; Jean Agnes, 4, born Prestwick, Ayrshire; Thomas Dickson, 2, born Newburgh, Fife, named for his grandfather Thomas Murray and great grandmother, Agnes Dickson, and James Agnew, 2 months, born Auchtermuchty, named for his father's mother's father, James Agnew. [There are neither marriage record nor birth records for the children.]

James Murray was travelling away from home for he worked as a mason.

Sometime after 1901 James Murray's parents, Thomas and Jean Murray emigrated back to Montreal in Canada.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

James Murray's father, Thomas Murray, born 23 November 1863, Inch, Wigtownshire, was the fourth son of Gilbert Murray, born 1836, Stoneykirk, Wigtownshire, and Agnes Dickson, born 1840, Inch, Wigtownshire. In 1861 Gilbert Murray was a ploughman at West Freugh, Stoneykirk, living with his wife and two sons. In 1871 Gilbert Murray was an agricultural labourer at High Portencallie, Kirkcolm, Wigtownshire, living with his wife and seven children, including Thomas, aged 7. In 1881 Gilbert Murray was a dairyman living at Bridge of Aird Cottage, Inch, Wigtownshire, with his wife and eleven children, including Thomas, 17, a general labourer. His son James, 26, was a dairyman while two daughters, Elizabeth and Jane assisted in the dairy. John 21, was a mason, and Hugh, 19, a joiner.

Gilbert Murray died about 1885 for in 1891 Agnes Murray was the dairy keeper at Clennoch Park Dairy, Inch, Wigtownshire, assisted by two daughters and a son. By 1901 Agnes Murray had moved to St Marnocks Cottage, Monkton and Prestwick, with her youngest son Gilbert, 23, a mason, and youngest daughter, Jessie, 19, a draper's assistant.

Meanwhile Thomas Murray had returned from Canada to Mount Pleasant, Inch, in 1891, where he was a dairyman. Thomas Murray moved to Ervie, Monkton and Prestwick in 1898, and in 1901 his son, James Murray, was an apprentice mason.

Marion Train was the daughter of John Train, born 1858, Mauchline, Ayrshire, and Helen, born 1852, New Cumnock, Ayrshire. John Train was the son of John Train, born 1808, Mauchline, Ayrshire, and Catherine, born 1813. In 1861 they were living at Loan, Mauchline with five children, the youngest being John, aged 1. In 1871, John Train was a farm servant, living with his wife and his three youngest children, including John, aged 11. In 1881 John Train, junior, born 1859, was a farm servant at Thirdpart Farm, Auchinlech, to William Smith, farmer of 225 acres, employing 2 men and 2 boys.

John Train married about 1882 Helen Neill, born 1852, New Cumnock, Ayrshire. In 1891 John Train was a mason's labourer living back at Loan, Mauchline, where his father had been living 30 years before, with his wife and children Marion, 7 and John, 7. In 1901 John Train was still a mason's labourer, living at Loan, Mauchline, with his wife and son John, a quarry labourer.

 

James Murray enlisted in the Highland Light Infantry in early 1915. The 1st/5th, 1st/6th and 1st/7th Battalions Highland Light Infantry embarked at Devonport on 26 May 1915 for the Mediterranean. The Battalions arrived at Gallipoli, Turkey, on 3 July 1915. The Battalions were evacuated on 8 January 1916 and were moved to Egypt, arriving in February 1916.

In December 1915 2nd Battalion Highland Light Infantry moved to Mesopotamia to capture Bagdad and defend British interests in the region against the Turks. The Division was engaged at Fat-ha Gorge on the Little Zab and the Battle of Sharqat.

James Murray was transferred to the 2nd Battalion in Mesopotamia.

James Murray was wounded in Mesopotamia and died of his wounds on 18 April 1916.

 

"AUCHTERMUCHTY SOLDIER KILLED -  Mrs Murray, Croft, Auchtermuchty, has received a wire from the War Office intimating that her husband, Private James Murray, H.L.I., was killed in recent fighting.

"Private Murray, who was a mason to trade, joined the army shortly after the outbreak of hostilities, and was sent to the front about a year ago. He served as a volunteer during the Boer war, and was awarded the South Africa medal. Private Murray, whose two brothers are serving with the Canadian contingent, is survived by his widow and five young children." Coourier, 5 Feb 1916.

 

By 1916 Marion Tait Murray and her children were living at Croft, Auchtermuchty.

Marion Train Murray died at 2 Stratheden Place, Auchtermuchty, on 1 December 1943, widow of James Murray, mason. Her father, John Train, aged 83, was still alive. Her mother, Helen Neill, had died. Marion's elder son, Thomas, aged 33, was present at his mother's death.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amara War Cemetery, Iraq                                                    Memorial plaque, Auchtermuchty Church