Chiwaya

Thomas Alexander MURRAY - Born 2nd May 1878 in Huntly,Aberdeenshire,Scotland Went to S.A. before WW1. Joined the 3rd SA Infantry Regiment 1916 and shortly after went to the Western Front via a 3 month stop-over, en route, participating in the Egyptian campaign with the regiment. Arrived Marseilles in April 1916 to go on to 'the trenches' 30 April 1916. No further record by him but from other sources I have discovered he was badly wounded 18 July 1916 in the Battle of Delville Wood. He had to be transferred to the 3rd London Hospital, Wandsworth, England, for 2 months. Returned to France 29 January 1917. In due course went to the front again and, as part of the 3rd Regiment's activities, took part in the 3rd Battle of Ypres until he was killed in action on 20 Speptember 1917. He was leading his company of men at the time and they had just achieved their objective in taking the Menin Road Ridge when he and a colleague were shot and killed outright. They were buried by other colleagues in the mud where they fell near the Menin Road. Thomas is recorded on the South African panel (no 16) on the Menin Gate Memorial. and in the memorial folder for Scots in SA Regiments in the memorial Hall at Edinburgh Castle. His Commanding Officer at the time he was killed was a Captain Percival H. Ellis - They were part of 'C' Company of the 3rd SA Infantry Regiment. Thomas's rank at the time of his death was L/Sergeant Grt Nephew, Ian Manson