James Murray
Lance-Corporal, 2nd Battalion. Connaught Rangers
- Register No.
- 906 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Lance-Corporal (register: Lance Corporal) all Lance-Corporals →
- Unit
- 2nd Battalion. Connaught Rangers all Connaught Rangers VCs →
- Date of action
- 16 January 1881 on this day → all of 1881 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First Boer War
- London Gazette
- the 14th March, 1882 on this day → all of 1882 →
- Born
- in February 1859 at St Michael's, Cork, Ireland
- Died
- 19th July 1942 in Dublin, Ireland
- Memorial / grave
- not known
Digest of citation
Lance-Corporal Murray and Trooper Danaher, of Nourse's Horse, advanced, under extremely heavy fire from approximately 60 Boers, for a distance of 500 yards, in the open, at Elandsfonteri, Pretoria, South Africa. The two men managed to bring in a private, of the 21st Foot Regiment, who was severely wounded. Lance-Corporal Murray, during this brave act, was also severely wounded
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
MURRAY, James. (reg No. 906).
Lance-Corporal. 2nd Battalion. Connaught Rangers.
London Gazetted on the 14th March, 1882.
Born in February 1859 at St Michael's, Cork, Ireland.
Died on 19th July 1942 in Dublin, Ireland.
Memorial not known.
Digest of Citation reads: Lance-Corporal Murray and Trooper Danaher, of Nourse's Horse, advanced, under extremely heavy fire from approximately 60 Boers, for a distance of 500 yards, in the open, at Elandsfonteri, Pretoria, South Africa. The two men managed to bring in a private, of the 21st Foot Regiment, who was severely wounded. Lance-Corporal Murray, during this brave act, was also severely wounded.
Additional information:. A more concise statement tells that the two men went out to rescue two men of the 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers, namely, Byrne and Davis, both of whom had been badly wounded. As soon as they started forward Murray's horse was shot under him. He continued on foot. In a letter dated 25th March 1891, Lance-Corporal Murray wrote that they both, (he and Danaher) reached them together, and whilst he was stooping to raise Byrne's head, he was shot, the ball entering the right side and exiting close to the spine. He ordered Danaher, on seeing how useless it was for him to remain, to secure his (Murray's)carbine and get away. Byrne died at his side soon after. He went on to tell that Davis and he, along with Byrne's body, were taken prisoner by the Boers. They were well treated and returned, by courtesy of the Boer Commander, under a flag of truce, along with their dead comrades body. Five days later, Davis died
Additional information
A more concise statement tells that the two men went out to rescue two men of the 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers, namely, Byrne and Davis, both of whom had been badly wounded. As soon as they started forward Murray's horse was shot under him. He continued on foot. In a letter dated 25th March 1891, Lance-Corporal Murray wrote that they both, (he and Danaher) reached them together, and whilst he was stooping to raise Byrne's head, he was shot, the ball entering the right side and exiting close to the spine. He ordered Danaher, on seeing how useless it was for him to remain, to secure his (Murray's)carbine and get away. Byrne died at his side soon after. He went on to tell that Davis and he, along with Byrne's body, were taken prisoner by the Boers. They were well treated and returned, by courtesy of the Boer Commander, under a flag of truce, along with their dead comrades body. Five days later, Davis died
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