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O.B.E. Breast Badge Military Issue

O.B.E. Breast Badge Military Issue, 1914-15 Star, British War & Victory Medal, Defence Medal, 1939-45 War Medal, Territorial Decoration, GV, Lieutenant Colonel W.A.K. Murray, Highland Light Infantry, attached M.G.C. in North…

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SKU: J5265 Category:
Origin: United Kingdom
Nearly Extremely Fine

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O.B.E. Breast Badge Military Issue, 1914-15 Star, British War & Victory Medal, Defence Medal, 1939-45 War Medal, Territorial Decoration, GV, Lieutenant Colonel W.A.K. Murray, Highland Light Infantry, attached M.G.C. in North Russia.

 

A long serving member of the 6th Battalion Highland Light Infantry since he was 18 and later it’s Commanding Officer, as well as thrice capped International Rugby Player for Scotland, The London Scottish & Captain of Kelvinside Academicals, awarded his O.B.E. for his excellent service in North Russia during 1919, as well as an M.I.D. and Order of St Anne 2nd Class with Swords.

 

1914-15 Star impressed: “Lieut W.A.K. Murray High. L.I.”
British War & Victory Medal impressed: “Major W.A.K. Murray”

 

William Alexander Kininmouth “Monty” Murray was born on 17th April 1894, he earned his first commission as 2nd Lieutenant on 1st December 1913 with the 6th Battalion, City of Glasgow Territorials.

 

Promoted to Lieutenant on 10th April 1914, then Temporary Captain on 14th July 1915, followed by full Captain on 21s July 1915.
Promoted to Major on 1st June 1916, attached to the Machine Gun Corps.

 

After the war, he went to North Russia as an attached Officer to the Machine Gun Corps, being Mentioned in Despatches as well as being awarded the O.B.E. for “Valuable services rendered in connection with military operations in Archangel, north Russia.” and his M.I.D. for “Valuable and distinguished services rendered in connection with the operations in North Russia during the period 25th march – 26th September 1919.”both announced in the London Gazette of 3rd February 1920.

 

The White Russians also awarded him the Order of St Anne, 2nd Class, with Swords, confirmed in “White Russian Awards”

 

Only very shortly after arriving back from Russia he was already brought onto the Scotland National Rugby Team, being capped 3 times as a Flanker, his test debut was France v Scotland at Parc des Princes on 1st January 1920, where they won 5-0 in front of 25,000 people, it was only the 5th Match between the Countries, they have now faced each other in 2018 92 times.

 

His second International Match was Scotland Vs Ireland at Edinburgh on 28th February 1920, where Scotland won 19-0.

 

In his last international match he played France again but lost 3-0 on 22nd January 1921 in front of 40,000 at home at Inverleith.

 

Amongst these International Matches he played throughout the 1920-1921 seasons and was Captain of the Kelvinside Academicals until he injured himself and did not return to rugby during 1921.

 

He also played some golf and was one of the 23 names on the Stirling Golf Club Roll of Honour for WW1.

 

He had become the Commanding Officer of the 6th Bn H.L.I. for many years retiring on 16th February 1935, having competed his tenure of command.

 

When the Second World War arrived, he brought back his old battalion, the 2nd/6th H.L.I. which had become an old comrades battalion, nearly all of the members and their sons joined under their old officers for another war.

 

The Daily Record 13th May 1939;

 

“SONS OF WAR TIME COMRADES MEET IN TERRIERS, COMPANIONS OF THE WAR REJOIN.

 

Glasgow men who fought side by side in the last war are rejoining their old battalion to serve together again as Territorials under their old officers, or their sons. The 2nd/6th Battalion H.L.I. (City of Glasgow Regiment) has become an old comrades’ battalion since it was formed recently under the Territorial expansion scheme which aims at doubling the strength of the citizen army.

 

Already 300 men have joined the battalions new second line and the 350 still needed to bring it to establishment are expected to be raided by June.
Many of the volunteers have come from the ex-Members Association, Col. W. Menzies Anderson, Joint Hon. President with Col. James Anderson, of the Association, told the Daily Record last night.

 

Commanding Officer of the new battalion is Colonel W.A.K. Murray, Thrice Scottish Rugby cap, who joined the 6th H.L.I. as a lad of 18 and served with it throughout the war. He remained in the battalion after the war, eventually becoming commanding officer before he retired.”

 

He died on 10th October 1984, from The Daily Telegraph 12th October 1984:
“Murray – On Wednesday, Oct. 10th 1984, peacefully at Spynie Hospital, Elgin, William Alexander Kininmouth Murray, O.B.E., T.D., Col. T.A. (Retd), late 6th and 11th H.L.I., in his 90th year, of Griananm Fochabers, dear husband of Shona and father of Sandy. Funeral service in Bellie Parish Church, Fochabers, on Saturday, Oct. 13th, at 11am, to which all friends are invited, thereafter private to Aberdeen Crematorium. Family Flowers only: No letters please.”