Pte 114100 Bernard Murray

• Age: 25
• From: Darlington
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• Died Saturday 28th June 1919
• Commemorated at: Archangel Allied Cemetery
  Panel Ref: B8

Bernard Murray was born in Darlington, County Durham, on the 10th October 1893, the eldest son of John Murray, a labourer, and his wife Mary Ann (nee Curran). This was Mary Ann’s second marriage as she had married Michael Keegan in Darlington in 1881. Michael Keegan died in 1891, by which time he and Mary Ann had five children. Mary Ann then married John Murray in 1893 and they had three children – Bernard born 1893; Agnes born 1896 but died as a baby; and Patrick (1899-1973). 

In 1901 the family consisting of John, Mary Ann and 7 children were living at 62 Wellington Street, Keighley.

In 1911 John, Mary Ann, their sons Bernard and Patrick and John’s stepson John William Keegan live at 29 Green Street, Keighley, when Bernard is a machine labourer in a worsted mill and John Keegan a sewing machine mechanic, probably in the same mill.

On 11^th June 1914, Bernard Murray, 20 years 10 months, a driller, born in Darlington and living at 29 Green Street, Keighley, enlisted in the 6^th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s Regiment (TF) in Keighley as Private 2213. He was embodied on 25^th August 1914 but on 13^th November that year was medically discharged because he was suffering with severe corns which meant “he is unable to march for any distance”. He was also said to be suffering from emphysema and debility.

Bernard was awarded his silver War Badge, number 39295, but the medical tribunal decreed that he was not entitled to a pension as his problems had not been exacerbated by military service.

Despite his medical discharge and no doubt because of the urgent need to supplement the army after 1916, Bernard was either conscripted or volunteered again and was given the number 114100 with the King’s Liverpool Regiment and in 1919 was serving in Russia. 

Bernard married Martha Halliday on the 13^th May 1916 St Annes Roman Catholic Church, Keighley. West Yorkshire. Bernard was a driller at Crane Works & Martha was a Worsted Drawer in the mill as Keighley was a mill town. They had a son John who was born in 1917.

Sadly, John died on 17^th April 1918 of whooping cough/broncho-pneumonia/convulsions, aged 14 months old. He was their only child. At the time of John's death, his father Bernard was at home. Bernard registered his son's death stating his occupation as: Private 71223, 56^th Protection Company Royal Defence Corps. (Railway Platelayer). Address 8 Kensington Street, Keighley. West Yorks.

Records show that Bernard was almost certainly the last Liverpool Pal to die during WW1 when he accidentally drowned in the River Dvina on 28^th June 1919, aged 25. The family story regarding Bernard's death is that he drowned whilst trying to save another soldier who had got in to difficulties whilst bathing in the river.

He now rests at Grave B8 in Archangel Allied Cemetery.  

During both world wars, Archangel was one of the ports through which the Allies assisted Russia with supplies and munitions. The cemetery was begun immediately after the occupation of the town in August 1918 by the Allied force sent to support the Soviet Russian Government against potential threat from German occupied Finland and other local sources. It was used by No.85 General Hospital, No.53 Stationary Hospital, No.82 Casualty Clearing Station, HM Hospital Ship 'Kalyan' and other Allied hospitals. 

ARCHANGEL ALLIED CEMETERY contains 224 burials and commemorations of the First World War, including special memorials to 140 officers and men with known burials in cemeteries elsewhere in northern Russia. Two of the burials are unidentified. The cemetery also contains 7 Second World War burials. The ARCHANGEL MEMORIAL, which consists of panels fixed into the east wall of the cemetery, commemorates 219 British officers and men who died during the north Russian campaign and whose graves are not known.

Bernard was awarded his British War Medal and also his Victory Medal.

His father, John, died unexpectedly on 20^th April 1919 suffering bronchitis & cardiac failure. This followed by Bernard's death must have been a crushing blow for the family.

His mother, Mary Ann died on 14^th February 1922 in Darlington. 

Martha went on to remarry but had no children. Her only child, John, is buried alongside his mother in her family grave.

We currently have no further information on Bernard Murray, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.