Pte 51712 Edgar Domenico Murray

• Age: 21
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• D.O.W Tuesday 30th April 1918
• Commemorated at: Esquelbecq Mil Cem
  Panel Ref: II.A.31

Edgar Domenico Murray was born on 06th June 1896 in Wavertree, Liverpool and was the son of Edgar Murray and his wife Maria Lucrezia (nee Simoncelli). His parents were married at St Anne's R.C. Church on 12th September 1895. His mother's birth was recorded in Newton Abbot in the March quarter of 1867, her father was named Dominici. Edgar junior was baptised in St Clare's R.C. Church, Liverpool on 21st June 1896. 

The 1901 Census finds Edgar, aged 4, living at 88 Gainsborough Road, Wavertree with his father Edgar Murray a 33 year old printers clerk born in Liverpool, and his mother Maria L. Murray aged 33 and born in Bickington, Devonshire. He has one sibling a brother, Harold J. Murray aged 2 born in Liverpool.

By the time of the 1911 Census the family are living at 19 Chesnut Grove, Wavertree Liverpool. Edgar is now 14 years of age and a schoolboy. His father is now shown as 44 years of age and employed as a stationer assistant, whilst his mother Maria is also shown as aged 44. They have been married for 15 years and have had 3 children. Edgar has two younger brothers Harold. J. aged 12 and Geoffrey S. aged 4. .  

Edgar enlisted in Liverpool as Rifleman 3886 in the 6th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment (Liverpool Rifles). He embarked from Folkestone-Boulogne on 27th July 1916 reaching the 24th Infantry Base Depot on 29th July. He then proceeded to 17th K.L.R. on 06th August and was posted from 5.9.16 to the 20/KLR.

Edgar was serving in the 17^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 51712 when he was admitted to the 139^th Field Ambulance on the 29^th April, 1918. He sadly died of wounds, described as Gun Shot Wounds resulting in a fractured skull, at 07.30 a.m., on the 30^th April 1918 at the O.C.3 Australian Casualty Clearing Station. He was aged 21 and his wounds were received during the German Spring Offensive.  

He now lies in Esquelbecq Military Cemetery, France where his headstone bears the epitaph:

“HE GAVE HIS LIFE FOR THOSE HE LOVED BEST” 

The cemetery was opened in April 1918 during the early stages of the German offensive in Flanders, when the 2nd Canadian and 3rd Australian Casualty Clearing Stations came to Esquelbecq. It was closed in September 1918, although one French grave was added in 1919 and one British soldier from 1916 was added later from an isolated site.

The cemetery was used again during the Second World War, mainly for the burial of those killed during the German advance of May 1940 and the withdrawal of the British Expeditionary Force to Dunkirk.

Esquelbecq Military Cemetery contains 578 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and 47 from the Second World War. There are also 11 French and German burials.

The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on 08th May 1918

MURRAY - April 29, killed in action, aged 21 years, EDGAR DOMENICO, K.L.R., eldest son of Mr and Mrs Edgar Murray, 47 Sandown Lane, Wavertree, and later of the Cunard S.S. Mediterranean Dept. R.I.P.

Soldiers Effects to father Edgar, Pension to mother Maria Lucrezia.

Probate 1919 to father Edgar, printer manager.

Edgar Domenico Murray is commemorated on the Catholic Institute School War Memorial, now housed at St Edward's College, West Derby, Liverpool. 

His father died aged 63 on the 31st April 1931 

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