Pte 54137 Robert Murray

Robert Murray was born Liverpool in the June quarter of 1875 the son of James and his wife Sarah Elizabeth (née Hughes) who were married on the 22nd April 1859 at St Mary’s Church, Edge Hill. James was a 24 year old of 100 Bamber Street, his father, James, was an inn-keeper, whilst Sarah was aged 19 of Chesnut Street,her father, John, was an engineer. 

On the 1881 Census the family are living at 71 Hughes Street, His father, James, is aged 48, and is a warehouseman, born in Scotland, his mother, Sarah, is aged 41, born in Liverpool, as were the children; Minnie J. 14, at school, Mary E. 11, at school, George P. 8, at school, Robert 6 and William G. 1

 

The 1891 census shows Robert, with his widowed, father, James, aged 57, born in Scotland, and is a warehouse porter, at 95 St. Domingo Road, Everton. Robert is aged 16, and is a printer’s machine feeder, supporting the likelihood that this is the right man.

 

 

Robert married Mary Ann Hughes in St. Augustine R. C. Church, Liverpool, on 07th January 1901, she was the daughter of Samuel and Sarah Hughes. Robert gave his address as 14 Whitley Street (witnesses Edward Ashfield of the same address and Elizabeth Radley at no.4). Mary Ann gives her address as 12 Whitley Street. Based on her birthdate (from the pension record) she would have been 16 years old when they married.

 

A couple of months after their marriage, on the census of 1901, Robert and Mary Ann are found boarding with Bridget Fell at 12 Whitley Street (others in the household are surnames Kennedy and Sussex). Mary Ann’s age is given as 18 (she would have been 17). Robert’s age is shown as 23 and his occupation is as printer.

 

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 58 Hornby Street, Liverpool. Robert is aged 37, a dock labourer who was born in Liverpool. His wife Mary Ann is a housekeeper aged 27, born 1884 also in Liverpool as were their children. They have been married for ten years and have had five children of which sadly, two daughters had died; Christina when aged 9 and Mary Ellen when aged 3. The surviving children were recorded as; Sarah Ann aged 7, born 1904 and Bridget aged 6, born 1905 are both at school, and Annie is aged 1 born 1900. They were to have three further children Francis born 20^th July 1911, Mary born 4^th June 1913 and Elizabeth born 7^th October 1915.

 

Robert enlisted or was conscripted in Liverpool around August 1916. He was serving in the 20th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 54137 when he was killed in action on the 08th September 1917 during the Third Battle of Ypres. He was about 42 years old.

The 20th Battalion War Diary – September 1917 

WYTSCHAETE DEFENCES 

Sep.5 - 1 Officer and 25 O.Rs proceeded to U.K on leave. 

Hostile aircraft fairly active during the morning but on the approach of our planes quickly dispersed. A number of gas shells fell in the locality of the Companies. Working parties, including 230 O.Rs and 7 Officers, were provided at night for digging Strong Point and for carrying purpose respectively. Casualties 1 killed and 6 0.R wounded. 

Sep.6 - Companies rested during the morning and after dinner were engaged cleaning up their respective trenches. 11 Offrs. and 260 O.Rs were provided for clearing roads, digging and wiring Strong Points and clearing the road East of OOSTAVERNE. 

Sep.7 - Intermittent hostile shelling was evident throughout the day, particularly in the vicinity of Battalion Headquarters; a number of gas shells which fell in the vicinity of A Coy's trenches caused 3 casualties, 2 of these being slight gas cases and 1 wounded. The weather was oppressive and the day quite dull, in consequence of which the enemy's, and our own, aircraft was quiet. 

Companies were engaged during the day in generally clearing and straightening their respective localities and in some cases strengthening and renewing the sandbagging of dugouts. Working parties of 211 O.Rs and 9 Officers proceeded to rendezvous for similar work as on 6th inst. 

Sep.8 - Hostile artillery was exceptionally quiet during the day, observation being poor owing to the prevalence of a slight mist. The usual work on their respective trenches was continued by Coys during the day. 

All Coy Officers and 191 O.Rs were provided for working parties for work as on previous nights, a sharp bombardment slightly interfered with the work, resulting in 4 O.Rs being killed and 1 O.R wounded. 

Sep.9 - The usual working parties were again provided at night resulting in D Company having 72 O.R wounded and 1 O.R Killed. 

11 p.m. An enemy barrage opened out, apparently on our front line; this lasted for about half an hour; very few lights were sent up. 

Robert now rests at Torreken Farm Cemetery No1, Whytschaete, Belgium.

Wytschaete was taken by the Germans early in November 1914, and was recovered by Commonwealth forces during the Battle of Messines on 7 June 1917, but fell into German hands once more on 16 April 1918. The village was retaken for the last time on 28 September.  The cemetery, begun by the 5th Dorset Regiment in June 1917 and used as a front line cemetery until April 1918, contains 90 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and 14 German war graves.

His widow placed a notice in the Liverpool Echo on the 29th September 1917: 

“MURRAY - September 8, killed in action, Pte Robert Murray. Sadly missed by his sorrowing wife and six children. - Hornby Street, Liverpool.” 

He was reported killed in the Liverpool Daily Post 16th October 1917: 

Liverpool R. - Callaghan, 49581, J. (Seaforth); Pell. 27360, H. (Birkenhead): Loughran, 38824, Η. Α.; Murray, 54137, R. 

His widow placed a notice in the Liverpool Daily Post on the 01st October 1917:

“September 8, killed in action, Robert Murray K.L.R.  (Sadly missed by his […] wife and six children.) - Hornby Street, Liverpool.”

He was reported killed in paper 16th October 1917.

His children were 14, 13, 7, 6, 4, and not yet two years old when Robert was killed.

Mary Ann received his Army effects, including a War Gratuity of £3-10s, and a pension of £1-13s-9d a week for herself and six children from April 1918.

 

Mary Ann remarried to widower, Thomas Hynes, in early 1919 and went on to have four more children. On the 1911 Census Thomas Hynes was aged 32, a farm labourer born in Dublin, with wife Annie (née Forster) aged 32, and children Mary 6, William 3 and Thomas 3mths. Annie died aged 35 in 1915. 

 

On the 1921 Census at 58 Hornby Street, Mary Ann is aged 37, Thomas Hynes is not present, Bridget is aged 16, Ann is aged 11, Francis is aged 9, Mary is aged 8, new daughter Margaret Hynes is aged 10 months, stepsons William is aged 13 and Thomas is aged 11. 

 

In 1939 Mary Ann, 55, and again widowed, is living at 9a Melrose House (on or near Melrose Road, Kirkdale).  Her son Francis lives nearby.  

 

She died in 1950, aged 66.

 

Her death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on Tuesday 23rd May 1950; 

HYNES (née Murray) - May 20, peacefully at home, after long suffering patiently borne. MARY ANN, beloved wife of the late Thomas Hynes and dearly-loved mother of Bridget, Anne, Mary, Margaret, Lily, Teresa and son Pat. Requiem Mass at St. John's Church, on Thursday next, at 9; interment at Ford Cemetery immediately afterwards. - 9a Melrose House. 

Robert is commemorated in Liverpool’s Hall of Remembrance, Panel 21.

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