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Auction: 25001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 338

The remarkable Great War D.S.O., 'Attack on Pomereuil' Second Award Bar group of four awarded to Major D. Murray, 21nd Battalion (6th City), Manchester Regiment, who was wounded in action at High Wood during the Battle of the Somme and further 'mentioned' three times

Distinguished Service Order, with Second Award Bar, silver-gilt and enamel; 1914-15 Star (Capt. D. Murray. Manch. R.); British War and Victory Medals (Major D. Murray.), mounted court style for wear, sold together with an Exeter College Boat Club Medal engraved 'Meade Fours 1885', light enamel damage to first, overall good very fine (4)

D.S.O. London Gazette 1 January 1919.

Second Award Bar London Gazette 2 April 1919, the original citation states:

'In the absence of his commanding officer he commanded his battalion throughout the operations from 22nd October to 28th October, 1918. In the attack on Pommereuil on 23rd October, when, owing to darkness and mist, units had lost direction and became intermixed, he went forward and reorganised the attack, which was then entirely successful. He showed great courage and ability to command.'

Donald Murray born at Stoke Newington on 10 March 1880, the son of Robert and Ellen Murray of Hackney. His father was an agent in the sale of cotton and wool, acting on his own account, a position which Robert had joined by 1911. One the outbreak of the Great War he applied for a commission and succeeded, being Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant on 25 January 1915 with the 22nd Battalion (7th City), Manchester Regiment, a Pals Battalion.

Promoted Lieutenant on 1 March 1915 and further advanced Captain on 1 April, he entered the war on 11 November 1915 in command of 'B' Company. It is indicative of the style in which the Pals Battalions were run that Murray served with his brother David Stanley Murray during the Battle of the Somme.

Remarkably he survived the carnage of the First Day of the Somme which saw 18 officers of the Regiment become casualties - including ten killed. Unfortunately that battle was just the start of the carnage and when the Battalion was posted to High Wood in support of the South Staffordshire Regiment on 15 July Murray was wounded in action. He was evacuated to Britain and did not re-join his Battalion until July 1917.

Murray re-joined the Battalion when they were transferred to the Italian front in November. At some stage he was transferred to the 21st Battalion (6th City), Manchester Regiment as Second-in-Command. They saw heavy action there but returned to France on 13 September 1918, joining the 25th Division near Canchy.

The Officer Commanding the Battalion was not present for some time between September and October during the which time Murray commanded the unit. His narrative of Operations from 19-24 October includes the action for which he won the D.S.O., it states:

'Advanced commenced at zero hour. Owing to heavy enemy gas shelling and ground mist great difficulty was experienced in keeping touch and direction, with the result that the progress of the attack was for a long time uncertain.

(Captain J. R. Miller M.C.) on Right) reported attack held up owning to a large amount of wite and very heavy enemy machine gun fire.

Objective reported taken with assistance of a tank. This report was found to be an error as line was subsequently discovered to be from 200-300 yards short of objective. Consolidation took place on this line.

Patrols sent out to obtain touch on left and right.

Touch obtained with 6th Division on Right. Orders received to form defensive flank-right Divisions boundary L.33.d.5.3. to L.28.d.3.2.

Defensive flank completed.

Orders received to withdraw troops to Pomereuil'.'

Murray died in October 1951 at Marylebone, his brother also survived the war, dying in 1941; sold together with copied research.

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Estimate
£1,800 to £2,200

Starting price
£1400