Also Served: Thomas Murray - Thomas MURRAY
19, High Street, Prescot Private 1422, 3rd Bn., South Lancashire Regiment Thomas Murray married Jane O'Neill on 1st January 1907 in Prescot. They had a daughter, Margaret, born on 19th February 1913, and two sons, William and Edward.
Thomas originally joined the army on the 13th September 1911 in Liverpool. At that time, he was 35 years old and worked as a Casual Labourer. He attended Annual Training Camp in 1912, 1913 and 1914 and was then mobilised for permanent service on 8th August 1914, apparently being posted t the 2nd Battalion.
He sailed for France on 18th January 1915, returning to the UK on 27th September that year.
The records include a copy of his wife's death certificate. Jane Murray, aged 33, of 2, Stone Street, Prescot, wife of Thomas Murray, died of Pneumonia on 2nd March 1916 at the Workhouse Infirmary, Liverpool. After her death, his next of kin was listed as his mother, Margaret Murray of 2, Stone Street, Prescot. His records show that he went absent on 8th March for which he forfeited 8 days pay.
The minutes of a Court of Enquiry dated 5th June 1916 show that Thomas deserted on 13th May 1916 at Liverpool and that he was still absent. Later, there is a 'Confession of Desertion' which confirms that he deserted on 13th May 1916 and only surrendered himself back to the authorities in 1922.
But on examining records, it seems that on 17th February 1916, Thomas attested to the 12th Bn., Royal Welsh Fusiliers at St Helens as Private 43541. Giving the same address, he is now shown as 39 years old and a Farm Labourer.
His records also show a transfer on 27th May 1916 to 5th Bn., King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 46809 and also a later transfer as Private 170909 to the 307th (HS) Works Company of the Labour Corps (April 1917).
In 1922, a letter to Thomas Murray instructed him to report to the barracks at Seaforth as soon as possible in order to sigh his 'Confession of Desertion'. This letter was address to him at 1, Back Salisbury Street, Islington, Liverpool.
He was finally discharged on 7th June 1922. His medal entitlement was to the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal and he received these on 22nd December 1922. The Medal Index Card which records the award states 'Forfeits on Desertion 13/05/1916' but this is crossed out and 'Discharged 7th June 1922' is recorded.
So it is far from clear how Thomas time was served throughout the war. I would speculate that he did indeed desert from the South Lancs in 1916 but only because he had joined the King's (Liverpool) Regiment ! Unfortunately, I have no records oh the Court of Inquiry so cannot tell how it ended. But whatever happened, Thomas Murray was ultimately awarded the medals he earned by serving throughout the Great War.
An extract from Thomas Murray's Desertion papers
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