Firstly, congratulations to the editor, Julie Samaras, for an enjoyable and always interesting weekly Canberra magazine.

I refer your readers to the article by Neil Bowman – ‘What I found on a stroll around St John’s’ (CW, 29 September 2022, p6); in particular, the grave of an ANZAC buried in the graveyard – Ernest Murray. I could not resist in doing extra research about his wartime service in the Australian Army 1914–1918.

Sadly, there is some missing detail on his tombstone that I consider a grave injustice to his bravery in that war.

However, let us first tread down memory lane of Ernest Murray.

Ernest was born around 1881 in Surry Hills, Sydney NSW.

Aged 33, he enlisted in the Australian Army on 27 August 1914 and allocated Engineer Corps (151 SPR E. MURRAY – 1 FD COY ENGRS).

On 3 March 1915, he sailed from Australia as part the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (MEF). According to his military record, he was possibly in the first landing of some 3000 men on Gallipoli, 25 April 1915.

In 1916-17, then serving in France, he was promoted to LCPL, CPL, then Temp SGT in ANZAC Light Railway and later 14 FD COY ENGRS.

Here is some pertinent information missing on his tombstone:

On 9 March 1917, he was special Mentioned In Despatches (MID) for bravery.

On 18 December 1917, he was awarded a Military Medal (MM) for bravery in the field.

On 23 February 1918, he was awarded a Bar to his Military Medal for bravery in the field.

Therefore, his tombstone should have read: No151 Ernest Murray, MM and Bar (MID).

In 1918, SGT Ernest Murray was wounded in action, Gas (severe) and sent to England for convalescence.

Before the end of war on 11 November 1918, he returned to Australia on 21 July 1918 and discharged from the Australian Army 19 April 1919.

To acknowledge his ‘missing’ Post Nominals, one could hope a side plaque could be added to his tombstone.

Many thanks for Neil Bowman for enlightening the readers of Canberra Daily.

Yours in soldiering on.

• R. E. Smith, OAM, JP, Canberra

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