MURRAY, James Keith
Service Numbers: | 8379, Q214581 |
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Enlisted: | 27 September 1915, Place of enlistment - Adelaide, South Australia |
Last Rank: | Sergeant |
Last Unit: | 14th (QLD) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC) |
Born: | Kapunda, SA, 29 May 1891 |
Home Town: | Blackall, Blackall Tambo, Queensland |
Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
Occupation: | Station Overseer |
Died: | Natural causes, Blackall, Queensland, 29 May 1950, aged 59 years |
Cemetery: |
Blackall Cemetery, Qld |
Memorials: | Allendale North School & District Honour Roll, Kapunda Congregational Church Memorial Window |
Biography
"Bmdr. Keith Murray, the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Murray, of Allandale, near Kapunda, who has received the military medal for conspicuous bravery, comes of a good pioneering stock. His grandparents were the late Mr. Abraham Shannon (on his mother's side), and Mr. Pulteney Murray, of Glen Turret (on his father's side). Bmbr. Murray went to the front last year. Mr. John Murray, a well-known cricketer (formerly of St. Peter's College), who is now in camp, is a cousin. The late Lieut. Kenneth Murray, son of the late, Mr. Hope Murray and Mrs. Murray, who was killed in action recently, was also a cousin." - from the Adelaide Register 28 Sep 1916 (nla.gov.au)
"MR. J. K. MURRAY DIES IN BLACKALL
Blackall and Central Queensland business and racing circles suffered a grievous loss on Monday by the passing of Mr. J. K. Murray in the Blackall Hospital, aged 59 years. The late Mr. Murray had not been in his usual robust health lately, but his death was totally unexpected by his large circle of friends, which extended over all the Central West.
Returning from World War 1, Mr. Murray was on Wellshot, under the late Mr. James Inglis as overseer, and after leaving there, commenced as a shearing contractor in Blackall, and rapidly built up one of the most extensive shearing contracting businesses in the district. It was also as a racing man that the late Mr. Murray enlarged his wide circle of frinds. His colours were seen on all Western tracks, and he was a member of most of the racing clubs of the West and a member of the Barcoo Amateur Club's committee at the time of his death, and as such, was one of the grounds committee of that body. Among the well-known horses that Mr. Murray raced were Kamseem, Tiberian and Vertangi, and these also carried his colours in recent months on Rockhampton tracks. The two former came to Blackall for the recent Barcoo Amateur meeting. He also had in his Blackall stables at the time of his death, Takabay and Takinine. His stables were models for warm climates, all bough roofing, and each closed box had an open box fronting it, giving each horse a winter or a summer box, as desired.
His funeral at which Rev. S. Cowen of the Church of England officiated, was one of the largest ever seen in Blackall, testifying to the high esteem in which he was held by all classes. Prior to the ceremony at the cemetery, there had been a service in the church. He is survived by two sons, Allan and Boyd, of Blackall. His wife predeceased him some years ago." - from the Longreach Leader 02 Jun 1950 (nla.gov.au)