Sergeant R E Murray Army Catering Corps
The Man Very little detail is known about R E Murray, except that he enlisted into the Territorial Army, Army Catering Corps (ACC) as a Private with service number 820821. Following the outbreak of World War II, he was called up for service seeing action in the Burma campaign and awarded the 1939-45 Star, Burma Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45 and in Army Order 160 of 30th September 1945, his Efficiency Medal ‘Territorial’.
He appears to have then joined the regular army as he saw service in the Suez Crisis between 1951-54 and awarded his General Service Medal with ‘Canal Zone’ clasp as a Corporal still in the ACC.
He was promoted to Sergeant and in Army Order 64 of 1960 awarded two clasps to his Efficiency Medal, although these appear to be a late claim from his previous TA service, suggesting he had joined the TA in about 1928.
He appears to have been a competent chef as he was awarded two engraved ACC medallions, winner of the North West District, Team Cookery Competition in 1955, N.W Ports and another with the ACC crest.
He appears to have then joined the regular army as he saw service in the Suez Crisis between 1951-54 and awarded his General Service Medal with ‘Canal Zone’ clasp as a Corporal still in the ACC.
He was promoted to Sergeant and in Army Order 64 of 1960 awarded two clasps to his Efficiency Medal, although these appear to be a late claim from his previous TA service, suggesting he had joined the TA in about 1928.
He appears to have been a competent chef as he was awarded two engraved ACC medallions, winner of the North West District, Team Cookery Competition in 1955, N.W Ports and another with the ACC crest.
R E Murray's Cookery Medallions
The Story The medals awarded to R E Murray were acquired on a buy it now basis from E-Bay on 28th August 2023 and of interest because of the unusual Canal Zone General Service Medal and Efficiency Medal with two clasps combination.
Army Orders confirmed the award of the EM(T) in 1945 and both clasps, although the latter not until 1960. As the TA were not involved in the Suez Crisis it is likely R E Murray had joined the regular Army after World War Two and his clasps a late award. This is backed by the fact he was named in the later AO’s as a Private where he appears to have been a Sergeant in 1955.
Mathematically working backwards and assuming he had joined the TA in about 1928 (24 years from 1946 TA service, less six WWII double time service = 18 year. Less a further 18 which would be his age = 1946 - 36) he would have been born in about 1910.
There were two possible matches on Ancestry.UK matching this search criteria, one born in 1919 meaning he would not fit the qualifying time criteria for the award of the EM clasps before joining the regulars, the other in 1910, but the 1939 Register shows him working and no mention of his TA service, unlikely as he would have already been called up by that time as a long service TA soldier.
However, there are many other combinations and reasons possible, but without a definitive link, sadly neither person can be confirmed as this R E Murray. Three National Transport Tokens came with the group which indicated Liverpool as a possible town to search, but this produced no results.
Interestingly, his Efficiency Medal has been incorrectly named to W E MURRAY, although the service number on both medals is the same and his details in Army Orders are correct R E MURRAY.
Army Orders confirmed the award of the EM(T) in 1945 and both clasps, although the latter not until 1960. As the TA were not involved in the Suez Crisis it is likely R E Murray had joined the regular Army after World War Two and his clasps a late award. This is backed by the fact he was named in the later AO’s as a Private where he appears to have been a Sergeant in 1955.
Mathematically working backwards and assuming he had joined the TA in about 1928 (24 years from 1946 TA service, less six WWII double time service = 18 year. Less a further 18 which would be his age = 1946 - 36) he would have been born in about 1910.
There were two possible matches on Ancestry.UK matching this search criteria, one born in 1919 meaning he would not fit the qualifying time criteria for the award of the EM clasps before joining the regulars, the other in 1910, but the 1939 Register shows him working and no mention of his TA service, unlikely as he would have already been called up by that time as a long service TA soldier.
However, there are many other combinations and reasons possible, but without a definitive link, sadly neither person can be confirmed as this R E Murray. Three National Transport Tokens came with the group which indicated Liverpool as a possible town to search, but this produced no results.
Interestingly, his Efficiency Medal has been incorrectly named to W E MURRAY, although the service number on both medals is the same and his details in Army Orders are correct R E MURRAY.
Medal Details:
- 1939-45 Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- Burma Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- General Service Medal: 820821 CPL R E MURRAY ACC
- Efficiency Medal: 820821 PTE. W.E.MURRAY. A.C.C.
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