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Sergeant William Henry
Murney attested to the 21st Battalion in November 1914, as a private. He was an
original member of the battalion, which arrived in England, and later in France, in
1915. Murney served with his battalion on the Somme (at Courcellete in September
1916), at Vimy Ridge, at Paschendaele, and later in the series of battles commencing on
August 8, 1918 with the Battle of Amiens, finally being killed in the Battle of the
Scarpe. His first Military Medal was published in the London Gazette on 25 April
1918 (London Gazette Issue 30652). The recommendation for his first M.M. was Routine Order
1691 (Currie), dated March 15, 1918. The citation reads as follows:
"For conspicuous gallantry and
devotion to duty. In connection with a raid on a large scale when the enemy succeeded in
entering our trenches under cover of an intense artillery barrage and the use of liquid
fire, this N.C.O., with absolute disregard for personal safety, rallied men around him
while exposed to the enemy's heavy barrage and rifle fire, and when the counter attack was
launched led his men forward with great courage. After the line was reestablished he
worked incessantly under the enemy's barrage re-organizing".
The Bar to his M.M. was published on 24
January 1919 (London Gazette Issue 31142), almost five months after his death. (The
Military Medal could not be awarded posthumously, but it could be presented posthumously
if a soldier was killed in an action which took place after the one for which he was
recommended. This was the case with Murney.)
The Bar to the M.M. is listed in the London
Gazette 31142, 24/1/19. Below is a summary of his service file.
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Jul 15, 1894
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Born at South
Monaghan Ontario
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Nov 6, 1914
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Attested into
the 21st Battalion at Kingston Ontario
Ø Number 59690 (temporary number 787)
Ø Next of kin given as William Murney (relationship not known) of South
Monaghan Ontario
o Note in file also requests that George Murney (father) of South
Monaghan Ontario also be notified in case of death
Ø Previous occupation given as Cheese Maker
Ø No previous military experience given
Ø Religion given as Presbyterian
Ø Assigned to “G” Company
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May 6, 1915
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Embarked the RMS
Metagama at Montreal Quebec
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May 15, 1915
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Disembarked at
Devonport England and proceeded to the West Sandling Camp, near Hythe Kent
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Sep 14, 1915
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Embarked the St
Seiriol at Folkestone
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Sep 15, 1915
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Disembarked at
Boulogne France
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Sep 21, 1915
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Will made out
leaving his estate to his father, George Murney
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Jun 27, 1916
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Admitted to the
4th CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) then transferred to the No 2 Canadian
Divisional Rest Station with a shrapnel wound to right shoulder
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Jul 1, 1916
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Discharged to
duty
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Jul 2, 1916
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Appointed to
rank of Lance Cpl with pay
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Jul 9, 1916
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Promoted to rank
of Cpl
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Aug 6, 1916
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Selected to
attend the Stokes Gun Course at Terdeghem France
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Sep 15, 1916
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Wounded by
shrapnel to hip and foot and admitted to CFA and transferred to CCS (Casualty Clearing
Centre)
Transferred
same day to 8th General Hospital at Rouen
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Sep 18, 1916
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Invalided to
England aboard the Hospital Ship Asturias
Transferred
to CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre) at Folkestone while in hospital
Admitted to 1st
Southern General Hospital at Birmingham
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Nov 6, 1916
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Awarded Good
Conduct Badge for 2 years good service
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Dec 30, 1916
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Transferred to
King’s Canadian Red Cross Hospital at Bushey Park
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Jan 9, 1917
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Discharged to
CCAC for duty
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Mar 10, 1917
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SOS CCAC on
transfer to EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) and attached to St Leonard’s for
conditioning
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Apr 5, 1917
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Ceases to be
attached at St Leonard’s and is TOS (Taken On Strength) the 6th Reserve
Battalion at Seaford
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Apr 17, 1917
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SOS (Struck Off
Strength) 6th Reserve Battalion on transfer to the 21st Battalion
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Apr 18, 1917
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Arrived at CBD
(Canadian Base Depot) at Havre and TOS the 21st Battalion
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Apr 21, 1917
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Left CBD to join
unit
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May 21, 1917
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Joined the 21st
Battalion in the field
He arrived with a draft of 149
Other Ranks to reinforce the Battalion after the losses at Vimy Ridge
There is no mention of why he was delayed in joining the unit. I assume that the time was spent at the 2nd
Entrenching Battalion or at the Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp
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Aug 15, 1917
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Admitted to the
4th CFA then transferred to the No 23 CCS with a shrapnel wound to the neck
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Aug 16, 1917
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Transferred to 1st
South African General Hospital at Abbeville
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Aug 28, 1917
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Discharged to
Base Details and proceeded to No 2 CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot) at Havre
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Sep 6, 1917
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Left to join
unit
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Sep 8, 1917
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Joined the 21st
Battalion in the field
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Oct 7, 1917
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Appointed Acting
Lance Sgt with pay
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Dec 1, 1917
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Attached to 182nd
Company, Royal Engineers
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Dec 21, 1917
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Rejoined
Battalion from the Royal Engineers
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Dec 23, 1917
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Appointed to
rank of Lance Sgt
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Jan 31, 1918
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Granted 14 days
leave
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Feb 15, 1918
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Rejoined unit
from leave
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Mar 11, 1918
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Promoted to rank
of Sgt
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Apr 25, 1918
Awarded the Military Medal per London Gazette #30652
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Aug 28, 1918
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Killed in Action
Vis-en-Artois
British Cemetery
Haucourt France
Note that this is a double grave, Sgt Murney is on top
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Jan 24, 1919
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Awarded a Bar to
Military Medal per London Gazette #
This was for
action on August 8, 1918 at Marcelcave and first announced in the Battalion’s War
Diary, September 4, 1918
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Jun 7, 1921
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Plaque and
Scroll sent to George Murney (father) at RR #1 South Monaghan Ontario
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Sep 13, 1921
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British War
Medal and Victory Medal sent to father at RR #1 South Monaghan Ontario
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Jan 17, 1922
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Memorial Cross
sent to mother, Mrs. G. Murney at RR #1 South Monaghan
Ontario
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2010
For the 7
nights leading up to November 11, 2010, the names of all Canadian soldiers were projected
onto the Belgian War Memorial in Ypres. At
the same time, the same names were being broadcast via the internet to schools across
Belgium and Canada. The image above shows
the opening ceremonies at the Belgian War Memorial on November 4, 2010.
Below on the
left is the name of William Murney being projected on that wall. Below right shows the name being broadcast to the
schools. Each name appeared for 25 seconds
and each night 9,700 names were shown.
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