Person

Harold Murray was born on 19 March 1893 in South Shields, the second child born to Alexander and Annie Murray. In total the couple had four sons and two daughters. In 1901, Harold was living with his mother and three siblings at 44 Selbourne Street in South Shields. It appears the family were living in a house belonging to Phillis Bromfield, a draper’s assistant, with Harold’s father Alexander not listed as being present on the census.

By 1911 the family were living in their own home at 43 Richmond Road in South Shields. Harold’s father Alexander is working as a marine engineer. Harold attended Westoe School, South Shields from 1905 until 1911, becoming a pupil teacher there in 1909. He then went on to study at St Bede’s College, a teacher training college in Durham, between 1911 and 1913. Following this training he became assistant master at Willington Church of England School, commencing duty there on 1 September 1913.

Harold Murray attested into the army on 27 November 1915 in Bishop Auckland, at which time he was living at 8 Clarence Terrace in Willington. Having left his teaching post at Willington School on 14 February 1916, he was posted to the Royal Field Artillery on 26 February 1916. He joined the expeditionary force in France on 6 September 1916, serving as a gunner with the service number 129406. Harold is mentioned in a letter that appears in the Bede Magazine from April 1917 written by Lane Corporal William Ernest Marshall in which he is described as looking “very fit and happy”. He remained in France for around a year before returning home on 1 September 1917. He was discharged from the army as medically unfit on 25 March 1918. The reason for this discharge is documented in different records as either neurasthenia or shell shock. Harold’s pension ledger card states the reason for discharge as neurasthenia, recording Harold as having a 5% degree of disablement.

A report in the Education sub-committee notes from June 1918 report Harold’s discharge and that at this time he was not fit to return to teaching at Willington. Harold did return to teaching after the war, starting to work at the CE School in Maidenhead, Berkshire before returning to the North East to work in various schools in North and South Shields.

Harold married Ann Douglass in 1921 in South Shields. The couple had at least one child, Alexander D Murray, born in 1929. The 1939 register suggests the couple may have had another child born before Alexander. At the time of the 1939 Register, Harold is still living in South Shields and is listed as a schoolmaster.

Harold was initiated into the Masons on 17 December 1918 and was part of the Lord Barnard Lodge, South Shields.

Civil Parish: Durham St. Giles

Birth date: 19-Mar-1893

Death date: 1970

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: 44 Selbourne Street, South Shields (1901 census)
43 Richmond Road, South Shields (1911 census)
8 Clarence Terrace, Willington (Attestation Records)
299 Stanhope Road, South Shields (Pension Ledger Record Card)
83 West Avenue, South Shields (1939 Register)

Education: Westoe School, South Shields 1905-1911
St Bede’s College, Durham 1911-1913

Organisation membership: National Union Teachers (NUT)
Mason (Lord Barnard Lodge, South Shields)

Employment: Teacher:
Willington CE School 1913-1916
CE School Maidenhead, Berks 1919
St Hilda’s CE School, South Shields 1920-1921
Royal Jubilee Boys’ School, North Shields 1922-1925
Stanhope Road Senior Boys’ School, South Shields 1925-1929
Baring Street Boys’ School, South Shields 1929
Holy Trinity C.E Boys’ School, South Shields 1930

Family: Parents: Alexander Murray, Annie Murray
Siblings: John Murray, Annie Murray, Lilly Murray, Alexander Murray, William Murray
Wife: Ann Murray, nee Douglass
Children: Alexander D Murray

Military service:

Royal Field Artillery
Gunner
Service Number 129406

Medal(s): British War Medal
Victory Medal

Gender: Male

Contributed by Fiona Johnson - Durham