Soldier-Pioneer

Decoration for Soldier-Pioneer

INHERE appears to be a certain amount of confusion amongst the Murrays of the New Ireland-New Britain area of New Guinea. One member of the clan is Mr. H. G. Murray (known as Harry Murray) who has been managing Bali Plantation but has now taken over the lease of the late Mrs. Gladys Baker’s property at Witu. And the other is Harold John Murray (known as Harry Murray) owner of the well-known Lakura mau Plantation, near Kavieng.

The photograph we publish herewith is of Mr. H. J. Murray, of Lakuramau, on the occasion of his receiving the Military Cross (won for his services as a Coast watcher in the last war) from the Ad ministrator of Papua-New Guinea (and another member of the clan) Colonel J.

K. Murray.

Harold John Murray is a two wars man and an Anzac. After

the evacuation from Gallipoli he served in France and in 1917 was awarded the DCM.

Back in Australia after the Armistice, he found life too tame and went to New Guinea for the Expropriation Board.

In the early 20’s he bought his plantation near Kavieng.

In early 1942 war caught up with him again. The Japs in vaded New Britain and New Ireland and he was with the only party to escape from Kavieng (the other members of the party were Messrs. J. Mc- Donald, Dean, W. R. Thomas, M. Jones, H. Waters and Farth ing).

From the time of his escape in 1942 until 1946, Mr. Murray served with AIB during which time he made several land ings from submarines on the coast of Njew Ireland and on adjacent islands which were then held by the enemy. For his exploits he was awarded the Military Cross by Australia and the Silver Star by the United States.

Recently Mr. Murray suffered the loss of his wife who was one of the first Euro pean women to live in the New Ireland district.