(Served as BERNEY). Patrick Murray was the oldest son of Francis and Teresa Murray. He was born on 28th December 1893 in Garvaghy, Ballygawley. He Murray was living in Tandragee when he enlisted. Rifleman Murray served with the 1st Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles in France and was killed en route to the Battle of Langemarck, Belgium, on 16th August 1917, when ‘D’ Company received a direct hit from an enemy shell killing or wounding 13 soldiers. Patrick’s two brothers also died in the war.
Further Information
Patrick Murray was the oldest son of Francis and Teresa Murray. Francis Murray and Teresa Birney were married on 20th November 1892 in the district of Omagh.
Patrick was born on 28th December 1893 in Garvaghy, Errigal, Ballygawley, County Tyrone. He was oldest of at least four children
Known family: Francis Murray, Teresa Murray, Patrick Murray (born 28th December 1893, Ballygawley), Charles Murray (born 26th February 1896, Fintona), Francis Murray (born 7th May 1898, Ballygawley), Lucinda Murray (born 23rd June 1900, Ballygawley).
The 1901 census records Patrick as 7 years old, living with the family at house 41 in Garvaghy, Errigal, County Tyrone. His father was a farm labourer who was born in Scotland. His mother was born in India.
Oddly, there’s no sign of their mother and father in the 1911 census. The family had split up.
The 1911 census possibly lists Patrick as age 16, working as a farm servant at house house 7 in Cloneblaugh, Cecil, County Tyrone.
Patrick Murray was living in Tandragee before enlisting. Patrick enlisted in Omagh and served as Patrick BERNEY.
Rifleman Patrick Murray arrived in France with the Royal Irish Rifles on 4th June 1915.
Rifleman Patrick Murray served with the 1st Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles in France from 4th June 1915 and was killed en route to the Battle of Langemarck, Belgium, on 16th August 1917. The 1st Battalion. was stationed on the outskirts of Ypres and at 9 pm set off to march to their assembly point at Westhoeck Ridge, about 4 to 5 miles away. During the march, ‘D’ Company received a direct hit from an enemy shell killing or wounding 13 soldiers.
Patrick’s brothers, Charles and Francis, also died in World War One. Remarkably Francis and Patrick died within 4 days of each other in August 1917.
Rifleman Patrick Murray has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, nine kilometres north east of Ypres town centre in Belgium.
Rifleman Francis Murray is listed on page 46 of the Ballygawley War dead book
The CWGC record Rifleman Patrick Murray as having served as BERNEY. He is also recorded as the son of Francis and Teresa Murray of Foremass, Sixmilecross, County Tyrone.
Many thanks to Barbara Murray, to whom the three brothers were great uncles, for informing us of Patrick Murray and confirming other information on the family.
