Description

For sale is a Queens South Africa Medal with 3 clasps CAPE COLONY, ORANGE FREE STATE, TRANSVAAL, impressed named 3714 PTE S. MURRAY. 10TH RL HUSSARS. It comes with copies of service records, medal rolls, and research notes.

Note he is also entitled to two further clasps being SOUTH AFRICA 1901 AND SOUTH AFRICA 1902. As well as the 1914 Star, British War and Victory Medals (1914 – 18) and 2 wound stripes.

Sergeant Samuel Barton Mussett Murray was born on 26/7/1879 in Glasgow, Scotland. He was working as a stableman when he enlisted in the 10th (Prince of Wales’s Own Royal) Hussars on 23/11/1896 with the service # 3714 under the name Samuel Murray.

It is unknown why he did not deploy with the regiment to South Africa in December 1899, but he joined them on 23/2/1901 serving with them until 24/9/1902 when he was transferred to the 14th Hussars (new service # 5059). He served the remainder of his time in South Africa with the 14th until returning to England on 4/5/1903 for discharge to the reserve. He served with the reserve until discharging time expired on 22/11/1908.

The 1911 census records him employed as a coach painter in Fulham.

During WW1 he rejoined the 10th Hussars on 24/8/1914 and landed in France on 12/11/1914 as a Lance Corporal with the new service # 20171. He was admitted to hospital on 20/3/1915 (varicocele) with the rank of Corporal. He was transferred to the Hampshire Regiment on 1/6/1915 (medal rolls shows 3rd Battalion another the 2nd, however it is believed to have been the 2nd as he was wounded in 1915 probably in September, at Gallipoli.) with a new service # 17052. This was followed by the 1st Garrison Battalion Essex Regiment (service # 24921) and finished the war with the 2/4th Battalion Hampshire Regiment with yet another service # 40903.

He was wounded twice during his service, the first time on Gallipoli probably in September 1915, with the 2nd Hampshire’s and the 2nd time in July 1918 with the 2/4th Hampshire’s.

He was transferred to the Army Reserve on 18/5/1919 and returned to his life in London, where he died in December 1952.