NAM.1951-09-33-1

Victoria Cross, 1881. From medal group awarded to L/Cpl James Murray, 2nd Bn The Connaught Rangers, 94th Regiment of Foot, for his actions on the 16 Jan 1881 at Elandsfontein, South Africa, Transvaal War (1880-1881). At Elandsfontein, near Pretoria, on 16th January 1881, L/Cpl James Murray, with Trooper (later Sergeant) John Danagher of Nourse’s Horse, advanced for 500 yards, while under heavy fire from about 60 of the enemy, and brought out from the action zone a private from the 21st Foot who had been severely wounded. L/Cpl Murray and Tpr Danagher also advanced under fire to rescue two men, Davis and Byrne of the 21st Foot (2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers), who had both been badly wounded. As L/Cpl Murray started forward his horse was shot under him, however he continued to advance on foot. The two rescuers reached the men together and on stooping to lift Byrne's head, L/Cpl Murray was shot through the body, the bullet entering the right side and exiting near the spine. Realising the seriousness of his wound, L/Cpl Murray ordered Tpr Danagher to escape. L/Cpl Murray remained with Byrne, who died shortly afterwards. Murray and Davis were subsequently taken prisoner by the Boers but released soon after. Five days after their release Davis died. Murray was born in 1859 and died in Dublin in July 1942 at the age of eighty five. Medal group of three mounted on a bar and enclosed in a glass fronted, brown wood case, with two ivory inscriptions.

Elandsfontein, Action at, 1881 (Transvaal War 1880-1881)