No.14853, Private, Edward George MURRELL
Aged 27
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Edward George Murrell was born in Fornham All Saints in 1890 (Thingoe Q2-1890 4A:695), baptised in All Saints on 5th October 1890, son of Charles and
Ellen MURRELL (née FOREMAN).
1891 census...Aged 10 months, he was at The Coal yards, Fornham All Saints with his father Charles MURRELL [32] maltster's labourer; his mother Ellen [28] born West Stow; sister Edith Ellen [6]; brothers Arthur Pelham [5] and William Charles [4]. All except his mother were born in Fornham All Saints. 1901 census...Aged 11, he was at 4 The Coalyards, Fornham All Saints with his parents; brothers William (farm labourer), George [9] and Bertie [2]; sister Lily [6]. The new siblings born in Fornham All Saints. 1911 census...Aged 20, single, a market gardener's labourer, he was with his parents in Fornham All Saints with brothers George Frederick (domestic gardener), Bertie Frederick and Reginald Gilbert [8] born Forham All Saints. One of the eight siblings had died. He married Gertrude VINCE (Cosford Q3-1912 4A:1945). They had two sons Charles Benjamin [1912-1969] and George Edward [1915-1989]. His brother George Frederick was killed on the 1st day of the German Spring Offensive on 21st March 1918. click here |
| He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds. Initially in the Queen's Own Royal West Kent regiment, transferred to the 6th Queen's, then the 8th battalion and then
to the 2nd/4th Battalion.
They were a few miles north east of Jerusalem. |
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The war diary :- Dec.27th 1917- At dawn on December 27th the enemy bombarded our positions on ZAMBY, WHITE HILL, and the WALL and all morning he attempted to gain a footing on these positions, but was rejected,suffering heavy casualties from an artillery fire and from grenades, rifles and machine guns. He succeeded, however, in reaching the forward slopes of ZAMBY and working his way round the southern side of WHITE HILL: this rendered the position of our garrison on the reverse slope of WHIE HILL untenable, and it accordingly withdrew down the WALL to ZAMBY; a small; post on the forward crest of WHITE HILL, sheltered by small scrapes was able to maintain its position until nightfall. The enemy did not occupy the crest of WHITE HILL, nor did they succeed in reaching our line on ZAMBY. The Battalion, which sustained during the day the casualties enumerated below, was reinforced at midday by 3 companies of the 2/10 Middlesex Regiment and at 21:00 was relieved by the 7th Royal Welsh Fusiliers after a severe day's fighting. the 1/7th R.W.F. re-occupied WHITE HILL by night and the enemy accordingly had gained nothing from a very costly attack. During the action Lieut.CMH JEPHSON 2/4 Queen's and 2/Lieut FCL RIDPATH 2/4 Queen's were killed and 2/Lieut RJ HARRISON 7th Middlesex attached 2/4 Queen's was wounded Also 33 O.R. were killed and 67 O.R. were wounded.
photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
