Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 19003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 177

A poignant group of four to Captain F. W. S. Murray, 12th Lancers, shot through the heart in 1914 whilst attempting to resist and repel a significant German attack

Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901 (Lieut: F. W. S. Murray. 12: R: Lancers); 1914 Star and clasp (Capt: F. W. S. Murray. 12/Lrs.); British War and Victory Medal (Capt. F. W. S. Murray.), unofficial rivets between state and date clasp to first, light contact marks, very fine (4)

Fane Wright Stapleton Murray was born on 16 October 1879 at Whitton Park, Hounslow, the eldest son of Colonel Charles Edward Gostling Murray, and grandson of the Right Reverend Lord George Murray, Bishop of St. David's and second son of the 3rd Duke of Atholl. Educated at Eton College, Murray was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant to the 12th Lancers on 20 December 1899. Promoted Lieutenant on 3 October 1900, he served in South Africa from 26 June 1900-5 December 1901, being promoted Captain on 27 November 1907 whilst in India. Murray served with the British Expeditionary Force in France from 7 August 1914 and was killed in action on 30 October 1914 when shot through the heart in the trenches at Wytchaete, between St. Eloi and Messines. According to the Roll of Honour:

'As immediately after he fell, the 12th Lancers were obliged to abandon their trenches, his body was never recovered.'

In a cruel twist, the relatives of Murray were subject to a fraudulent claim a short while later by John George Kingham, a 62 year old mortgage broker of Brixton, London. He made a claim for £250 against the late officer's estate, for return payment of a loan. The family made out a cheque for £12 10s. in settlement, but subsequently discovered that Kingham had concocted a similar story regarding the estate of the late Lieutenant-Colonel Stoney of the King's Own Scottish Borderers who had been killed in action at Gallipoli. The prisoner was remanded in custody, the outcome of the case still to be determined via research; sold with copied MIC, Boer War service record and research.


Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Sold for
£700

Starting price
£480