James Murray

Born in Spennymoor in 1882, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 19 DLI in 1917. He was awarded the Military Cross in October 1918 for his bravery and leadership during the crossing of the River Lys and in the capture of Courtrai. He was badly gassed during the War, but returned to his job as under manager at Murton Colliery after demobilization. James Murray died at Murton in 1929, never having fully recovered from the effects of the gas.