The Soldier's Details

Woodside, SA. October 1941. Group portrait of members of 5 platoon, 2/4th Machine Gun Battalion beside a train carriage en route from Woodside camp to Alice Springs. From left to right: Lance Corporal (LCpl) C. J. McDonald (in window). Standing: WX8585 Private (Pte) Cyril Jack Vidler (died of illness 9 June 1947 in WA); Pte B. Fitzgerald; Lance Sergeant H. E. Saw; LCpl N. H. E. Thompson; Pte L. M. C. Murray; Pte L. Armstrong. Front row: Pte D. F. Sterrett; LCpl J. B. Gilmour. This unit spent a year in Australia in basic training, went overseas to Singapore, fought the Japanese for eight days, suffering many casualties and the remainder were taken Prisoner of War (POW), spending time in Changi, Thailand and Burma. Nearly forty percent of the unit’s personnel died as POW, in action or of wounds received. (Donor J. Lane)

Murray had previously been a member of 28th Militia.

Scottish born Murray enlisted 14 Jan 1941 from Menzies  joining ‘A’ Coy No. 5 Platoon  He travelled to Woodside SA and Darwin with the Battalion.

He was captured by the Japanese at Cemetery Hill during the fighting at Singapore.

As a POW at Singapore, Murray was selected to work on Burma-Thai Railway with ‘D’ Force, V Battalion which departed Singapore by train on 17 March 1943 for Thailand.

Please read further about V Battalion

Murray apparently had one rib removed whilst he was in one of the camps in Thailand.

He was evacuated sometime during 1943 to Nacompaton Hospital in Thailand.  He was obviously not fit enough to be selected to work in Japan as many others unfortunately did.

He was working in Bangkok on the go-downs when the war ended.

During 1941 Jack was best man at his 2/4th mate Joe Baker’s (from Coolgardie) wedding held in Perth.

Tragically Joe Baker would lose his life when his POW Transport Ship was sunk by American submarines in Sept 1944 in South China Sea.

Please read further about Joe Baker

Jack married in Perth 1941 to Eileen Margaret Joy.  Eileen was the daughter of Thomas Joy and Agnes May Stanley of Katanning.

We believe Jack and Eileen had one daughter, Jeanette.

In 1949 Electoral Roll Jack and Eileen were residing 9 Stanford St, Leederville.  Jack was working as a factory hand. In 1954 they were residing Dumbleyung with Jack working as a Labourer. In 1958 the couple were residing Ravensthorpe, Jack was working as a miner.

In Dec 1951 his mother Agnes Murray died at Kalgoorlie – Louis (Jack) and Eileen were residing at Wagin.

30 June 1969 Jack died aged 50 years.  His body was cremated at Karrakatta Cemetery.