MURRAY, Duncan Stewart
718169
107th Battalion, Winnipeg
Private

NO PHOTO

Born: March 5, 1878 Tavistock, Ontario
Died: December 17, 1943. Buried McTavish Cemetery
After School: Carpenter, Arcola, Saskatchewan
Served: France
Discharged: February 6, 1919
Family: Parents- Neil and Catherine (Stewart) Murray
Brothers: Peter, Robert
Sister: Ellen
After the War-Returned to Saskatchewan and was a Carpenter
Comments: Tavistock Gazette-February 6, 1919 Returned after spending many strenuous months in the trenches
____________________

Letter dated France April 14, 1917 - Article Titled "A Survivor of Vimy Ridge"
The letter published below was written by Pte. Duncan Murray, son of Mrs. Neil Murray, of this village, to his brother, Robert, salesman for the Stratford Wholesale Grocery Co., and should prove interesting reading as it deals with the brave young man's experience at the taking of the memorable Vimy Ridge. Pte. Murray enlisted with a Western Battalion at Winnipeg about a year ago. Mr. Robert Murray visited his brother, Pte Murray, at Camp Hughes, Winnipeg, for a few days last summer and therefore knew the fellows his brother alludes to in his letter.

Dear Bob,

I will just write you a few lines to let you know I am O.K. although I have an awkward place to write. I wrote Mamma and Ellen after we came back from taking Vimy Ridge. It was some experience for me and a lot more like me. We had been in the front line trenches before, a few times, but things were fairly quiet.

We knew for a long time the Canadians had to take Vimy and were expecting a tussle. We knew we would be well protected by our own artillery. You may imagine our thoughts, as we lay perfectly quiet in our trench waiting for the command to go over. After what seemed a year of waiting, which was in reality a couple of hours, our guns started, our officers shouted, "Come on boys," and we were on our way up the slope of Vimy Ridge to meet old Fritz. His guns opened up just about as soon as ours. It was awful. A friend of mine, not far from me, said "Gosh, fellows, the sides have blown out of hell." This expression may seem vulgar to you, but it is the nearest way for me to describe it to you. Another Scotch friend of mine said to me, "Losh Duncan, we were never raised for this" and I believe he was right. D. Company lost pretty heavy. We lost our officer in Platoon 15. He was very popular with us all.

We are in now for a few day's rest but, will go back in soon as old Fritz is on the run now and they want to keep him going. Some of the fellows that were reported missing are turning up.

You remember sleeping in the tent with us at Camp Hughes. Three of those fellows are gone. Poor fellows, they often asked me how you were, especially Diehl, he would always ask. He was killed in the early part of it.

Well Bob I guess that is all just now.

Your brother, Duncan.