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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Harry James Murney

In memory of:

Lance Corporal Harry James Murney

June 13, 1916

Military Service


Service Number:

24273

Age:

23

Force:

Army

Unit:

Canadian Infantry (Quebec Regiment)

Division:

"B" Coy. 13th Bn.

Additional Information


Son of Helen S. Murney, of Toronto, Ontario, and Henry J. Murney.

Commemorated on Page 140 of the First World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information


Cemetery:
Grave Reference:

Valley Cottages Cem. Zillebeke, Mem. A. 8.

Location:

RAILWAY DUGOUTS BURIAL GROUND (Transport Farm) is located 2 Km south east of Ieper town centre, on the Komenseweg, a road connecting Ieper to Komen (N336). From Ieper town centre the Komenseweg is located via the Rijselsestraat, through the Rijselpoort (Lille Gate) and crossing the Ieper ring road, towards Armentieres and Lille. The road name then changes to Rijselseweg. 1 Km along the Rijselseweg lies the left hand turning onto Komenseweg. The cemetery itself is located 1.2 Km along the Komenseweg on the right hand side of the road.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

Send us your images

  • Newspaper Clipping– From the Toronto Star. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
  • Newspaper Clipping– In memory of the men and women memorialized on the pages of the Winnipeg Evening Tribune during World War One. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
  • Memorial– Photo from the National Memorial Album of Canadian Heroes c.1919. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me.
  • Photo of HARRY JAMES MURNEY– Photo from the National Memorial Album of Canadian Heroes c.1919. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me.
  • Grave marker– Valley Cottages Cemetery Zillebeek Memorial - Inscription reads: "To the memory of these 72 Soldiers of the British Empire killed in action in 1915, 1916 and 1917 and buried at the time in Valley Cemetery and Transport Farm Annexe Zillebeek whose graves were destroyed in later battles. Their glory shall not be forgotten." ... Railway Dugouts Burial Ground ... photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Grave marker– Grave marker ... Railway Dugouts Burial Ground ... photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Cemetery– Stone of Remembrance ... Railway Dugouts Burial Ground ... photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Cemetery– Cemetery ... Railway Dugouts Burial Ground ... photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Telegram December 1914. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Telegram July 1916. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • High Park Methodist Church– 1914 - 1918 Memorial Plaque for High Park Methodist Church, 260 High Park 
Ave., Toronto, Ontario.   The Memorial Plaque was unveiled in 1924 by 
Nursing Sister Pat Tuckett, and a Memorial Organ was presented by the 
Women's Association.   Those who died (38 names) are listed on the centre 
panel with the names of those who served on the side panels.   The first 
services at this location were held in October 1908.  The church  became 
High Park Avenue United Church in 1925, and High Park-Alhambra in 1970.
  • Photo of Harry James Murney– Lance Corporal Harry James Murney was a member of the Regimental Scouts of the Fifth Royal Highlanders and then with the "B" Company of the 13th Batallion, Canadian Infantry (Quebec Regt.), the first Canadian contingent in France. He was a great-great-grandson of the late Capt. Murney, who is commemorated by a military tower at the entrance of the harbor of the city of Kingston.
The rather formidable looking walking stick Corporal Murney is sporting, is a souvenir he collected from the estate of King Albert in Belgium. Picture taken while on leave in England.
During his two years of service some excerpts of his letters home were published in The Toronto Daily News.
One particular one published March 16, 1915 provides some insight into life in the trenches. 
"It is surprising what one can learn in the trenches; as a matter of fact we are becoming quite efficent in the following: Sleeping standing up, lying comfortable in one foot of mud when a machine gun is turned on us, washing once every 5 or 6 days."
"Rod has undertaken to make a bully-beef stew. He is now undressing spuds. Jack Mclean makes a rather good tea, but this time it is developing into a kind of stew, a German sniper knocked part of the parapet into the canteen and Jack in his excitement emptied the contents of his pipe in it. He asked me for more water and I nailed the first water bottle in sight, which we found only too late was full of cold coffee, then to top it off one of the fellows mistaking our canteen for his dropped an oxo cube in it.
There are great opportunities in the army, one can never tell when he will accidently invent some new dainty dish!"
  • Temporary marker– The temporary grave marker at the Railway Dugouts Burial Ground Cemetery located approximately 3 kilometres to the south of Ieper, Belgium. May he rest in peace. (K. Falconer & J. Stephens 2010)
  • Railway Dugouts Burial Ground– The Railway Dugouts Burial Ground Cemetery, located approximately 3 kilometres to the south of Ieper, Belgium. May they rest in peace. (J. Stephens)

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