MacMurray, G A (George Alexander)

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Signalman George MacMurray was the son of Allan and Elizabeth MacMurray of Mark Street, Portrush, he also had two sisters. He was educated in the Coleraine Academy and excelled in sports, at one time holding the “High Diving and Springboard” championship in Ulster.
After school George served with the G.P.O.,[1] and as a reservist soldier with the 3rd Anti-Aircraft Brigade, Royal Corps of Signals which had formed during December 1938 to defend Northern Ireland and Scotland. However, during December 1939, they moved to France to defend the lines of communication of the B.E.F.[2]
George’s brigade took part in the “Battle for France” during 1940 when he was listed as missing in the Calais area before the fall of the city on the 4th of May 1940.[3] It is unknown what exactly happened to him, but he was captured and became a P.O.W.[4]
Signalman MacMurray would remain a prisoner of the Reich for 4 years, finally being repatriated during May 1944. He was very unwell, suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis.[5]
Fighting the illness, George would survive for another few years, finally succumbing to it two years later at 27 Mark
Street Portrush, with his sister by his side. George’s funeral took place on Friday 31st May at 4pm.
Date of Death: 29/05/1946 (Aged 35)
Service: Signalman, Royal Corps of Signals
Service Number: 2338933
Burial Location: Ballywillan Cemetery,
[1] G.P.O. is the General Post Office.
[2] B.E.F. is the British Expeditionary Force. They were sent France to help defend the country against the German invasion.
[3] During the siege of Calais, the Germans approached the city on the 23rd of May 1940, then halted. The allies surrendered Calais on the 26th of May 1940 after some evacuations and delaying the attack enough to allow the evacuation at Dunkirk to be a success.
[4] P.O.W. is short for Prisoner of War.
[5] Pulmonary tuberculosis, sometimes known as TB, which leads to wasting away of the body.