MURRAY, Osmond La Verne
DIVISIONAL UNIT: 1st Canadian Infantry Division
1st Infantry Brigade
2nd Battalion - Eastern Ontario
Canadian Infantry Corps
SERVICE NO: 172014
DATE OF BIRTH: May 28, 1897
Tavistock – Oxford - Ontario
DATE OF DEATH: May 4, 1917 19 years
MEMORIAL: Vimy Memorial – Vimy –
Pas de Calais - France
PARENTS: Mr. William and Mary Murray – Goderich – Ontario
BROTHER: Mr. V. C. Murray – Kitchener - Ontario
Occupation: Cutter Religion: Presbyterian
Enlistment: July 16, 1915 – Toronto – into 83rd Battalion
Enlistment Age: 18 years 3 months
Private Murray had departed Canada on the S.S. Olympic and arrived in Liverpool on May 7, 1916. He then transferred to the 12th Battalion on July 6, 1916 and from there transferred to the 2nd Battalion and goes into France on October 5, 1916 and joined his unit in the field on October 18, 1916.
During the day on May 3, 1917, the Battalion had advanced through Fresnoy, achieved all their objectives and then secured and consolidated the ground just won. During this day of battle casulaties were estimated to be about 95.
Then during the night of May 3/4 the Battalion was heavily shelled and there was heavy enemy sniper fire. This continued into May 4th and it was impossible for the men to move around. In spite of this duties were carried out without complaint. The Battalion infantry found that the enemy trenches once captured had plenty of food but very little water.
All diaries and files suggest Private Murray was not killed during the fighting of May 3rd but rather during the intense enemy artillery barrage that was brought down on them during the early hours and day of
May 4th.