Private Herman Wallace Murray

Pte. Herman Wallace Murray

Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry

Born: Truro, NS, May 2, 1923

Died: Calgary, AB, March 14, 1979 aged 55 years

Son of Gordon Murray, North River, Colchester County and Alma Murray, Ashcroft, Alberta

Raised in North River, Colchester County and attended school there. Moved to Calgary, Alberta in 1940.

Enlisted December 29, 1942 with the Calgary Highlanders. He went overseas with his regiment in July 1943 and there gave up his Corporal's stripes to join the PPCLI with whom he arrived in Italy on Christmas Eve. He was wounded twice in Italy; January 17, 1944 and May 23, 1944. While hospitalized he wrote the following poem:

MOTHER DEAR I left her standing by the train, Smiling through tears of grief and pain; My khaki collar showed the trace Of tears from that beloved face. I wondered then why she should fright, For wasn't I prepared to fight For victory, freedom, peace and love, Protected by my God above? Dear Mother, yours is the hardest fight, For yours is the misery of sleepless nights And dragging days in the house alone, Watching for mail and the silent phone. And when at last peace reigns o'er the world, You'll stand at the station, your flag unfurled To receive the medal that you have won; The loving smile of your homecoming son.

Discharged and returned to Calgary, 1946, and other then for a couple of years spent in Nova Scotia in the later forties and mid-seventies, he resided in Calgary until his death. He was employed mainly in the hotel business.