HIS PROFILE: A BRIEF OVERVIEW

1. Name: Lieut. Sydney Allan Murrell

2. Born: 31/01/1892 died: 04/11/1918

3. Lived at: 65 Ellice street, Wellington

4. Occupation: Bank Clerk (pre war)

5. Parents: John and Lilian Murrell

World War 1 also known as the “Great War”, was a global war that mostly centred in Europe beginning 28th of July 1914 and lasted to 11th of November 1918. More than 9million soldiers and 7 million civilians died as a result of the war.

The war was started by the Austro-Hungarians declaring war on Serbia and subsequently invading. As Russia mobilised in support of Serbia, Germany invaded neutralBelgium and Luxembourg before moving towards France, leading Britain to declare war on Germany. After the German march on Paris was halted, what becameknown as the western front settled into a battle of attrition, with a trench line that would change little until 1917. Meanwhile, on the eastern front, the Russian army wassuccessful against the Austro-Hungarians, but was stopped in its invasion of east Russia by the Germans. Italy joined the allies in 1915 and Bulgaria joined the centralpowers in the same year, while Romania joined the allies in 1916, and the united states joined the allies in 1917.

On the 4th November 1918, the Austro-Hungarian empire agreed to an armistice, and Germany, which had its own trouble with revolutionaries, agreed to an armisticeon 11 November 1918, ending the war in victory for the allies.

THE WAR HE FOUGHT: WW1

HIS FORCE: THE NZ EXPEDITIONARY FORCEA NZ expeditionary force was quickly assembled to participate in the war and support Britain

This included:

• A divisional headquarters.

• The Otago mounted rifles regiment (divisional cavalry).

• A mounted rifles brigade (Auckland, Wellington, and Canterbury regiments).

• An infantry brigade (Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, and Otago battalions).

With supporting troops and reinforcements, 8,427 men embarked, with 3,815 horses. They sailed from Wellington in 10 transports on the 16th of

October. A loss of around 700–800 horses had been predicted for the voyage; but only 77 died. They settled into camp at Zeitoun, near Cairo

(capital of Egypt). They were soon joined by the Ceylon planters rifle corps, the 1st Australian light horse brigade and 240 additional New

Zealanders from England. They combined to form the New Zealand and Australian division to which the 4th Australian infantry brigade later

tagged themselves along for the ride in 1915. During the time of the New Zealand and Australian division coming together the New Zealand

infantry brigade had been sent to meet a daring but easily repulsed Turkish thrust across the Sinai desert. So basically the Canterbury battalion

saw action in support of an Indian brigade south of Ismailia on 3 February, frustrating repeated Turkish attempts to cross the Suez canal by

boat or pontoon. In the end a private was killed and a sergeant was wounded; there we had our first NZEF battle casualties.

HIS ROLE

Lieut. Sydney Allan Murrell moved up the ranks to become a

lieutenant, Lieut. for short. As the role of a lieutenant he had 50 men

under his command. That might sound like fun being in command of

50 men but being a lieutenant, it was about leadership. Anybody

could boss 50 men around however not everybody has enough

leadership to be able to lead 50 men to survival, but still fighting

and battling. Only true soldiers could do that: Fighting and living.

LIEUT. MURRELL’S MEDALS

14 15 STAR MEDALThe 1914–15 star is a campaign medal of

the British empire that was awarded to

officers and men of British and imperial

forces who served in world war I against

the central European powers during 1914

and 1915.

VICTORY MEDALThe victory medal was issued to all those

who received the 1914 star and to most

of those who were awarded the British

war medal - it was never awarded

singly. These three medals were

sometimes irreverently referred to as

Pip, Squeak and Wilfred.

MEMORIAL PLAQUE MEDALThe memorial plaque was issued after

the first world war to the next-of-kin of

all British and empire service personnel

who were killed as a result of the war.

BRITISH WAR MEDALThe British war medal is a campaign

medal of the British empire that was

awarded to officers and men of British

and imperial forces for service in world

war I. Two versions of the medal were

produced, most struck in silver and a

small number struck in bronze.

LEST WE FORGET…Lieutenant Sydney Allan Murrell was a caring man who died young. He was born on the 31st of

January 1892 but sadly, on the 4th of November 1918 he was killed in action. He was part of the

New Zealand expeditionary force in which they trained hard, day and night. He along with

numerous other men made the supreme sacrifices in the great war. He was a loving member of

the Murrell family and was one of 5 siblings. He fought not only for them but for his country.

We’re about 100 years on from this war and we still pay our respects. I hope we never forget

what these men did for us as without them we wouldn’t be here to this day.

Lieutenant Sydney Allan Murrell, killed in action, France, 04/11/18

Lest We Forget