Hugh was born on the 10th August 1895 in Belfast, Northern Ireland to parents Samuel and Mary. He was their third of four children recorded on the 1901 Ireland census, aged 5, attending school and the family resided at Hallidays Road, Dock Ward, Antrim, Ireland.
The Murray’s still lived at Hallidays Road 10 years later - on the 1911 Ireland census 3 younger children had been born into the family but the two eldest siblings had left home, making Hugh the eldest and still studying at school.
On leaving school Hugh himself became a school teacher and was in that very occupation when war was declared in August 1914. He signed up to the Royal Navy a year later on 24th August 1915 for the duration of hostilities; he was 5’10” tall with black hair and brown eyes. Assigned to Portsmouth, he was attached to HMS VICTORY I until 4th April 1916, as a Writer 3rd Class and remained at that rank when posted to HMS HERCULES from 5th April 1916 to 3rd August 1916. Sometime during his Hercules posting his rating was transferred to Naval Schoolmaster and he applied to HMS VANGUARD. He joined the dreadnought and her crew on 4th August 1916, having taken part in the Battle of Jutland aboard HERCULES - a Colossus Class battleship, 6th division of the 1st Battle Squadron.
He lost his life aged just 21.
(#34 - 571/843)
Sources:
Ireland, Civil Registration Births Index, 1864-1958 - Ancestry
1901 & 1911 Ireland census
Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services, 1848-1939 National Archives Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services; Class: ADM 188; Piece: 1047
CWGC Register
British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records, 1730-1960 National Archives Admiralty and predecessors: Office of the Director General of the Medical Department of the Navy and predecessors: Service Registers and Registers of Deaths and Injuries. Registers of Reports of Deaths
British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records, 1730-1960 National Archives Admiralty: Naval Casualties, Indexes, War Grave Rolls and Statistics Book, First World War.; Class: ADM 242; Piece: 009 (1914 - 1919)
Royal Navy and Royal Marine War Graves Roll, 1914-1919 TNA Series: ADM 242/9; Scan Number: 0636
WWI Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923 Western Front Association; London, England; PRC Ledgers; Reference: 748/12D
Photo courtesy of Belfasttelegraph.co.uk
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