Captain A T Murray was a member of the 6th Rajputana Rifles, and given a difficult task during the Second World War.
Vichy French collaborators stood in defence of a viaduct on the Syrian border with orders to destroy it if the British came too close. Charges had already been placed, so any attempt to capture the bridge intact would be extremely tricky.
Adam Murray carried out the role, assisted bravely by his Sergeant Major Goru Ram, with painstaking planning and care down to the detail of holding barbed wire whilst it was cut to avoid a 'ping' near the tent where the sleeping guards rested.
The task was completed with a short, blazing fire-fight made all the shorter by the surrender of French soldiers unwilling to die for a Nazi cause.
 Major A T Murray's Military Cross and other medals |
Murray was promoted to Major and awarded the Military Cross for the expertly performed mission (Goru Ram was also decorated).
This medal, along with six others - a 1939-1945 Star, Africa Star, Italy Star, War Medal with M.I.D. Oakleaf, Coronation 1953, Commonwealth Independence Medal (T/Lt. Col. A.T. Murray B.S.S.L.) - are now up for auction through Dreweatts auctioneers, estimated at £3,000-4,000.
Also appeared in the sale are the service medals of CPO Hitchcock, Winston Churchill's personal steward who was present for Churchill's meeting with F D Roosevelt. The valuable pieces have a guide price of £2,000-3,000.
Dreweatts sale of collectible medals and militaria concludes on March 23 in Bristol, but the pieces are already available online.
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Image: Dreweatts
