Archibald Murray
Encyclopedia
General
Sir Archibald James Murray, GCMG, KCB, CVO, DSO
(23 April 1860 – 21 January 1945) was a British Army
officer during World War I
, most famous for his commanding the Egyptian Expeditionary Force
from 1916 to 1917.
, Archibald Murray was commissioned into the 27th Regiment
in 1879.
In 1901 Murray was appointed Commanding Officer
of the 2nd Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
which was deployed to Northern Transvaal in 1902: Murray was wounded in action and awarded the Distinguished Service Order
. After this he held a series of senior staff appointments.
In 1912 Murray was appointed General Officer Commanding
2nd Division but when the First World War
started he became Chief of Staff to Sir John French, Commander-in-Chief
of the British Expeditionary Force. Murray was given the position largely because the initial choice for the post, Sir Henry Wilson, became undesirable for political reasons. He and French did not work well together, and Murray was ultimately relieved in January 1915. He was made Deputy Chief of the Imperial General Staff in February 1915 and then Chief of the Imperial General Staff that September, but was replaced just a few months later by Sir William Robertson.
In January 1916, he was given command of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force
. Trying to prevent another Turkish attack against the Suez Canal
, Murray reorganized his troops and led a counterattack, which captured most of the Sinai Peninsula
, but became stymied in Palestine
. Murray was unsuccessful in his attempts to seize Gaza
(see First Battle of Gaza
and Second Battle of Gaza
) in 1917, and he was ultimately relieved of command, and replaced by the much more successful Edmund Allenby. He was known and criticized for his indecisive character and was not particularly well liked by his men, largely because he ran his campaign more often than not by remote control from Cairo, rather than the field. He also authorized T. E. Lawrence
's expedition to join the Arab Revolt
against the Turks in Arabia, providing monetary and limited military support for Lawrence's attack on Aqaba
. Initially skeptical of the Revolt's potential, Murray became an ardent supporter of it later in his tenure in Cairo, largely through Lawrence's persuasion.
-in-Chief for Aldershot Command
for the remainder of the war. He retired from the army in 1922 and died at Reigate
in Surrey
in 1945.
He was portrayed by Donald Wolfit
in the film Lawrence of Arabia
.
Other
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General (United Kingdom)
General is currently the highest peace-time rank in the British Army and Royal Marines. It is subordinate to the Army rank of Field Marshal, has a NATO-code of OF-9, and is a four-star rank....
Sir Archibald James Murray, GCMG, KCB, CVO, DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
(23 April 1860 – 21 January 1945) was a British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
officer during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, most famous for his commanding the Egyptian Expeditionary Force
Egyptian Expeditionary Force
The Egyptian Expeditionary Force was formed in March 1916 to command the British and British Empire military forces in Egypt during World War I. Originally known as the 'Force in Egypt' it had been commanded by General Maxwell who was recalled to England...
from 1916 to 1917.
Army career
Educated at Cheltenham CollegeCheltenham College
Cheltenham College is a co-educational independent school, located in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England.One of the public schools of the Victorian period, it was opened in July 1841. An Anglican foundation, it is known for its classical, military and sporting traditions.The 1893 book Great...
, Archibald Murray was commissioned into the 27th Regiment
Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers was a Irish infantry regiment of the British Army formed in 1881 by the amalgamation of the 27th Regiment of Foot and the 108th Regiment of Foot...
in 1879.
In 1901 Murray was appointed Commanding Officer
Commanding officer
The commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
of the 2nd Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers was a Irish infantry regiment of the British Army formed in 1881 by the amalgamation of the 27th Regiment of Foot and the 108th Regiment of Foot...
which was deployed to Northern Transvaal in 1902: Murray was wounded in action and awarded the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
. After this he held a series of senior staff appointments.
In 1912 Murray was appointed General Officer Commanding
General Officer Commanding
General Officer Commanding is the usual title given in the armies of Commonwealth nations to a general officer who holds a command appointment. Thus, a general might be the GOC II Corps or GOC 7th Armoured Division...
2nd Division but when the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
started he became Chief of Staff to Sir John French, Commander-in-Chief
Commander-in-Chief
A commander-in-chief is the commander of a nation's military forces or significant element of those forces. In the latter case, the force element may be defined as those forces within a particular region or those forces which are associated by function. As a practical term it refers to the military...
of the British Expeditionary Force. Murray was given the position largely because the initial choice for the post, Sir Henry Wilson, became undesirable for political reasons. He and French did not work well together, and Murray was ultimately relieved in January 1915. He was made Deputy Chief of the Imperial General Staff in February 1915 and then Chief of the Imperial General Staff that September, but was replaced just a few months later by Sir William Robertson.
Revolt in the Desert
Egyptian Expeditionary Force
The Egyptian Expeditionary Force was formed in March 1916 to command the British and British Empire military forces in Egypt during World War I. Originally known as the 'Force in Egypt' it had been commanded by General Maxwell who was recalled to England...
. Trying to prevent another Turkish attack against the Suez Canal
Suez Canal
The Suez Canal , also known by the nickname "The Highway to India", is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Opened in November 1869 after 10 years of construction work, it allows water transportation between Europe and Asia without navigation...
, Murray reorganized his troops and led a counterattack, which captured most of the Sinai Peninsula
Sinai Peninsula
The Sinai Peninsula or Sinai is a triangular peninsula in Egypt about in area. It is situated between the Mediterranean Sea to the north, and the Red Sea to the south, and is the only part of Egyptian territory located in Asia as opposed to Africa, effectively serving as a land bridge between two...
, but became stymied in Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
. Murray was unsuccessful in his attempts to seize Gaza
Gaza
Gaza , also referred to as Gaza City, is a Palestinian city in the Gaza Strip, with a population of about 450,000, making it the largest city in the Palestinian territories.Inhabited since at least the 15th century BC,...
(see First Battle of Gaza
First Battle of Gaza
The First Battle of Gaza was fought in and around the town of Gaza on the Mediterranean coast in the southern region of Ottoman Palestine on 26 March 1917, during World War I...
and Second Battle of Gaza
Second Battle of Gaza
The Second Battle of Gaza, fought in southern Palestine during the First World War, was another attempt mounted by British Empire forces to break Ottoman defences along the Gaza-Beersheba line...
) in 1917, and he was ultimately relieved of command, and replaced by the much more successful Edmund Allenby. He was known and criticized for his indecisive character and was not particularly well liked by his men, largely because he ran his campaign more often than not by remote control from Cairo, rather than the field. He also authorized T. E. Lawrence
T. E. Lawrence
Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Edward Lawrence, CB, DSO , known professionally as T. E. Lawrence, was a British Army officer renowned especially for his liaison role during the Arab Revolt against Ottoman Turkish rule of 1916–18...
's expedition to join the Arab Revolt
Arab Revolt
The Arab Revolt was initiated by the Sherif Hussein bin Ali with the aim of securing independence from the ruling Ottoman Turks and creating a single unified Arab state spanning from Aleppo in Syria to Aden in Yemen.- Background :...
against the Turks in Arabia, providing monetary and limited military support for Lawrence's attack on Aqaba
Battle of Aqaba
Battle of Aqaba was fought for the Jordanian port of Aqaba. The attacking forces of the Arab Revolt, led by Auda ibu Tayi and T. E. Lawrence , were victorious over the Turkish defenders.-Background:...
. Initially skeptical of the Revolt's potential, Murray became an ardent supporter of it later in his tenure in Cairo, largely through Lawrence's persuasion.
Post war
Murray was reassigned, becoming General Officer CommandingGeneral Officer Commanding
General Officer Commanding is the usual title given in the armies of Commonwealth nations to a general officer who holds a command appointment. Thus, a general might be the GOC II Corps or GOC 7th Armoured Division...
-in-Chief for Aldershot Command
Aldershot Command
-History:After the success of the Chobham Manoeuvres of 1853, a permanent training camp was established at Aldershot in 1854 on the recommendation of the Commander-in-Chief, Viscount Hardinge...
for the remainder of the war. He retired from the army in 1922 and died at Reigate
Reigate
Reigate is a historic market town in Surrey, England, at the foot of the North Downs, and in the London commuter belt. It is one of the main constituents of the Borough of Reigate and Banstead...
in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
in 1945.
He was portrayed by Donald Wolfit
Donald Wolfit
Sir Donald Wolfit, KBE was a well-known English actor-manager.-Biography:Wolfit, who was "Woolfitt" at birth was born at New Balderton, near Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire and attended the Magnus Grammar School and made his stage début in 1920...
in the film Lawrence of Arabia
Lawrence of Arabia (film)
Lawrence of Arabia is a 1962 British film based on the life of T. E. Lawrence. It was directed by David Lean and produced by Sam Spiegel through his British company, Horizon Pictures, with the screenplay by Robert Bolt and Michael Wilson. The film stars Peter O'Toole in the title role. It is widely...
.
External links
Despatches of General Murray- General Murray's Despatch, 16th January to 31st May, 1916
- General Murray's Despatch, 1st June to 30th September, 1916
- General Murray's Despatch, 1st October, 1916, to 28th February, 1917
- General Murray's Despatch, 1st March to 28th June, 1917
Other
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