Murray Moten
Encyclopedia
Brigadier
Murray John Moten, CBE, DSO
and bar (3 July 1899 – 14 September 1953) was a senior officer in the Australian Army
during the Second World War.
, South Australia
, the eldest son of John Moten and Maude Mary Sophia, née Murray. Murray attended primary schools at Port Augusta, Mingary, and at Mount Gambier. Murray started work as a messenger-boy at the Mount Gambier post office in January 1915 and shortly afterwards was employed as a clerk in the Mount Gambier branch of the Savings Bank of South Australia
. Murray joined the Commonwealth Military Cadet Corps in August 1916 and later enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force
on 23 August 1917. Murray was sent on leave and was discharged as medically unfit in January 1918. Murray returned to civilian life and began work at head office of the Savings Bank of South Australia in Adelaide
.
, Citizen Military Forces (CMF) in July 1923. Undertaking further studies, Murray studied accountancy at the University of Adelaide
in 1924. Murray married Kathleen Meegan at St Mary's Catholic Church, Port Adelaide
on 16 January 1926. Murray was promoted to major in 1929 and was promoted to lieutenant colonel, upon taking command of the 43rd/48th Battalion, CMF. Murray was elected the President of the Bank Officials' Association of South Australia in 1934 and later promoted in October 1938 as a sales clerk in the Savings Bank of South Australia's mortgage department.
as commander of the 2/27th Battalion
on 26 April 1940. The battalion and Moten left Melbourne
and embarked for the Middle East
on 21 October. The convoy briefly stopped in India
en-route and arrived at Egypt
on 24 November. The battaliond was moved to Palestine
to complete its training. After a period of training, the battalion under Moten’s command moved to the fortresses at Mersa Matruh and Maaten Bagush, Egypt in April 1941. While at Mersa Matruh, the battalions positions came under frequent air bombardment from German
planes. The battalion was sent back to Palestine in May in preparation of the invasion of Syria and Lebanon
. The battalion fought in the Syrian campaign, capturing Sidon
on 15 June and taking part in the successful battle of Damour
on 6–12 July. For his leadership and gallantry, Moten was awarded the Distinguished Service Order
and mentioned in dispatches
. Promoted colonel and temporary brigadier on 27 December, he was promoted as the commander of the 17th Brigade taking over from Stanley Savige
.
The 17th Brigade was ordered home and after a period garrisoned in Ceylon (Sri Lanka), arrived in Australia in August 1942. The 17th Brigade was shipped to Milne Bay
, Papua in October. The 17th Brigade was air-lifted to Wau
, New Guinea
in January 1943, and took part in the battle of Wau
, where the opposing Japanese force suffered heavy losses. For his actions, Moten was awarded a Bar to his Distinguished Service Order. The 17th Brigade repulsed Japanese assaults at Mubo and Lababia Ridge and following the capture of Komiatum and Mount Tambu in August, Moten was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire and again mentioned in dispatches. The 17th Brigade returned to Australia for rest and regrouping and later returned to New Guinea for the Aitape–Wewak campaign. Moten took command of the 6th Division from 18 November 1945.
in June. Murray became the Australian Army Representative of the Imperial War Graves Commission in 1947, and went on to command the 9th Brigade, CMF and while serving in this capacity he was appointed honorary colonel of the 27th Battalion
, CMF in 1952. Murray was promoted as the general manager of the Savings Bank of South Australia in December. He was appointed as the aide de camp to Governor General on 16 March 1953.
Murray collapsed at the 27th Battalion ball at Torrens Drill Hall on 5 September 1953 and while in the Royal Adelaide Hospital
, Moten died of myocardial infarction on 14 September. Moten was buried with full military honours in Centennial Park Cemetery
with Anglican and Catholic rites. Murray was survived by his wife, daughter and two sons. His son, John Moten
, went on to become Director-General of Security
(the head of ASIO
) from 1988–1992.
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
Murray John Moten, CBE, 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...
and bar (3 July 1899 – 14 September 1953) was a senior officer in the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
during the Second World War.
Early life and First World War
Murray was born on 3 July 1899 at HawkerHawker, South Australia
Hawker is a town in the Flinders Ranges area of South Australia, 365 km north of Adelaide. It is in the Flinders Ranges Council, the state Electoral district of Stuart and the federal Division of Grey. At the 2006 census, Hawker had a population of 229....
, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
, the eldest son of John Moten and Maude Mary Sophia, née Murray. Murray attended primary schools at Port Augusta, Mingary, and at Mount Gambier. Murray started work as a messenger-boy at the Mount Gambier post office in January 1915 and shortly afterwards was employed as a clerk in the Mount Gambier branch of the Savings Bank of South Australia
Savings Bank of South Australia
The Savings Bank of South Australia was founded in 1848, trading from a single room in Gawler Place, Adelaide. In 1984 it merged with the State Bank of South Australia, with the merged entity taking the latter name...
. Murray joined the Commonwealth Military Cadet Corps in August 1916 and later enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force
Australian Imperial Force
The Australian Imperial Force was the name given to all-volunteer Australian Army forces dispatched to fight overseas during World War I and World War II.* First Australian Imperial Force * Second Australian Imperial Force...
on 23 August 1917. Murray was sent on leave and was discharged as medically unfit in January 1918. Murray returned to civilian life and began work at head office of the Savings Bank of South Australia in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
.
Between the wars
Resigning from the cadets, Murray was appointed provisional lieutenant of the 48th Battalion48th Battalion (Australia)
The 48th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. It was originally raised in 1916 for service during World War I and took part in the fighting in the trenches of the Western Front in France and Belgium, before being disbanded in early 1919....
, Citizen Military Forces (CMF) in July 1923. Undertaking further studies, Murray studied accountancy at the University of Adelaide
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
in 1924. Murray married Kathleen Meegan at St Mary's Catholic Church, Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide is a suburb of Adelaide lying about 14 kilometres northwest of the City of Adelaide. It lies within the City of Port Adelaide Enfield and is the main port for the city of Adelaide...
on 16 January 1926. Murray was promoted to major in 1929 and was promoted to lieutenant colonel, upon taking command of the 43rd/48th Battalion, CMF. Murray was elected the President of the Bank Officials' Association of South Australia in 1934 and later promoted in October 1938 as a sales clerk in the Savings Bank of South Australia's mortgage department.
Second World War
With the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, he was placed in command of the 48th Battalion, CMF. Murray was then seconded to the Second Australian Imperial ForceSecond Australian Imperial Force
The Second Australian Imperial Force was the name given to the volunteer personnel of the Australian Army in World War II. Under the Defence Act , neither the part-time Militia nor the full-time Permanent Military Force could serve outside Australia or its territories unless they volunteered to...
as commander of the 2/27th Battalion
2/27th Battalion (Australia)
The 2/27th Battalion was a infantry battalion of the Australian Army during the Second World War. Formed as part of the Second Australian Imperial Force at Woodside Camp, South Australia on 7 May 1940 as part of the 21st Brigade...
on 26 April 1940. The battalion and Moten left Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
and embarked for the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
on 21 October. The convoy briefly stopped in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
en-route and arrived at Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
on 24 November. The battaliond was moved to 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....
to complete its training. After a period of training, the battalion under Moten’s command moved to the fortresses at Mersa Matruh and Maaten Bagush, Egypt in April 1941. While at Mersa Matruh, the battalions positions came under frequent air bombardment from German
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
planes. The battalion was sent back to Palestine in May in preparation of the invasion of Syria and Lebanon
Syria-Lebanon campaign
The Syria–Lebanon campaign, also known as Operation Exporter, was the Allied invasion of Vichy French-controlled Syria and Lebanon, in June–July 1941, during World War II. Time Magazine referred to the fighting as a "mixed show" while it was taking place and the campaign remains little known, even...
. The battalion fought in the Syrian campaign, capturing Sidon
Sidon
Sidon or Saïda is the third-largest city in Lebanon. It is located in the South Governorate of Lebanon, on the Mediterranean coast, about 40 km north of Tyre and 40 km south of the capital Beirut. In Genesis, Sidon is the son of Canaan the grandson of Noah...
on 15 June and taking part in the successful battle of Damour
Battle of Damour
The Battle of Damour was the final major operation of the Australian forces during the Syria-Lebanon Campaign of World War II.-Background:In 1941, Damour was the French administrative capital...
on 6–12 July. For his leadership and gallantry, Moten was 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...
and mentioned in dispatches
Mentioned in Dispatches
A soldier Mentioned in Despatches is one whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which is described the soldier's gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy.In a number of countries, a soldier's name must be mentioned in...
. Promoted colonel and temporary brigadier on 27 December, he was promoted as the commander of the 17th Brigade taking over from Stanley Savige
Stanley Savige
Lieutenant General Sir Stanley George Savige, KBE, CB, DSO, MC, ED , was an Australian Army soldier and officer who served in World War I and World War II, rising to the rank of lieutenant general....
.
The 17th Brigade was ordered home and after a period garrisoned in Ceylon (Sri Lanka), arrived in Australia in August 1942. The 17th Brigade was shipped to Milne Bay
Milne Bay
Milne Bay is a large bay in Milne Bay Province, southeastern Papua New Guinea. The bay is named after Sir Alexander Milne.The area was a site of the Battle of Milne Bay in 1942....
, Papua in October. The 17th Brigade was air-lifted to Wau
Wau
Wau is a town in Papua New Guinea, in the province of Morobe. It has a population of approx 5,000 and situated at an altitude of around 1100m. Wau was the site of a Gold rush during the 1920s and 30's when prospective gold diggers arrived at the coast at Salamaua and struggled inland along the...
, New Guinea
Territory of New Guinea
The Territory of New Guinea was the Australia-controlled, League of Nations-mandated territory in the north eastern part of the island of New Guinea, and surrounding islands, between 1920 and 1949...
in January 1943, and took part in the battle of Wau
Battle of Wau
The Battle of Wau, 29–31 January 1943, was a battle in the New Guinea campaign of World War II. Forces of the Empire of Japan sailed from Rabaul and crossed the Solomon Sea and, despite Allied air attacks, successfully reached Lae, where they disembarked...
, where the opposing Japanese force suffered heavy losses. For his actions, Moten was awarded a Bar to his Distinguished Service Order. The 17th Brigade repulsed Japanese assaults at Mubo and Lababia Ridge and following the capture of Komiatum and Mount Tambu in August, Moten was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire and again mentioned in dispatches. The 17th Brigade returned to Australia for rest and regrouping and later returned to New Guinea for the Aitape–Wewak campaign. Moten took command of the 6th Division from 18 November 1945.
Later life
After returning to Australia, Murray was transferred to the Regimental Supernumerary List on 17 January 1946 in Adelaide and he resumed his civilian career. Murray led the Australian army component of the Victory March in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in June. Murray became the Australian Army Representative of the Imperial War Graves Commission in 1947, and went on to command the 9th Brigade, CMF and while serving in this capacity he was appointed honorary colonel of the 27th Battalion
27th Battalion (Australia)
The 27th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. It was initially raised in 1915 as part of the First Australian Imperial Force for service during World War I. During the conflict, the battalion saw action briefly at Gallipoli before later fighting on the Western Front between...
, CMF in 1952. Murray was promoted as the general manager of the Savings Bank of South Australia in December. He was appointed as the aide de camp to Governor General on 16 March 1953.
Murray collapsed at the 27th Battalion ball at Torrens Drill Hall on 5 September 1953 and while in the Royal Adelaide Hospital
Royal Adelaide Hospital
The Royal Adelaide Hospital is Adelaide's largest hospital, with 680 beds. Founded in 1840, the Royal Adelaide provides tertiary health care services for South Australia and provides secondary care clinical services to residents of Adelaide's city centre and inner suburbs.The hospital is situated...
, Moten died of myocardial infarction on 14 September. Moten was buried with full military honours in Centennial Park Cemetery
Centennial Park Cemetery
Centennial Park Cemetery is a large, 40.5 hectare cemetery in the southern Adelaide suburb of Pasadena, located at along Goodwood Road. It is the largest cemetery in the southern suburbs and one of the largest in the Adelaide metropolitan area...
with Anglican and Catholic rites. Murray was survived by his wife, daughter and two sons. His son, John Moten
John Moten
John Michael Moten is an Australian aeronautical engineer. From 1988 to 1992, he was the Director-General of Security, the head of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation . He was the son of Brigadier Murray Moten, a senior Australian Army officer.Moten was not a career intelligence...
, went on to become Director-General of Security
Director-General of Security
The Director-General of Security is the executive officer of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation , the domestic security agency of Australia...
(the head of ASIO
Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation is Australia's national security service, which is responsible for the protection of the country and its citizens from espionage, sabotage, acts of foreign interference, politically-motivated violence, attacks on the Australian defence system, and...
) from 1988–1992.