Rear-Admiral
Rear admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, equivalent to a major general and air vice marshal and above that of a commodore and captain, but below that of a vice admiral. It is regarded as a two star "admiral" rank. It is often regarde ...
Leonard Warren Murray,
CB,
CBE
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations,
and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...
(22 June 1896 – 25 November 1971) was an officer of the
Royal Canadian Navy
The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN; french: Marine royale canadienne, ''MRC'') is the naval force of Canada. The RCN is one of three environmental commands within the Canadian Armed Forces. As of 2021, the RCN operates 12 frigates, four attack submar ...
who played a significant role in the
Battle of the Atlantic. He commanded the
Newfoundland Escort Force
The Newfoundland Escort Force (NEF) was a Second World War
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's count ...
from 1941–1943, and from 1943 to the end of the war was Commander-in-Chief,
Canadian Northwest Atlantic
Canadian Northwest Atlantic Command was the zone of operations during the Battle of the Atlantic that stretched from north of New York City to 47 degrees west. It was set up at the Atlantic Convoy Conference, held in Washington, DC from 1–12 ...
. He was the only Canadian to command an
Allied theatre of operations during
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
or
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
.
Early years to the end of World War I
Leonard Warren Murray was born at
Granton, Nova Scotia on 22 June 1896. His father Simon Dickson Murray (1859–1936) was a direct descendant of the Scottish immigrants who travelled to
Pictou County
Pictou County is a county in the province of Nova Scotia, Canada. It was established in 1835, and was formerly a part of Halifax County from 1759 to 1835. It had a population of 43,657 people in 2021, a decline of 0.2 percent from 2016. Furthermo ...
on the
Hector
In Greek mythology, Hector (; grc, Ἕκτωρ, Hektōr, label=none, ) is a character in Homer's Iliad. He was a Trojan prince and the greatest warrior for Troy during the Trojan War. Hector led the Trojans and their allies in the defense o ...
in 1773, and his mother was Jane Falconer (1868–1968). Simon was mid-level manager in various enterprises in
Pictou Landing, and Leonard grew up close to the water. At 14 years of age, Murray left
Pictou Academy
Pictou Academy (PA), founded in 1815 by Dr. Thomas McCulloch, is a secondary school in Pictou, Nova Scotia. Prior to the twentieth century, it was a grammar school; a liberal, nonsectarian degree-granting college; and then a secondary school. Pic ...
to join the first intake of 21 recruits into the
Royal Naval College of Canada
The Royal Naval College of Canada (RNCC) was established by the Department of the Naval Service after the formation of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) in 1910. The college was placed under the auspices of the Minister of Naval Service (and of Marine ...
in
Halifax, which had just been created by the ''
Naval Service Act
The ''Naval Service Act'' was a statute of the Parliament of Canada, enacted in 1910. The Act was put forward by the Liberal government of Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier to establish a Canadian navy. Prior to the passage of the Act, Canad ...
'' of 4 May 1910.
"The first winter at the naval college was absolute hell, we had no uniforms, we arrived in what we stood up in and had to send home for further clothing. A case of measles broke out very shortly and we were quarantined, and the only time we got out of the college was when we went to the skating rink to play hockey; and that was a great relief." – Admiral Murray.[Taped interview with Murray at National Defence HQ in May 1970, transcribed in Library and Archives of Canada, Admiral Murray papers, Collection MG30 E207.]
Immediately after graduating in January 1913, he served as a
Midshipman on the Royal Navy vessel
[Naval Personnel records of Leonard Murray in Library and Archives Canada AE42-14-29 and 60-M-11 Vol 3.] on duty protecting British interests in the
Mexican Revolution, and then aboard . At the outbreak of World War I he was assigned to the
protected cruiser
Protected cruisers, a type of naval cruiser of the late-19th century, gained their description because an armoured deck offered protection for vital machine-spaces from fragments caused by shells exploding above them. Protected cruisers re ...
, the largest ship in the Royal Canadian Navy during World War I. Four of his classmates were sent to the Royal Navy cruiser and were killed off the coast of South America on 1 November 1914 at the
Battle of Coronel
The Battle of Coronel was a First World War Imperial German Navy victory over the Royal Navy on 1 November 1914, off the coast of central Chile near the city of Coronel. The East Asia Squadron (''Ostasiengeschwader'' or ''Kreuzergeschwader'') ...
– thereby becoming the first Canadian-service casualties of World War I. Murray served briefly as Flotilla Gunnery Officer on and then in February 1916 was promoted to
Sub-Lieutenant while aboard . He spent the last two years of World War I as Assistant Navigating Officer on from January 1917 as Lieutenant, where he set up troop
convoy
A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support and can help maintain cohesion within a unit. It may also be used ...
s across the Atlantic to outwit German
U-boat
U-boats were naval submarines operated by Germany, particularly in the First and Second World Wars. Although at times they were efficient fleet weapons against enemy naval warships, they were most effectively used in an economic warfare ro ...
s – invaluable experience for the
Battle of the Atlantic more than 20 years later. Murray ended the war in the North Sea aboard , and witnessed the surrender of the German fleet at
Scapa Flow.
Between the wars
After World War I, Murray served briefly on , and then on the newly commissioned under the distinguished British Captain
Percy Noble, from whom Murray learned the basic skills of command, and who eighteen years later served opposite Murray on the receiving end of the convoys as Commander-in-Chief,
Western Approaches Command
Commander-in-Chief, Western Approaches was the commander of a major operational command of the Royal Navy during World War II. The admiral commanding, and his forces, sometimes informally known as 'Western Approaches Command,' were responsibl ...
. Following a short tour aboard , Murray was assigned to as Navigation Officer, until ''Aurora'' was paid off in 1921 due to naval budget cuts. Leonard married Jean Chaplin Scott in Westmount, Quebec on 10 October 1921, and with the
Royal Canadian Navy
The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN; french: Marine royale canadienne, ''MRC'') is the naval force of Canada. The RCN is one of three environmental commands within the Canadian Armed Forces. As of 2021, the RCN operates 12 frigates, four attack submar ...
depleted of ships on which he could serve, at this point he considered a civilian career, in 1924 qualifying as master of a foreign-going vessel. Deciding to remain with the armed forces, Murray joined many of his colleagues and spent the inter-war years alternating between shore assignments as a training officer with the
Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve
The Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR) was a naval reserve force of the Royal Canadian Navy, which replaced the Royal Navy Canadian Volunteer Reserve (RNCVR).
Foundation
The RCNVR was created in 1923. The organization was established ...
, and serving aboard
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against ...
vessels, which in Murray's case included (during a tour in 1923 in Turkey where he befriended
Lord Louis Mountbatten
Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma (25 June 1900 – 27 August 1979) was a British naval officer, colonial administrator and close relative of the British royal family. Mountbatten, who was of Germa ...
), and . Understandably, this provided Murray and his peers, including
Percy W. Nelles, with a distinct anglophile and, in matters military,
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against ...
bias. In January 1925, Murray was promoted to
lieutenant-commander
Lieutenant commander (also hyphenated lieutenant-commander and abbreviated Lt Cdr, LtCdr. or LCDR) is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander. The corresponding rank i ...
and spent two years at the Royal Canadian Navy's main training base at
HMCS ''Stadacona''. In 1927, Murray returned to the UK where he did a tour aboard and then spent 1928 studying at the
Royal Naval Staff College
The Royal Naval College, Greenwich, was a Royal Navy training establishment between 1873 and 1998, providing courses for naval officers. It was the home of the Royal Navy's staff college, which provided advanced training for officers. The equiv ...
at
Greenwich
Greenwich ( , ,) is a town in south-east London, England, within the ceremonial county of Greater London. It is situated east-southeast of Charing Cross.
Greenwich is notable for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich ...
. During a simulation exercise at the College, Murray broke new ground by planning large convoys – convoys that were regarded at the time as "almost suicidal", but which had become normal by the time of the Battle of the Atlantic. Upon return to Canada in January 1929, Murray was promoted to
commander and became the senior naval officer at
CFB Esquimalt
Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt (CFB Esquimalt) is Canada's Pacific Coast naval base and home port to Maritime Forces Pacific and Joint Task Force Pacific Headquarters. , 4,411 military personnel and 2,762 civilians work at CFB Esquim ...
. In notes for a lecture to
RMC Kingston in 1932, his continuing interest in the offensive merit of convoys over patrols is evident:
"The institution of a system of convoy requires a reorientation of the protective forces. Instead of patrolling the focal areas here vessels congregate near ports or narrow passages the group of ships forming the convoy is escorted by an armed escort capable of dealing with any possible scale of attack. This may mean that an increase in the protective force is necessary, but ... the protective force is more definite and concrete than in the patrolling method. In the convoy method ... it is not possible for an enemy to attack without laying herself open to attack and possible destruction" – Admiral Murray.
![HMS Iron Duke (1912)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a2/HMS_Iron_Duke_%281912%29.jpg)
From June 1932 Murray was assigned for a year to Naval Service Headquarters in Ottawa as a Naval Staff Officer before setting back to sea for two years, leading the small fleet of East Coast destroyers from the bridge of his first operational command . At this point, in mid-1934, Murray was appointed to a new position of Senior Naval Officer, Halifax, a position that combined the Commander of the East Coast with the Command of the
Naval Dockyard
A naval base, navy base, or military port is a military base, where warships and naval ships are docked when they have no mission at sea or need to restock. Ships may also undergo repairs. Some naval bases are temporary homes to aircraft that u ...
in Halifax. In June 1936 Murray was sent back to the UK to work in the Admiralty Operations Division, and in December 1936 he started his final tour with the Royal Navy serving as
executive officer aboard the former battleship , where he participated in the 1937 Coronation
Fleet Review
A fleet review or naval review is an event where a gathering of ships from a particular navy is paraded and reviewed by an incumbent head of state and/or other official civilian and military dignitaries. A number of national navies continue to ...
. In August 1938, in the middle of a final year at the
Imperial Defence College
The Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS) instructs the most promising senior officers of the British Armed Forces, His Majesty's Diplomatic Service and Civil Service in national defence and international security matters at the highest level ...
, Murray was promoted to
captain, and so it was that, on the eve of World War II when the Royal Navy was mobilized, Murray returned to Ottawa as a Captain, and Director Naval Operations and Training.
World War II and the Battle of the Atlantic
1939–42
At the outbreak of World War II, he was appointed Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff. From this HQs position Murray played a key role in the build-up of the Navy to its eventual wartime strength of approximately 332 vessels, including crossing Canada to recruit retired
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against ...
officers back into the
Royal Canadian Navy
The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN; french: Marine royale canadienne, ''MRC'') is the naval force of Canada. The RCN is one of three environmental commands within the Canadian Armed Forces. As of 2021, the RCN operates 12 frigates, four attack submar ...
, and advocating for the "small-ship anti-submarine" investment strategy that was eventually so successful. In March 1940 he made a secret visit to the UK to negotiate the construction of destroyers in the UK for the Royal Canadian Navy,
and subsequently was a founding member of the
Permanent Joint Board on Defence. It was while he was working for the PJBD that he renewed his friendship with Commander
James "Chummy" Prentice, who was shortly thereafter assigned the position of Senior Officer, Canadian Corvettes under Murray. Both men would work closely together until the spring of 1944. In October 1940, he went back to sea briefly as Captain of and
Commodore
Commodore may refer to:
Ranks
* Commodore (rank), a naval rank
** Commodore (Royal Navy), in the United Kingdom
** Commodore (United States)
** Commodore (Canada)
** Commodore (Finland)
** Commodore (Germany) or ''Kommodore''
* Air commodore ...
Commanding Halifax Force, effectively in command of the five Canadian warships that were dispatched to the UK in January 1941 to serve convoy duty. Back ashore in the UK, Murray was given the unusual title of Commodore Commanding Canadian Ships, and liaised closely with the Admiralty in the planning of an Atlantic strategy, including the resolution of jurisdictional matters relating to the
Dominion of Newfoundland.
On return to Canada he was promoted to full Commodore on 31 May 1941, and on 13 June 1941 he was put in charge of the
Newfoundland Escort Force
The Newfoundland Escort Force (NEF) was a Second World War
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's count ...
(NEF) based out of
St John's. This was the most important operational mandate given to a Royal Canadian Navy officer until that point, in full command of 6 Canadian destroyers, 7 British destroyers, and 21 corvettes, and with responsibility for convoy escort from New York out as far as the transfer point to UK escorts south of Iceland. In recognition of this increased role, Murray was subsequently appointed
rear admiral on 2 December 1941.
"Conditions were terrible that winter. Groups worked on a 35-day cycle which entailed 29 days away from St John’s, 27 days away from fresh bread, 25 days away from fresh meat, added to which at the northern end of their beat there was no sunlight to speak of in the winter. We had to revert to the old rations of Nelson’s time, barreled salt beef with lime juice or tomato juice to scare away scurvy" – Admiral Murray.[Notes prepared by Murray for CBC interview in 1967, Library and Archives of Canada, Admiral Murray papers, Collection MG30 E207.]
The Saint Pierre and Miquelon "incident"
While based in Newfoundland, Admiral Murray hosted a visit from the
Free French
Free France (french: France Libre) was a political entity that claimed to be the legitimate government of France following the dissolution of the Third Republic. Led by French general , Free France was established as a government-in-exile ...
Admiral
Muselier. Acting on orders from the Admiralty, Murray gave Muselier temporary command of three French corvettes and a submarine that were assigned to Murray's fleet, for passage to
Halifax. On return from Halifax, Muselier took the vessels to
Vichy
Vichy (, ; ; oc, Vichèi, link=no, ) is a city in the Allier department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of central France, in the historic province of Bourbonnais.
It is a spa and resort town and in World War II was the capital of ...
-controlled
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Saint Pierre and Miquelon (), officially the Territorial Collectivity of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon (french: link=no, Collectivité territoriale de Saint-Pierre et Miquelon ), is a self-governing territorial overseas collectivity of France in t ...
, and on 24 December 1941 raised the
Free French flag on the islands. This was interpreted as a territorial claim on behalf of General
Charles de Gaulle, thereby creating a diplomatic incident between France, Canada and the United States. De Gaulle's seizure of the archipelago was over the opposition of Canada, Great Britain, and the United States, which were concerned about pushing the Vichy government into an openly pro-German stance.
Murray was later asked to account for his role in this adventure – but steadfastly claimed (as did Muselier) that he had no part in it.
[Personal correspondence in Library and Archives of Canada, Admiral Murray papers, Collection MG30 E207] Nevertheless, in 1946 Murray was awarded the
Legion d'Honneur
The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon B ...
by the Government of France, for "eminent services rendered to the cause of Free France at the time of the rallying of the inhabitants of St Pierre and Miquelon".
1942–45
![LeonardMurrayPlaqueHalifaxNovaScotia](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fa/LeonardMurrayPlaqueHalifaxNovaScotia.jpg)
The NEF was reorganized in February 1942 as the
Mid-Ocean Escort Force
Mid-Ocean Escort Force (MOEF) referred to the organisation of anti-submarine escorts for World War II trade convoys between Canada and Newfoundland, and the British Isles. The allocation of United States, British, and Canadian escorts to these c ...
(MOEF). On 9 September 1942, Murray was appointed to Commanding Officer Atlantic Coast, with his Headquarters in Halifax, and effective command over 322 armed ships. As a direct result of the
Atlantic Convoy Conference of 1–12 March 1943, where it was agreed that the
US Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...
would concentrate on the South Atlantic leaving Canada and the UK to cover the North Atlantic, on 1 April 1943 Murray was made Commander-in-Chief
Canadian Northwest Atlantic
Canadian Northwest Atlantic Command was the zone of operations during the Battle of the Atlantic that stretched from north of New York City to 47 degrees west. It was set up at the Atlantic Convoy Conference, held in Washington, DC from 1–12 ...
. Still headquartered in Halifax, thereafter he commanded all Allied air and naval forces involved in
convoy
A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support and can help maintain cohesion within a unit. It may also be used ...
protection between Canada and the coast of Ireland until the end of the war with Germany in 1945.
In order to encourage the captains of the merchant ships of all countries which carry the lifeblood of the U.K., I made it a point to attend the briefing conference of all captains and chief engineers before their departure. During the winter of '42–'43, when sinkings were at their worst, I could see when I told them of the measures by escort and air cover that were being taken for their protection and safety; I could see that they knew very well and that they knew I knew in spite of my brave words, that anything up to 25 per cent of them would probably not arrive in the U.K. in their own ships, and that probably half of that number would not arrive in the U.K. at all. But there was never a waver in their resolve – Admiral Murray.
A personal highlight of this period occurred on 14 September 1943, when Murray gave an impromptu guided tour of Halifax to the British Prime Minister
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (30 November 187424 January 1965) was a British statesman, soldier, and writer who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom twice, from 1940 to 1945 during the Second World War, and again from ...
. Churchill and his family, together with the
First Sea Lord
The First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff (1SL/CNS) is the military head of the Royal Navy and Naval Service of the United Kingdom. The First Sea Lord is usually the highest ranking and most senior admiral to serve in the British Armed Fo ...
, boarded in
Halifax harbour
Halifax Harbour is a large natural harbour on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia, Canada, located in the Halifax Regional Municipality. Halifax largely owes its existence to the harbour, being one of the largest and deepest ice-free natural harbo ...
for their return voyage to the United Kingdom following consultations with US President
Roosevelt
Roosevelt may refer to:
*Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919), 26th U.S. president
* Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945), 32nd U.S. president
Businesses and organisations
* Roosevelt Hotel (disambiguation)
* Roosevelt & Son, a merchant bank
* Rooseve ...
. Murray was appointed
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations,
and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...
in the 1943
King's Birthday Honours
The Birthday Honours, in some Commonwealth realms, mark the reigning British monarch's official birthday by granting various individuals appointment into national or dynastic orders or the award of decorations and medals. The honours are prese ...
, and
Companion of the Order of the Bath the following year.
As the Allies gained the upper hand in the Battle of the Atlantic throughout 1943 and 1944, attacks on convoys diminished and the amount of escort cover was reduced, but the hard work of planning and organizing convoys never ceased. By May 1944, British participation in convoy escorts was withdrawn entirely, and Canada was left with sole responsibility until September 1944. Murray's moment of singular pride came in this period, when the largest convoy of World War II,
HX 300 sailed for the UK via New York on 17 July 1944, with 167 merchant ships (). It arrived in the UK, without incident, on 3 August 1944.
VE Day and early retirement
Admiral Murray was controversially blamed for allowing sailors shore leave in Halifax on
VE Day
Victory in Europe Day is the day celebrating the formal acceptance by the Allies of World War II of Germany's unconditional surrender of its armed forces on Tuesday, 8 May 1945, marking the official end of World War II in Europe in the Easter ...
, a decision that is generally considered to have contributed to the
Halifax Riot of 7–8 May 1945.
James Lorimer Ilsley
James Lorimer Ilsley, (January 3, 1894 – January 14, 1967) was a Canadian politician and jurist.
He was born in Somerset, Nova Scotia, the son of Randel Ilsley and Catherine Caldwell. Ilsley was educated at Acadia University and Dalhousi ...
, the Acting Prime Minister of Canada, responded quickly to the situation and on 10 May appointed Justice
Kellock to chair a
Royal Commission into the disorders. On 12 May, Murray was abruptly removed from his command; and the next day a separate Naval Board of Inquiry under Admiral
Brodeur was appointed to investigate naval participation in the disorders. The Kellock Commission placed considerable blame upon the Navy and in particular upon the Admiral, for not having exercised better control over the sailors' celebrations ashore. The Naval Inquiry's findings were more balanced, finding that the
riot was caused by several factors, including a failure in the naval command. Murray himself felt that responsibility lay mainly with the civil authorities of Halifax,
and he was frustrated that the Kellock Commission effectively placed the Navy on trial without providing him or his officers with an opportunity to defend themselves. He asked for a court martial to clear his name, but this was never agreed. The Government made an attempt to leave the Admiral with his honour intact:
"It would be a regrettable thing if, resultant upon the Halifax disturbances, the truly great services of this officer and those under his command were to be forgotten by the people of Canada."
But the Admiral was never assigned another command. Concluding that he was being held up as a scapegoat, and feeling bitter that the country and the Navy had abandoned him suddenly at the moment of the Navy's greatest accomplishment, Murray left Canada for the United Kingdom in September 1945, and officially retired from the Navy on 14 March 1946.
Later years
![Leonard Warren Murray Plaque, St](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0d/Leonard_Warren_Murray_Plaque%2C_St._Paul%27s_Church%2C_Halifax%2C_Nova_Scotia.jpg)
Murray remained active in his retirement, qualifying as a lawyer on 17 November 1949, and with his specialty in maritime law he represented the British government at the 1950 enquiry into the accidental sinking of . He was involved with his local church, and served as a rural councillor as well as on school boards. His love of the sea was kept alive by keen membership in the
Bar Yacht Club where he was racing Captain for ten years, and a leadership role with the
Sea Scouts
Sea Scouts are a part of the Scout movement, with a particular emphasis on boating and other water-based activities on the sea, rivers or lakes (canoeing, rafting, scuba, sailboarding). Sea Scouts can provide a chance to sail, cruise on boats, ...
—coincidentally carried back to Canada where a Canadian Sea Cadet Corps in
New Glasgow
New Glasgow is a town in Pictou County, in the province of Nova Scotia, Canada. It is situated on the banks of the East River of Pictou, which flows into Pictou Harbour, a sub-basin of the Northumberland Strait.
The town's population was 9,075 ...
, near his home town, is named in his honour (RCSCC 87 Admiral Murray). Murray stopped practising law in 1960 to care better for his ailing wife, who died in 1962. Following a chance meeting on a Greek cruise, Leonard remarried on 23 August 1963, in
Buxton
Buxton is a spa town in the Borough of High Peak, Derbyshire, England. It is England's highest market town, sited at some above sea level.[Conservative Party
The Conservative Party is a name used by many political parties around the world. These political parties are generally right-wing though their exact ideologies can range from center-right to far-right.
Political parties called The Conservative P ...]
and ran unsuccessfully as a candidate in municipal council elections in Buxton in 1965, before turning his attention to a spirited debate with the Canadian military establishment, the media and Prime Minister
Pearson Pearson may refer to:
Organizations Education
*Lester B. Pearson College, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
*Pearson College (UK), London, owned by Pearson PLC
*Lester B. Pearson High School (disambiguation)
Companies
*Pearson PLC, a UK-based int ...
wherein he opposed the 1966 integration of the Canadian Armed Forces.
Although clearly feeling that Canada had abandoned him following the
Halifax Riot, Murray maintained his ties to Canada and last visited in 1970, when he participated in the 25th anniversary celebrations of the Battle of the Atlantic.
Legacy
Leonard died peacefully in Buxton on 25 November 1971, and his ashes were placed in
St Paul's Church in Halifax on 17 September 1972. His memory lived on in the
Royal Canadian Navy
The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN; french: Marine royale canadienne, ''MRC'') is the naval force of Canada. The RCN is one of three environmental commands within the Canadian Armed Forces. As of 2021, the RCN operates 12 frigates, four attack submar ...
, where the ''Admiral L.W. Murray Trophy for Gunnery Proficiency'' was awarded annually at least until the early 1970s. Since his death, a number of commemorative steps have been taken, including the placing of a memorial in his honour in Pictou, a collection of his medals and related naval artifacts in the Canadian Naval Operations School (CFNOS) in Halifax, the naming of a Maritimes Branch of the
Royal Canadian Naval Association, the renaming of Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps NEW GLASGOW in
New Glasgow, Nova Scotia
New Glasgow is a town in Pictou County, in the province of Nova Scotia, Canada. It is situated on the banks of the East River of Pictou, which flows into Pictou Harbour, a sub-basin of the Northumberland Strait.
The town's population was 9,075 ...
, to Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps ADMIRAL MURRAY, and the naming of several naval buildings, including CFNOS building at CFB Halifax. On Tuesday, July 16, 2019,
Halifax Regional Council
Halifax Regional Council (french: Conseil régional d'Halifax) is the governing body of Halifax, known as the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM). Halifax is governed by a mayor-council system, where councillors are elected from sixteen geographi ...
voted to name a street or park in downtown Halifax or near HMC Dockyard in honour of Admiral Murray.
Quote
"Except for the few months at sea in Assiniboine, my war work was a solid slog, mostly at a desk, averaging 15 hours a day with frequently a full 24. My job was to obtain the greatest possible result from relatively inexperienced personnel. There was little opportunity for anyone to step on another’s toes. They were spread too thinly and there was a more responsible job for each as soon as he felt confident of his ability to take it on. In the autumn of 1941 young volunteer reserve officers who had never seen salt water before the war took command of corvettes manned by 88 men—the number of white and black keys on a piano and each with his own peculiar note—and took their full part in the Battle of the Atlantic.
Experience had taught me this: to find out what you’re capable of, it is only necessary to get a chance to do it—and someone else must have enough confidence in you to provide that chance. In my dealings with the young RCNVR captains I did my best to give them the opportunity to find their own feet and they did it. Once having tasted success they never looked back. What a blessing that we had the bright young peoples to accept this kind of responsibility" – Admiral Murray.
Awards and decorations
Murray's personal awards and decorations include the following:
:
Companion of the Order of the Bath 8 June 1944
:
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations,
and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...
2 June 1943
:
Commandeur de la Légion d'honneur (France) 1946
:
Croix de Guerre avec palmes (France) 1946
:
Commander of the Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The decoration is issued to members of the eight ...
(United States) 1946
:
King Haakon VII's Cross of Liberty (Norway) 1948
See also
*
Military history of Nova Scotia
Notes
References
*Boutilier, James A., ''RCN in Retrospect – 1910–1968'', University of British Columbia Press 1982,
*Cameron, James M., ''Murray: The Martyred Admiral'', Lancelot Press 1980,
*Douglas, William A.B., Roger Sarty and Michael Whitby, ''No Higher Purpose: The Official Operational History of the Royal Canadian Navy in the Second World War, 1939–1943'', Volume 2 Part 1, Vanwell Publishing 2002,
*Douglas, William A.B., Roger Sarty and Michael Whitby, ''A Blue Water Navy: The Official Operational History of the Royal Canadian Navy in the Second World War, 1943–1945'', Volume 2 Part 2, Vanwell Publishing 2007,
*Edwards, Kenneth, ''Seven Sailors'', Collins 1945
*German, Tony, ''The sea is at our gates: The History of the Canadian Navy'', McClelland and Stewart 1990,
*Glover, William, ''Royal Colonial or Royal Canadian Navy?'' in ''A Nation's Navy: in quest of Canadian Naval Identity'', Michael Hadley, Rob Huebert and Fred Crickard eds. McGill-Queen's University Press 1996,
*Library and Archives of Canada, Admiral Murray papers, Collection MG30 E207
*Milner, Marc, ''Rear-Admiral Leonard Warren Murray: Canada's Most Important Operational Commander'', in ''The Admirals : Canada's senior naval leadership in the twentieth century'', Richard Gimblett, Peter Haydon and Michael Whitby, eds. Dundurn Press 2006,
*Murray, Nina, ''Ninachka – The Making of an Englishwoman?'', Hamilton Books 2008,
*Redman, Stanley R., ''Open Gangway: The (Real) Story of the Halifax Navy Riot'', Lancelot Press 1981,
*Sarty, Roger, ''Rear-Admiral LW Murray and the Battle of the Atlantic'', in ''Warrior Chiefs'', Bernd Horn and Stephen Harris, eds. Dundurn Press 2001,
*Schull, Joseph, ''Far Distant Ships: An Official Account of Canadian Naval Operations in World War II'', King's Printer, Ottawa, 1952 – reprinted by Stoddart Publishing, Toronto, 1987,
*Tucker, Gibert Norman
Naval Service of Canada: Volume I: Origins and Early Years'', King's Printer, Ottawa 1952
Leonard Warren Murray collection description online from
Library and Archives Canada
External links
A look at Canada's navyLegion Magazine – The Rise of Leonard MurrayCanadian Encyclopedia – Murray, Leonard Warren
Canada's 25 Most Renowned Military Leaders
{{DEFAULTSORT:Murray, Leonard W.
1896 births
1971 deaths
Canadian military personnel from Nova Scotia
Canadian Companions of the Order of the Bath
Canadian Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
Commandeurs of the Légion d'honneur
Commanders of the Legion of Merit
Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 (France)
Recipients of the King Haakon VII Freedom Cross
Canadian admirals
Royal Canadian Navy personnel of World War II
Royal Canadian Navy officers
Battle of the Atlantic
Persons of National Historic Significance (Canada)
Graduates of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich
Alumni of the Royal College of Defence Studies
Canadian military personnel of World War I