MURRAY GLADSTONE BLAIKIE
17 September 1883 - 9 May 1915
At School 1895 - 1899
Pte 2248 1/6th Manchester Regt
Murray was born in Manchester and in 1891 was living at 11 Alexandra Road South, Withington, with mother Grace, elder brother William, two younger sisters, Marion and Margaret and a domestic servant. Father William, a Woollen Merchant, was staying at a hotel in Glasgow on census day. By 1901 the family had gained two more children, Frank and Grace, and an additional servant. Murray had now left School and aged 17 was an apprentice in a home trade warehouse. Brothers William and Frank were also Hulmeians.
Murray was a keen sportsman at School, playing on the School football team at outside right and on the 2nd Cricket Eleven. In 1897 at the School Sports Day he won the Under 14 High Jump with a height of 3ft 10 ins and came second in the Under 14 Throwing the Lacrosse Ball. The previous year he came second in the 600 Yards Handicap with a start of 55 yards. It appears his handicap must have come down dramatically as he didn't feature amongst the prize winners for this event in 1897! On leaving School Murray joined the Old Hulmeians Football Club playing on the 1st XI.
In 1911 Murray was working as a salesman for his father and the family had moved to Roseneath, Whalley Road, Whalley Range, Manchester.
On the outbreak of war Murray enlisted in the 6th Battalion, Manchester Regiment, a Territorial Battalion. His service number, 2248, suggests that he joined on or just before 1st September 1914. 10 days later the Battalion sailed for Egypt landing at Alexandria on 25th September.
Over the following weeks the men were put through a strenuous training programme of training, including long route marches through the desert. In January 1915, the Battalion was sent to Cairo as there were fears that the Turkish Army would attempt to seize the Suez Canal and invade Egypt. The attack came on 3 February but was repulsed by Indian Army units and the 6th did not have to go into action.
On 28 April 1915, orders were received that the Division must be prepared to move to the Dardanelles at short notice. The Divisional History records "The news soon spread; it was no rumour this time, but the real thing, and on April 30 excitement was at fever heat. At last the Territorials were to be given the opportunity to which all ranks had looked forward so eagerly and toward which recent training had directed. Little time was given for preparation, but no more was needed, as the Division was ready to take the field."
On 2nd May the Battalion entrained for Alexandria and on 3rd May boarded the SS Derflinger, a German vessel which had been captured at Port Said by the British in 1914 and which had only arrived in Alexandria a few hours before, carrying over 500 Australian casualties from Gallipoli.

A soldier from a different regiment described the conditions on board:
"At Alexandria, after hours of delay, we embarked on a captured German liner, the Derflinger. Iron plates above, iron plates below, and riveted iron plates each side, bordered our bedroom. Closed and covered portholes kept out light and air, the darkness being partially relieved by a few electric globes in cages. In this half-light confusion attended the hanging of our hammocks as we tripped and fell over bits of unfamiliar ship's tackle. All this appeared more ridiculous when we slept on deck owing to the heat below. We slept as we were. Nobody thought of undressing. For three days and three nights four lived where one would have been cramped in that iron-cased floating stink-hole, eating badly-cooked food and drinking warm water. By the night of the third day, as we neared Gallipoli, we were in the mood for anything. We'd fight anybody for anything; we didn't care what."
The Battalion disembarked at Helles on 6 May 1915 and moved to bivouacs on the cliff above "W" Beach. The War Diary records that each man carried 200 rounds of ammunition, 2 days supplies and iron rations, picks and shovels. No baggage, blankets or stores were allowed. On the 7th, the Battalion moved forward to a position west of Krithia Bridge and on the evening of the 8th moved up Krithia Road to support positions.


