MURRAY, Arthur William ‘Bill’
MURRAY, Arthur William ‘Bill’ , passed away January 5, 2014. He was born in Halifax, October 22, 1920, to the late Arthur Vincent Murray and Mary (Mae) Elizabeth Murray.
Prior to the Second World War, he graduated from Halifax Academy and attended Nova Scotia College of Art 1939-1940. In early 1941, he joined RCN, graduated as a Sub Leiut., RCNVR from Royals Roads Naval College in August 1941, 2nd office training class.
He saw service in examination vessels and minesweeper HMCS ‘Kelowna’ in North Pacific waters; joined new construction Fairmile Q097 in fall of 1942, operating with 76 Flotilla in North Atlantic; commanded Q093 Octob er 1943- April 1944; joined the historic corvette HMCS ‘Sackville’ and served as executive officer up to November 1944. He was promoted to Lieut. CDR RCN(R) on reserve list 1952 and saw reserve time in HMCS ‘Haida’ and ‘Micmac’. Following his discharge in January 1946, he resumed his education at the American Academy of Art, Chicago, Ill. He ! graduated in 1948 and followed up with studies in advertising at Northwestern University.
He met his wife, Vera (Hansen), in Chicago where they were married on August 7th, 1948. He worked with Drake Studios, The Daily Newspaper, Chicago American, and for many years with Geyer McAllister Publications. He joined Wall Street Journal in 1960 and, in 1963, was appointed regional advertising manager of the Cincinnati, Ohio office.
In 1972, he and his wife returned to Halifax where he took up his appointment of supervisor of advertising, Nova Scotia Department of Government Services. He retired in October 1984, and he and Vera settled in Vero Beach, Fla. Following the death of his wife in May 1998, he returned to Halifax in September of that year.
He was an active member of the Nova Scotia Naval Officers Association and was awarded the N.O.A.C. Bronze Medallion in 1980 for service to N.O.A.C. and Canada. He was also a member of RUSI (Royal United Services Institute); a trustee! of the Canadian Naval Memorial Trust (HMCS Sackville); and, f! or several years, was a member of AAEC (Association of American Editorial Cartoonists) He was active in newspaper work in Cincinnati. Bill is survived by sister, Mrs. W.L. Garrison, several nieces and nephews. Arrangements are under the care of J. Albert Walker Funeral Home (2005) Ltd. (477-5601).
Abiding with Bill’s wishes, there will be no visitation or service. Donations in memory may be made to the SPCA or the Canadian Naval Memorial Trust. Online condolences may be sent to www.walkerfh.com
SPECIAL NOTE FROM 8120 BILL GARD:
I have a copy of Bill Murray’s memoirs entitled “Naval Nuggets from World War II by A. William Murray, LCdr RCN (R) retired.” He was at Royal Roads from May to August 1941.One of Bill’s Cabin Mates at RR was S/Lt Tommy Seagram, RCNVR. Bill joined as a RCNVR too and that was changed when RCN (R) came into being in 1946. He did not record his number at Royal Roads in his memoirs and I never thought to ask him when I visited him at his apartment in Halifax a number of times.
In his memoirs, he mentions that RR was commissioned in Dec 1940 and was officially opened as a naval training establishment in January, 1941.Commander JM Grant RCN was the CO and LCDR RA “Jumbo” Webber RCN was the Executive Officer. Bill was in the “Benbow” Division.
I remember that the late Don Jones was #006 and he was the first entry into RR when it opened in Jan 1941. There were 100 in the first naval class.
Cheers.
8120 Bill Gard