| U.K. Ancestors |
| Military Man |
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| At Inverness the fourteenth day of August One thousand Nine hundred and one years. In Presence of William Mac Bean Esquire, Provost of the Royal Burgh of Inverness and the remanent members of the Town Council of the said Burg. Which day Private D. Murie was created admitted and received Burgess and Freeman of the said Burgh in recognition of his services in the South African War with the �Lovat Scouts� with full power to him to haunt use and exerce within the said Burgh and Liberties thereof all the privileges pertinent and known to appertain to a Burgess of the said Burgh. |
| Mac Bean Provost ______?_____ Town Clerk |
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under the photo is written: The Procession from the Cathedral to the Railway Station proceeded via Adderley Street and Castle Street to the Parade entrance to the platform. picture taken from The Cape Times |
| Cecil Rhodes Funeral |
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| David, the fifth child in a family of thirteen children, was born to Isabelle Murie on April 14, 1876 in Austins Land, Bellshill, Scotland. His father George Murie was a Draper Master and owner of a Haberdashery (men�s clothing) and Row houses. Little did the Murie�s realize, the life their son would, have would be an adventurous one. David hated the haberdashery business. His father, not knowing what to make of the young lad got him a job, because of his beautiful penmanship, in his uncle�s bank. This was not to David�s liking either. Being indoors all the time, left him with the feeling of suffocation. (In the 1891 Census, it says he was a grocer�s assistant at age 14.) None of this was for David! |
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| 1 Cape Town Sunday 16th April (1890) Dear Father and Mother Know doubt you will be surprised at me being here, but I am away to South Africa and with Lord Lovat's Scouts do not worry yourself about me and Mother need not be getting uneasy about me because I think I am better away & if God spares me to come 2 back to Scotland. I am going to be Groom to one of the officers but I don't know which one yet. I will now draw to a close. David 3 We had a very good passage 22 days sailing it was very hot coming through the Tropics. if all goes well I will write you full particulars as soon as possible. Good bye for the present. |
Riverholme Inverness Tuesday 20th March Capt. Clarke was much surprised to receive D. Murie's letter this morning expecting his son David - Who left his service went six weeks ago with Capt. Clarke's consent to join "Lord Lovats Corps of Scouts" he was in Camp training with them for 4 weeks & sailed from Glasgow in his " Cunssieu" (I think was the ship) 10 days ago. _______ trip have been detained at Southampton _____ __pinR lye here if broken r(n)ib wunf his horses & Capt. Clarke thinks two ships may be at Southampton still - so a one addressed Trooper David Murie - Lord Lovats Scouts. Southampton could find him. Or you could write to him to Cape Inn addressing two letters the same day only putting Cape Inn S. apiece instead of Southampton this would meet him on arrival as his ship is a very slow one.- Captain Clarke who he returned s f islo se (returnd sorry to lose) David as he had always found him a Good & reliable servant, he seemed bent on ship out to South Africa. frh Capt. Wm. Clarke fully understood that David had written to his Father and Mother of his plans were now much disappointed the cut (or - & be cut) to find truth he did not do so. This caused them such mischief. - Capt. Clarke who is _ire (desire) is D. Murie on his way of the office this morning so as ta ease D. Murie's Mind the hsRid Wm. Clarke to write 2 & explain matters as he is at present so very busy. - David called at Riverholme twice before ____ if & seemed well & h'Rid his new life very much. Wm. Clarke has had much difficulty in filling another Servant to replace David. - Wm. Clarke hopes that by this time David may have written to his Father to explain matters. |
| Camp training with "Lord Lovats Corps of Scouts" |
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Maintland Camp, Cape Town, South Africa, 26th Apr. 1900 Dear Father & Mother I received your letter all right. 3 days after we landed here. It is winter out here just now but it is warmer than the hotest summer in Scotland but it gets very cold at nights. There is almost 20 thousand troops in camp here just now, & there is 1 (or 7?) thousand Boer prisoners here ready to be sent to St Helena where they are all sent to. We have all got new horses they come from the Argentine republic. & they are all young and we are breaking them into saddle work which is a very rough job. We had a social meeting given to us by the Scotch of Capetown which was a very enjoyable evening. They are going to send home to you an address (that is) a printed form welcomming us to South Africa. We expect to be shifted up to Bloomfontein next week, there is Lanarkshire Ayrshire Fyfe & for far Edinbrogh Yeomanry all here & different kinds of Scotch Volunteers. We are enlisted for one year or as long as the war lasts. I cant say much about the country as we are not long enough here but table mountain which is just close to us which is a most terrible size & flat on the top. I enclose a leaf or two from table mountain. I cant say much more but if I am spared in health & strength & if possible will give you a letter every fortnight. Hopping you are all well at home. Bella & Mary, James. I wrote to George. David You only write the same address. Lord Lovats Scouts, Field Force, South Africa. (Inserted within the pages were to leaves about a half inch across they might have been 4 inches long.) |
| The following letter was addressed to: Mr. George Murie, Clothier & Outfitter, 39 Main Street, Coatbridge, Scotland. |
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| David Returns to South Africa |
| The following letter was written on rice paper by David Murie. The ink has turned purple, has run slightly and has come through from the other side. It is three pages and written in a hurry. Page 2 s on the back of page 1. |
| This is a very difficult letter to read. I have added very little to the letter other than a possible interpretation of a word. I did not add the ships name (or should I say what the name looked like) it was in the letter as such. |
| The Boer War and the Scotsman |
| As you can see David finally found an occupation that allowed him the freedom of the outdoors - Millitary Groom. |
| (letterhead) - Cape Town 8th Feby 02 - (Feb. 1902) Dear Father & Mother I wrote a letter two days before we arrived in Santa-Cruiz Genericffe but I could not get it posted so I will just post the two in Cape-town there was no post in St. Helena so I had to wait till we landed . The voyage up till now has been a splended one we have had good amusement all along Concerts sports and to crown all we had a fancy dress ball some of the ladies & gents had the Fancy Costumes with them & it was a grand sight others just went in evening dress. The most of the passengers are all going out to Government - situations there is quite a number of young ladies (teachers) going out to the refugee camps we are all a right jolly good crowd, we expect to land in Table Bay on Monday this is a fine ship every thing fitted up to the best & get waited on like lords I can't say any more hopping this finds you all well as I have been enjoying good health since I left home. I Remain Your Aff. Son David We are not in the Town we are anchored in the Bay can't get into the docks, for there is such a stoem we have dragged out anchor once & had to put out to sea again but it is getting quieter now this is Wednesday 11th Feby. |
| Note: I am not sure when these pictures were taken, therefore they will be randomly placed. |
| UNION-CASTLE LINE R M S "AVONDALE CASTLE" |
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| 42 Beleg van Lady Smith. Krumpp's Howitser gericht op Platrand. |
| 268 Siege of Ladtsmith. Transvaal Artillery with Howitzer. |
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| ?59 Boers on Spions Kop. |
| Cecil John Rhodes 1853-1902 was a British Financier and Colonial Administrator in South Africa. |
| Where the X appears is David Murie marching alongside the casket. |
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| Back of Orange River picture: Of course you don�t understand the same as I do, but this will give you an idea of crossing a river. This is nothing to some Drifts that I have crossed. I know this Drift well, DeWats gave us a good hammering at this same Rift in January 1901. |
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| De Wet's Commando crossing the Orange River |
| Maitland 30/5/02 (1902) Dear Father & Mother I received your letter dated 6 May and am glad all is well at home hoping Mary is going all right; you can give them my love. I hope by the time this letter reaches you - you will be settled down in your new house it will be as you say in your letter a little lonely but while the girls and John are knocking about it will keep things a little lively. I am getting on very well here I have told you in my last letter I am in the Club as Barman a fine job a Corporal & me has all to do with the hole affair, but we have men under us to do odd jobs & heavy work if I like to wait on here a while I have the prospects of getting charge of the place but is very confining of course I get out in the afternoon & have a ride for a mile or two but I would rather be out in the open air all the time however I will see how things will agree with me. I was out last Monday 20 of us as escort to Mr. Seddon a good day we had, I don't know how they always call on the (C.P?) for these duties I suppose the Andersons will arrive about the 1st June I saw Harry last Friday & he said he expected them then, I am going to ride over to their place on Sunday to see if they have arrived it is only 4 miles from here I take a run down to see John often. It is getting on winter here but the days are very hot nights a bit cold. I have no more to say & I hope this finds you all well at home as it leaves me well. David Glad to hear Wm. Darling is getting on well. I had a few papers from George with the same Mail as your letter. |
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| 86 Vrijstaatsche kanon aan het Station te Kroonstad, 2 April 1900 |
| Free State Artillery. Station Kroonstad. |
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| David in his office in South Africa |
| A COATBRIDGE MAN GOING TO SOUTH AFRICA. - We have to chronicle the departure from Coatbridge for Cape Colony of David Murie (late Lord Lovat's Scouts), son of our respected townsman, George Murie, draper, Main Street. Mr. Murie has received an engagment in the Cape Mounted Police for three years, and sails by mail steamer "Avondate Castle" to=day from Southampton to fulfil his duties. He is one of those who returned from the front in August last, having served with Lord Lovat's Scouts for nearly 18 months. According to the statement of an officer the Lovat's Scouts met the Boers on 126 days, exchanged shots 86 days, had small fights on 40 days, and some really good fights on 21 days. Mr. Murie is considered by experts a splendid horseman and marksman. He was presented with a fine illuminated address from Caledonians at Cape Town; was honoured with Burgess Ticket from Inverness; and last, but not least, was honoured by the people of Coatbridge, along with other retruned Volunteers, by public reception and presentation of Coatbridge Burgess Ticket. We hope this new engagement which he has entered upon will prove to his liking and profit and be some little compensation for the hardships and hazards which he has passed through at the front. Source: a newspaper clipping, unfortunately there was no date. |
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| David was also a Security guard at the Kimberley Mine. |
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| Kimberley, from Rock Shaft. |
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| Commissioner St. Johannesburg S.Africa. |
| William Darling married one of David's sisters. I don't know which one. |
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| ~ ~ Toast List ~ ~ CHAIRMAN, - - - - - - �King� CHAIRMAN, �Queen Alexandra and Members of the Royal Family.� CHAIRMAN, �The Kings Imperial Forces, and the safe return and welcome to the local Troopers.� Reply, - - - - - Corporal Craig. Captain Wm. Whitelaw, - - �House of Parliament.� Reply, - - - Dr. Douglas, M.P. for N. W. Lanark. Dr. Douglas, M.P., �The Provast, Magistrate and Town Council of the Burg of Coatbridge.� Reply, - - - - - Provast, M.`Cosh. Bailie M`Queen - - - �Other Public Bodies.� Reply, - - - - - Mr. Thos. M. King. |
| Coarbrigde Municipal Buildings. |
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| As you can see, David left home without telling his parents because he was under age. It looks like he must have been 14. He was found out and sent home. When he became of age, he returned to S. Africa. |
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| It is not known how many times David came home to Scotland only to return to South Africa to a place and its people he dearly loved. |
| written on the back Trooper Singleton My Liverpool Pal. |
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| David really took a liking to this family. He thought they were wonderful. |
| Shaugaan family |
coming soon David Murie The Next Generation |
For more on David visit The Murie family and |
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