Salvation Army personal papers collections: Lt-Colonel Mary Murray and family

These are the papers of Lt-Colonel Mary Stewart Murray O.B.E and her family. The collection includes papers relating to General Sir John Irvine Murray K.C.B. (her father), Lady Wilhelmina Murray (her mother), Agnes Malcolm (her aunt) and Archibald, Agnes Meade and Minnie (her siblings).

The collection contains correspondence and papers recounting the family's personal experiences of life in India during and after the Indian Rebellion of 1857 ('The Indian Mutiny') as well as papers relating to the Salvation Army career of Mary Murray. It has been arranged accordingly into two series:

MSM/1 Murray family papers

MSM/2 Mary Murray personal papers

Mary Stewart Murray was born on 2 October 1863 and qualified as an officer out of Southsea corps in 1892. She began her Salvation Army career in Women's Social Work before being transferred to the department dealing with Naval and Military affairs in 1898. She commanded Salvation Army work with British forces in the South African (Anglo-Boer) War in 1900, and published a book on the subject ('The S.A. at Work in the Boer War', 1901). On her return she took charge of the Salvation Army Naval and Military League, a postition which she held until she retired in 1919. She was awarded the South African War Medal in 1913 and the Order of the British Empire in 1921. She died in Hurlingham on 27 October 1938.

Her father General Sir John Irvine Murray was a British Army Officer who served in mid-nineteenth century campaigns in Afghanistan, India, and Bhutan. He established the 14th Murray Jat Lancers. He and his wife, Lady Wilhelmina Murray, were based in Northern India during the Indian Rebellion of 1857 ('The Indian Mutiny'), and John Murray was involved in the military response in various locations.

Open for research. The reading room of The Salvation Army International Heritage Centre is open Tue-Fri 9.30-4.00. It is advisable to make an appointment. Tel: 0207 326 7800; email: heritage@salvationarmy.org.uk.

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