| During the Great War in Europe daily casualty reports were published in the local newspapers after family members had been notified. On October 16th 1916 the Evening Record of Windsor published its daily report, which contained the name Lieutenant Murray T. Smith. That report reads as follows: " Lieut. Murray T. Smith whose kin live in England, who was an officer in the 99th battalion, is listed as wounded in Monday's casualty report. Smith was in command of the Essex platoon for a time. " Murray Smith born in Woodsetton, Dudley, England during the year 1891. At the age of 17, Murray along with his father arrived in Canada at Toronto. After his arrival in Toronto he enrolled for one year in a local collage. The following year he enrolled in the Ontario Agriculture Collage at Guelph which he graduated from. After graduation Murray came to Essex County and was appointed assistant to the Agriculture representative at Essex Centre. |
 ABBEVILLE CEMETERY - FRANCE |
While in Essex Centre Murray was initiated into Freemasonry as a member of Central Lodge No. 402, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.
In the spring of 1915 Brother Smith took an officers course at London, Ontario and obtained a Commission as a Lieutenant. Lieutenant Smith's first duty was to setup a recruiting office for the 99th battalion in Kingsville. Within several weeks he also opened a recruitment office in Essex Centre. Lieutenant Smith had the distinction of being the most successful recruiting officer in the district outside of Windsor.
After the formation of the 99th battalion Lieutenant Brother Smith was chosen to be an Officer of the Platoon of Essex Centre recruits and went overseas in that capacity. Once overseas Lieutenant Smith was transferred to the 3rd. Battalion of the Central Ontario Regiment.
On August 31st 1916 tragedy struck when Brother Smith's older brother Major Jack Smith was killed in action. Five weeks after the death of his older brother, Lieutenant Brother Murray Smith was wounded in the trenches of France. After receiving the most basic medical attention at a forward bandage station, Murray was transferred to Hospital at Abbeville, France. For three weeks Brother Smith languished in hospital.
On October 31st 1916 Lieutenant Brother Murray Turley Smith passed on to eternity. His final resting place is the Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension. The tablet that markers his grave not only included his name but also the name of his older brother Jack.
