Murray, John Alan Colin, son of Capt. George Shirley Kilby and Gladys Grace, d. of Keith William Murray, Portcullis Poursuivant, and grand-daughter of William Powell Murray (qv); b. 19 Apr. 1920; assumed the name of Murray in lieu of Kilby 1932; adm. Jan. 1933 (R); left Dec. 1934; HLI 1940-2 (Lieut.), attd Army Film Unit; killed in action (Middle East) June 1942.
John Alan Colin Kilby was born at Kensington, London on the 19th of April 1920 the only son of Captain George Shirley Kilby, 11th (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment (Finsbury Rifles), and Gladys Grace (nee Murray) Kilby of 1, Winchester Court, Kensington in London. He assumed his mother’s maiden name of Murray in 1932, presumably because of his parent’s divorce in 1927. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Rigaud’s from January 1933 to December 1934.
He attended an Officer Cadet Training Unit before being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Highland Light Infantry on the 20th of April 1940. He was later attached to the Army Film and Photographic Unit where he served with No. 1 Section.
On the 27th of May 1942, the Afrika Corps launched an attack on the left flank of the British held Gazala Line at Bir Hacheim. This was the first time the Army Film and Photographic Unit had found the opportunity to film a major battle. On the 30th of May, John Murray visited the Headquarters of 50th Division and when he returned to the unit he wrote the following: - “It is indeed most depressing to make every effort to take good filmic photographs and to go into places where it is by no means healthy, and know that with a “dual” camera the efforts may be worthless. Sgts. Travis and Berman both seemed in good spirits, though sorry that they could not be in the attack.”
By the 8th of June, he and his men were with the South African Division where they were taking both still photographs and cine film. On the 9th of June 1942, John Murray and Lieutenant Graham had been filming during heavy fighting in the area of the Knightsbridge Box when they returned to their jeep. While travelling in the rear area of the British lines they entered an unmarked minefield and their jeep ran over a mine. Lieutenant Graham was unhurt but John Murray had received a wound to his neck and was bleeding profusely. Graham tried to stem the bleeding but the wound was too deep and John Murray died a few minutes later from loss of blood.
He is commemorated on the Alamein Memorial Column 69.
