The insignia found in the collection belonged for the most part to Murray. Most of them he brought home with him, though some of them may have been mailed to his fiancé Carrie Leach during the war. There are additionally badges from Murray’s pre-war service in the 7th Regiment Fusiliers of London which may be from as early as 1907.

Murray’s attestation papers from his enlistment with the 135th Middlesex Overseas Battalion in January 1916 do not state that he had previously served in the military, but it is stated elsewhere in his records that he had served in the 7th Regiment Fusiliers of London, Ontario. His previous service propelled him to the rank of corporal in the 135th Battalion, a rank that he held as an instructor in the 134th Battalion in England. When Bob and Murray were drafted to join the 4th Canadian Infantry Battalion in France in late February 1918, they both reverted to the rank of private, and Murray was not promoted back to full corporal until after the armistice.

Upon the dissolution of the 135th Battalion in October 1916, Murray and possibly Bob sent home insignia from their former unit. Writing to Bob and Carrie’s mother, Fleda, from Witley Camp, Surrey, England on October 14th 1916, Murray said “I am enclosing a 135^th enameled badge for you. For if I remember right you haven’t got one. Well I guess I will have to close this note as Bob is waiting to post it. Best love to you and Mr. Leach”. He is not referring here to the shoulder bars that remain in the collection, but to the sort of badge that he wears on his cap or collars in the portrait below.

Perhaps Murray enclosed the battalion shoulder titles to Carrie in a separate letter. Examples of the brass buttons seen in this portrait are also preserved.

Bob and Murray were transferred to the 134th Battalion, 48th Highlander’s Regiment, on October 14th, 1916. They remained with the unit in England until February 28th, 1918, acting as instructors for much of that time. Before proceeding to France, Bob sent home some 134th Battalion insignia with a letter dated February 20th, 1918. “I sent two Glens, 2 sets of collar badges, etc. Please give Tommy one lot”. Glen is short for Glengarry, the traditional caps worn by the Scottish-Canadian unit, and Tommy was Bob’s pet name for his fiancé, Annabel Legg.

Bob and Murray proceeded to France together, joining the 4th Canadian Infantry Battalion, 1st Brigade, 1st Division on March 9th, 1918. In doing so they both reverted to the rank of private and were issued with coloured shoulder patches, and other unit insignia.

Murray applied to be Lance Corporal with the 4th Battalion on October 1st, 1918, following the death of L. Cpl. Walter Panabaker (730317) who was killed in action that day at the end of the battle of Canal du Nord. Just two days before the armistice of November 11, 1918, Murray began a course at the 1st Army Infantry School, which presumably qualified him to be full Corporal, which rank he was promoted to while in Germany in January 1919.

In addition to Murray’s badges and stripes, two coloured shoulder patches remain in the collection from 4th Battalion, 1st Brigade, 1st Division. The smaller green square signifiies the 4th Battalion, while the red rectangle patch belongs to the 1st Division.