Page 8 - News On 7 November 2021

HISTORY INSIGHTS

HISTORY NOTES FROM HAZZARD'S CORNERS, BY GRANT KETCHESON
SGT. ALEC MURRAY, H&PE REGT. (1914-1943)

Alec Murray was born on February 11, 1914, in Swinton, Manchester, England. His parents were Robert and
Winnifred Murray. We know little of his childhood or of the fate of his parents. At the age of fourteen Alec
was employed as a milk-delivery boy, with an uncle listed as next-of-kin. At that period in history, there
were several organizations involved in assisting young people to travel overseas for employment
opportunities. One of these organizations, the British Immigration and Colonization Association, assisted
Alec Murray in his quest for a new life in Canada. On October 28, 1928, along with other immigrant
teenagers, he arrived in Quebec City. Pvt. Alec Murray C4552

Alec was assigned to a farm near Hazzard's Corners. Inspection records from those early
days describe the young man as “a good worker and of good character.” He found a
comfortable fit in the Hazzard's community and remained there, becoming a Canadian
citizen. Alec must have carefully hoarded his Depression-era wages, for in 1934 he made a
trip back to his old home. While there he met a charming young lady, Margaret Joan Lomax,
a member of his former church community.
When Canada declared war in September 1939, Alec Murray, like the other “English lads” in
the area, was at the Madoc Armories in less than a week, ready to do his bit for King and
Alec gathering sap in the late 1930s Country. While training in England, Alec renewed his acquaintance with Joan Lomax and, in
1941, they were married. By late 1943, as part of the Canadian First Division, the “plough-
boys” of the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment were in the thick of battle in the invasion
of Italy.
Alec was assigned to a farm near Hazzard's Corners. Inspection records from those early
days describe the young man as “a good worker and of good character.” He found a
comfortable fit in the Hazzard's community and remained there, becoming a Canadian
citizen. Alec must have carefully hoarded his Depression-era wages, for in 1934 he made a
trip back to his old home. While there he met a charming young lady, Margaret Joan Lomax,
a member of his former church community.
When Canada declared war in September 1939, Alec Murray, like the other “English lads” in
the area, was at the Madoc Armories in less than a week, ready to do his bit for King and
Country. While training in England, Alec renewed his acquaintance with Joan Lomax and, in
1941, they were married. By late 1943, as part of the Canadian First Division, the “plough-
boys” of the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment were in the thick of battle in the invasion
Alec and Joan on their wedding day of Italy.

On December 9, 1943, as the Canadians fought fiercely to cross the Moro River,
prior to the famous Battle of Ortona, Sgt. Alec Murray C4552 was killed in
action. Along with 1500 other Canadians, he lies nearby in the Moro River War
Cemetery.
The sad tale of the shortened life of Alec Murray might have ended there.
However, there was a sequel. Joan Lomax Murray, now a Canadian war widow,
came to Canada to meet her late husband's Hazzard's Corners family. While
visiting one of the farms on which Alec had worked, she met Roscoe (Rocky)
Keene, fell in love and married. Their fifty-three year love story ended with
Joan's passing, following a long period of loving nursing care by Rocky. Margaret
Joan and Roscoe James Keene now rest in Hazzard's Cemetery. On their
memorial, Roscoe had a tribute inscribed to Joan's first love, Alec Murray. It
ends with these words: “He gave his all for us.”
"He gave his all for us"
(Hazzard's Cemetery)
Lest we forget