Brian Stewart Murray KCMG AO (1921-1991) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree

RADM Sir Brian Stewart "Chick" Murray KCMG AO

Born 26 Dec 1921 in Glen Huntly, Victoria, Australia

Ancestors

Son of Alan Stewart Murray DCM and Lily Astria (Fenton) Murray

Brother of Mary Margarita Murray

Husband of Elizabeth Amy (Malcolmson) Murray — married 1934 in Kew, Victoria, Australia

[children unknown]

Died 4 Jun 1991 at age 69 in Murrumbateman, New South Wales, Australia

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Profile last modified 18 Oct 2023 | Created 17 Oct 2023

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1 Biography
- 1.1 Honours and awards
2 Sources
3 See also

Biography

Brian Murray KCMG AO is Notable.

Rear Admiral Sir Brian Murray KCMG AO was a senior officer in the Royal Australian Navy, having served from 1939 to 1978 and the 22nd Governor of Victoria, serving from March 1982 until October 1985.

RADM Brian 'Chick' Murray, c1978

Brian Murray KCMG AO was born in Victoria, Australia

Brian Stewart Murray was born on 26th December 1921 in Glen Huntly, eleven kilometres south-east of Melbourne's Central Business District, Victoria, Australia. He was the second of five children of Victorian-born Alan Stewart Murray, a surveyor and Great War veteran, and his Egyptian-born wife Lily Fenton. ^[1] He was educated at Hampton High School.

Brian Murray KCMG AO is a Military Veteran.
Served in the Royal Australian Navy 1939-1978
career culminated as Deputy Chief of Naval Staff with the rank of Rear Admiral

Brian entered the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) as a special entry Cadet Midshipman on 18th March 1939, ^[2] and was posted immediately to the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, England. During the Second World War he served in RAN ships in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, and in the North Sea, including heavy cruiser HMAS Canberra, heavy cruiser HMAS Australia and destroyer HMAS Nepal. In January 1945 he was a Lieutenant back on board HMAS Australia, when Japanese kamikaze aircraft attacked the ship at Lingayen Gulf in the Philippines. ^[3]

After the war Brian qualified as a navigating and air direction officer before exchange service with the Royal Navy' Pacific Fleet. He was navigator in the sloop HMS Alacrity from November 1947 to June 1949, during which time the ship operated in Malayan waters during the early part of the Malayan Emergency. ^[3]

Brian did two tours during the Korean War, HMAS Sydney from August 1951 to March 1952 and, having been promoted to Commander, HMAS Condamine from February to August 1955; totalling 353 days. ^[4] Whilst a Lieutenant Commander aboard HMAS Sydney in 1952 he was Mentioned in Despatches, equivalent to today's Commendation for Gallantry, for his devotion to service in Korean waters; gazetted in London on 28 October 1952 and in Canberra two months later. ^[5]^[6]^[7]

In August 1954, Brian was appointed in command of the Bay Class (modified River Class) frigate HMAS Condamine. ^[3]

Brian married Elizabeth Malcolmson on 10th September 1954 in Kew, Victoria. ^[8]

In HMAS Condamine he conducted post-Armistice patrol duties in Korean waters during March-July 1955. He was then posted to the Naval Air Station HMAS Albatross at Nowra as the Executive Officer. ^[3]

In March 1957, Commander Murray joined the aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne as the Executive Officer. During 1957-58 the ship undertook deployments to South East Asia, Japan, Hawaii and the South West Pacific. Brian's next attended the Royal Staff College, Greenwich, England. ^[3]

Promoted to Captain on 30th June 1961, he commanded the frigates HMAS Queenborough (1961-62) and HMAS Parramatta (1963). ^[3]

Sadly, Elizabeth passed away in January 1962, three months after the birth of their third child. The demands of office and responsibility for three young children during sea commands soon weighed heavily. The RAN subsequently posted Brian to Navy Office, Canberra, as director of plans 1964-65. ^[3]

Brian married a second time, to Susan Hill-Douglas on 29th January 1965 in St Simon's and St Jude’s Church of England (Anglican Church), Bowral, New South Wales, ^[9] but in 1966 he successfully petitioned for an annulment on the grounds the union was not consummated. He later described the marriage as 'a terrible mistake'.

Brian undertook the 1966 course at the Imperial Defence College, London. ^[3]

Going back to sea, Brian commanded the fleet oiler HMAS Supply in 1967. This was followed by two years, 1968-69 as services attaché at the Australian Embassy in Tokyo.

On board HMAS Sydney (1970), he did a tour of duty during the Vietnam War. ^[10] During this time the Sydney was nicknamed the 'Vung Tau Ferry' for its role in transporting Australian troops to and from South Vietnam.

It was then back to Canberra, giving the children several years of stability, serving from February 1971 to January 1974 as director, joint policy, Department of Defence. ^[3]

Brian married Janette Paris, a schoolteacher and former Sacre Coeur nun, on 12th April 1973 in Melbourne. ^[11] Rear Admiral (Sir) David Stevenson, who knew Murray well and had observed in 1971 that Brian had become 'a somewhat remote character' and noted a 'lack of positiveness' in his work, wrote in 1976 that the death of Brian’s first wife and his 'most unfortunate second marriage' had 'affected his career markedly. His present marriage has been a great success and his service improved accordingly'. ^[12]

Brian served as naval officer-in-charge, Victoria in 1974-75. He was appointed Deputy Chief of Naval Staff in 1975; retiring from the RAN on 31st August 1978. ^[3] He was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal in 1977 and appointed Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the Australia Day Honours 1978, for his 'service to the Royal Australian Navy. ^[13]

Brian and Janette established a winery

The Murrays purchased land at Murrumbateman, in the Yass Valley thirty kilometres north-west of Canberra, in New South Wales, intending to breed thoroughbred horses. Instead, they established a winery, Doonkuna Estate, which developed a fine reputation for the quality of its table wines. ^[3]

Brian was created Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) on 26th February 1982 ^[14] and sworn in as Governor of Victoria on 1st March. Following constant 'harassment' by the Labor premier, John Cain (Cain had become premier in April 1982 and was overtly anti-monarchy), Brian resigned on 3rd October 1985. Brian succeeded The Hon. Sir Henry Winneke AC KCMG KCVO OBE as Victoria's 22nd Governor and was succeeded by Rev'd Prof. J Davis McCaughey AC. ^[15]

Aged just 69 years, he passed away of cancer on 4th June 1991 in Murrumbateman. ^[16] He was accorded the honour of a state funeral in St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne, by the State of Victoria, complete with Royal Australian Navy escort and full naval honours. ^[3] His ashes were placed in Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Springvale, Victoria. Brian was survived by Lady (Janette) Murray and his son and two daughters from his first marriage.