John Stewart-Murray Passes Away

Today in Masonic History John Stewart-Murray passes away in 1942.

John George Stewart-Murray was a Scottish solider, peer and politician.

Stewart-Murray was born December 15th, 1871.

At the age of 21 Stewart-Murray joined the Royal Horse Guard which began a long and distinguished military service. He served in Kitchener's expedition to the Sudan where he fought in the Battle of Khartoum and the Battle of Atbara. For his efforts in those battles he was appointed a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order a British order given to members of the military who have served with honor in actual combat.

In 1900 Stewart-Murray was promoted to brevet Major. With the help of his father the 7th Duke of Atholl Murray-Stewart created multiple Scottish Horse units until finally growing the units to a Brigade. They also established a permanent headquarters to supply the Scottish Horse units by the end of the second Boer War.

Stewart-Murray served in both World Wars. In the World War II he was 70 years old. Despite this he voluntarily joined the Home Guard. The Home Guard was a secondary defense force during World War II put in place in case of Nazi invasion into England. The Home Guard was nicknamed "Dad's Army".

Prior to World War I Stewart-Murray was elected Member of Parliament and served from 1910 to 1917. In 1917 he succeeded his father in the House of Lords as the 8th Duke of Atholl. In 1921 he was sworn into the Privy Council.

Among Stewart-Murray's other honorarium were being made a Knight of the Thistle in 1918, becoming Aide-De-camp to George V from 1920 to 1931, and Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1920.

Stewart-Murray passed away on March 16th, 1942.

Atholl served as the Grand Master of Scottish Freemasons from 1908 to 1913.

This article provided by Brother Eric C. Steele.