Thomas Barr Murray was born on 17th April 1935 at 44 Dandy Row, Magheramorne, Co. Antrim. Known as Tommy, he was the son of farm labourer James Alexander Murray.
17th April 1946 was the first day of the Easter holidays and Tommy’s 11th birthday. He spent the day playing with friends in a disused quarry. The British Army, Home Guard, and US Army had used the area as a rifle range and bomb-throwing range during the Second World War and the boys found a No. 68 Anti-Tank Grenade.
Murray picked up the grenade and struck it with a rock causing it to explode. The explosion caused fatal injuries to Tommy and also injured his best friend John McBroom. The injured boy was taken to Smiley Cottage Hospital, Larne, Co. Antrim and treated for shrapnel wounds to the legs.
The Larne Times newspaper reported findings from Coroner Dr. H Baird’s inquest on 25th May 1946. Thomas McBroom, John’s 16 year old brother gave evidence stating he saw the boys playing with a metal object. Sergeant S McKeever of the Ulster Special Constabulary identified the object as a No. 68 Anti-Tank Grenade.
Thomas Barr Murray’s grave is in St John’s Church of Ireland Churchyard, Glynn, Co. Antrim. His name features on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission list of civilian casualties.