Person:John Murray (25)

John joined the Bechuanaland Mounted Police. Later he joined the Natal Bank in Johannesburg as a teller, and was selected to take gold valued at about R400 000 to the railhead in Natal - by buggy! He became a noted athlete, and won the Wanderers Grand Challenge Cup on several occasions, but hte lure of the colonies was strong, and he accepted an appointment as Sub-Inspector of Police in Basutoland, then became Financial Secretary and was finally the last Deputy resident Commissioner in the territory.

John and Florence entertained many V.I.P.'s during this time - the Governor- General, the Earl of Athlone and Princess Alice, and their retinues were guests for a week, during which time Florence celebrated her 50th birthday with a dinner party at which the Earl toasted her, and presented her with a silver crested inkwell and a signed photograph. At the same time, other guests included the Secretary of States for the Colonies, Mr J.H.Thomas and his wife and two daughters - the General Hertzog also arrived with about twenty-five Parliamentary delegates from the Commonwealth. John was awarded the C.B.E. prior to his retirement in 1926, after 33 years' service: he spent his last days in East London.

(Information received from Peter Murray in 1997 shows John Pears Murray, C.B.E., became Deputy Resident Commissioner of Basutoland and lived at 40 Princess Alice Drive, Nahoon, East London. He married Florence Harriet Trollip in 1900, and they had four children.)