Notes from : 'My Ain Folk' by Marge Shearing
Thomas Everitt McDonald Murray was the youngest of the 'Roode Bloem' children of his generation,and the one who has done the most. Very like his father in many ways he has a kind gentle and loving nature and a keen interest in public affairs.
Tim's schooling followed a rather chequered pattern. First a governess then in 1922 a short time at St. Andrew's College, Grahamstown where he received such a rough handling from a cruel master that he ran away with an older boy. They were picked up 22 miles outside Grahamstown and returned to school. However, conditions did not improve and he became so desperately unhappy that he was brought home. Until the end of 1923 he was tutored by Mr. Green of Rhynheath. In 1924 he went to Bishops (Diocesan College) in Cape Town and there spent four very happy years.
On leaving school he returned to 'Roode Bloem' to start his farming career. He learned well and in time became a partner with his father and brother Alex in all the properties. This lasted until his father's death in 1941 when the four farms were divided between the two brothers.
As a young man he met and fell in love with a very pretty student nurse, Marie Trollip, a younger sister of 'Tom' Minnie Trollip who later married his brother, George.
It was not long before another house was built on 'Roode Bloem'.
On the 2nd May 1934 Marie and Tim were married. Early in 1940 soon after the birth of their 2nd son Tim joined Die Middellandse Regiment which was kept in training in South Africa until 1941 when they were transported to North Africa. Tragically after the fall of Tobruk in June 1942 the members of the Regiment (with few exceptions) became Prisoners of War. After a march from Tobruk to Gazala they were taken to Derna in a near starved condition. There they were fenced into a cemetery for seven weeks. They were then taken to Bengazi for five and a half weeks then on to Tripoli for three weeks then finally by boat to Italy where they were kept in a P.O.W. camp for a considerable time.
Before the men were transferred to their permanent P.O.W. camp in Germany Tim and some friends managed to escape and for nine months lived hiding in the bush and mountains of Italy. The fact that they survived was largely due to the courage and kindness of the Italian peasants who, from some of their own meagre supplies fed them whenever possible.
On the 9th June 1944 Tim's 34th birthday they reached the allied lines. From there they were, in stages, returned to Egypt and flown home.
After a joyful reunion with his family Tim gradually returned to normal life and resumed his farming affairs.
Feeling the need for further expansion in 1953 he bought the farm 'Zuurfontein' in the Cradock district. As his three sons grew up and all wished to farm he gradually established them. First Everitt on 'Roode Bloem' which he will take over from his father, Peter on 'Zuurfontein' which was later sold and another Cradock farm 'Rygerspoort' bought in its place. Keith started on 'Oulton', an inherited farm. Later this too was sold and the farm 'Prospect', also in the Cradock district was bought for Keith. This farm with permanent water from the Fish River Irrigation Scheme has great potential as stock and agricultural or pastured farm.
THRICE CAPTURED BY GERMANS: JULY 1944.
Two more D.M.R. men return home.
Sgts 'Tim' Murray and 'Bun' Kingwill both of Die Middellandse Regiment who were captured at Tobruk have returned to Graaff-Reinet.
They were captured three times by the Germans while hiding in Italy, after the capitulation by the Italians but each time they got away by pretending to be Italians -this despite Sgt. Kingwill's fair complexion.
They reached the allied lines on the 9th June. For three days before they 'lay doggo' in a small bush of oaks and brambles while our own artillery bombed the Jerries all around them. On the third day they saw the Germans retreating but did not expose themselves as they thought the enemy were still behind the dense bush, especially when the Allies sent up another salvo.
Later a man in a green uniform entered the bush and they kept dead quiet, fearing that he was a German. Then they saw that he was wearing a civilian hat and found out that he was an Italian escaping from the Germans. He told them it was safe to make a break for it to the Allied line.
Rags and Tatters.
As they were approaching our lines a British Officer saw them (they were in rags and tatters) and drew his revolver. Sgt. Murray yelled 'Whoa Sir' and the officer asked in a surprised voice "Can you speak English?" They were, by this time so used to speaking Italian that Sgt. Murray replied "Si, Si". Sgt. Kingwill's fairness was evidently quite a snag when they were trying to persuade the Germans that they were ITIS for although there are some fair skinned Italians in the north in the south they were all dark.
Sgt. Murray said that the really poor peasants were wonderfully good about feeding them. The Fascists interned an old man who had been helping them, but while he was in the concentration camp his wife continued to take them what she could at night, hiding the food under her clothes.
Ate Anything.
"The Italians make beautiful bread, even out of pure mealie meal. It is light and never sour" Said Sgt Murray. "They also eat a thick mealie meal porridge which is thrown out onto a table and for a special treat is served with gravy. The refugees also ate all sorts of other things while they were hiding in the mountains including the lungs of pigs and donkeys, snails, wild spinach,monkey rope and chick weed with olive oil when possible. "And yet, the wonderful thing about it is that we were never sick the whole time we were refugeeing although we were often cold and wet as well".
He said that the Italians keep merinos not for their wool but for their milk. They eat the young lambs and milk the ewes sometimes as many as 150 which would give enough milk to fill a soap-pot.
By Foot, Plane, Train and Car Home Again.
Sgt. Tim Murray of D.M.R. returned to 'Roode Bloem' on Saturday. He was taken as a Prisoner of War at Tobruk, and is the second of the Graaff-Reinet D.M.R. to return to his home town.
When Italy capitulated he remained in hiding and reached the Allied lines on June 9th. After a spell in Egypt he flew down to the Union. From Pretoria he travelled by train and his wife met him at Naauwpoort on Saturday morning and he motored home.
He has been away for three years.
22.7. 1944.
THE BIGGEST LAND DEAL IN THE HISTORY OF CRADOCK.
Local farmer buys 7,358 morgen for One hundred and sixteen thousand five hundred pounds.
On Tuesday morning the biggest land deal in the history of Cradock went through when Mr. T.E.M. Murray of 'Roode Bloem', Graaff-Reinet bought 'Zuurfontein' from Mr. Le Brandt Scheepers of Cradock. September 1953.
As owner of one of the outstanding Friesland Herds in South Africa Tim's interests were naturally largely focused on these animals. As a councillor of the S.A. Friesland Breeders' Association in 1956 he, accompanied by Marie and the Secretary of the Association, travelled 12,000 miles by car on a good will tour through the Rhodesias, Nyasaland, Tanganyika and Kenya giving lectures every second or third day and judging at two shows.
In 1963 Tim was elected President of the S.A.F.B.A. He filled this position so well, and to such benefit of the Association that he was re-elected to the Presidency for sixteen consecutive years. During this time he visited Rhodesia in 1967 where he judged at the 1st National Friesland Cattle Show which was held in Umtali. In 1972 he judged at the 2nd National Friesland Show in Salisbury. He paid a goodwill visit to Angola in 1969. In 1972 he attended the World Conference of Friesland Breeders in Cordona, Italy. There he had the honour of being asked to thank the country for the arrangements at the conference. Before leaving Italy Tim and Marie visited Angelo and Pierena Makeri, two of the Italians who rendered him great aid when he was an escaped P.O.W. This was Tim's third visit to his peasant friends as he had been to see them in 1952 and again in 1970.
Makeris.
Mr Murray said that the Makeris lived at Montelabreth, a town some 20 miles northeast of Rome. He and Mr. Kingwill's had escaped from a P.O.W. camp and the Makaris, at the risk of their lives, befriended them. In fact, Mr. Makeri was so brave that he escaped from an internment camp being suspected of befriending escaped P.O.W's and soon after getting away walked through the German cordon and brought them food. "We were recaptured three times but eventually, with their help,we managed to make our way back to our lines" he said.
IN 1952 a second enterprise of major importance was started at 'Roode Bloem". The Timarie Arabian Horse Stud. This was largely at Marie's instigation and became her main farming interest. In that year, two mares, Kumara and Kasala were bought from Miss Yule in Hertfordshire, England. Shortly after their arrival Kumara gave birth to a colt which was named Major Grant and in time became an outstanding stud stallion. Later another exceptionally fine stallion, Major Brooke was bred and reared at 'Roode Bloem'. Sadly in 1960 at a show he picked up a tetanus germ and died. This was a serious loss. In 1i64 a 14 year old stallion, Chief Kasala, was imported and used as a top sire for many years. The Timarie Stud became progressively well known and appreciated and went on to become the leading stud in South Africa. It was visited by breeders from all over the country and from overseas, including the Duke and Duchess of Rutland.
Although the Frieslands have been handed over to son Everitt, the Arabian Stud is still (1984) run by Marie and Tim. Tim was elected President of the South African Stud Book Association when it was formed in 1973 and held this position until June 1980. On his retirement he was thanked in a very laudatory speech for his sincerity, honesty, tolerance,thoroughness and sense of responsibility towards the Association. He still ll(1984) serves on the Executive and Action Committee for the Association remains a great interest to him as he says "the pedigree livestock industry is virtually the hub around which the entire livestock industry revolves".
Apart from farming and affairs pertaining to farming Tim has many other interests, possibly the greatest is in the Rotary which was established in Graaff-Reinet in 1957. He became a foundation member of this branch and has ever since identified himself with its many activities. He became President in 1966 and for the 1970 - 71 year had the honour of being elected District (232) Governor of Rotary. This involved undertaking a journey to Atlanta Georgia, U.S.A. for the 1970 International Convention before taking up duties in District 232 in South Africa. On this trip Tim and Marie were away for 2 months fulfilling a tightly packed programme.
During the year of Tim's Governorship he and Marie travelled incessantly visiting the numerous Rotary branches in his district, promoting his theme "Bridge the Gap" between people, between nations, between man and his environment. Giving talks two to three times a week. At all these gatherings and through all the years since 1957 Marie played, and is still (1984) playing her part as Tim's Rotary Ann. She is an indefatigable worker and helper in all Tim's projects.
For many years Tim has been a member of the Council of St. James' Church in Graaff-Reinet and today (1984) is the oldest member in serving years on the council.
In the field of sport his first love was given to rugby. He played for his school, later for his home club - the Union Club later known as the Graaff-Reinet Rugby Club, The Karoo Rugby Sub-Union, The Eastern Province Country Club Union, Vice-President of the North Eastern Cape Rugby Union and a member of the South African Rugby Board.
In 1980 Tim suffered a severe thrombosis, but after intensive care he made a good recovery.
