After an eight weeks' illness, Colonel Donald Norman Watson Murray, C.M.G., D.5.0., M.D., died at his home, Tuhimata Street, St. Heliers, this morning. Colonel Murray, who, at the time of his death, held the appointment of Assistant-Director of Medical Services, Northern Military District, had a long and distinguished career. Born in Auckland in 1876, he was educated at the Auckland Grammar School, the Auckland University College and Edinburgh University, gaining the degrees of M.D. and Ch.B. Prior to returning to New Zealand

He was honorary physician and surgeon at Leicester Hospital and honorary physician at Ancoats Hospital. In 1900 he served in the Royal Army Medical Corps in the South African War, and afterwards he joined the New Zealand Medical Corps, which was then on a volunteer basis, maintaining his interest in the corps for many years. In 1908 he was appointed police surgeon at Auckland, a position he held until 1929. Volunteering in 1914, he went overseas as Officer Commanding No. 2 Field Ambulance, and for service in the field he was three times mentioned in dispatches, awarded the D.S.O. and later had the C.M.G. conferred on him. At the conclusion of the war he was appointed Assistant Director of Medical Services for the New Zealand Division, and on his return to New Zealand in 1919, he was for some months officer commanding the military annexe, Auckland Hospital. After that he was actively associated with the N.Z.M.C. until posted to the Reserve of Officers in 1921. On the outbreak of World War 2, Colonel Murray was appointed Regional Deputy, Area 1, Auckland, holding this appointment until April, 1941, when he was posted to the hospital ship Maunganui. As senior medical officer, he made four voyages overseas with the Maunganui, relinquishing this command in March, 1942. In June of the same year, he was posted to Headquarters, Northern Military District, as assistant to the A.D.M.S., Colonel C. H. Tewsley, C.M.G., and on the latter's retirement in October last, Colonel Murray succeeded him. Colonel Murray is survived by his wife. The funeral service will be held at St. Mary's Cathedral, at 11.30 a.m. on Thursday, the Rev. L. E. Cartridge officiating. The casket will later be conveyed on a gun carriage to Waikumete.

AUCKLAND STAR, VOLUME LXXVI, ISSUE 209, 4 SEPTEMBER 1945, PAGE 6