Sgt James Ernest ‘Mac’ McMurtry, of Lowestoft, died very suddenly, in Jan 2011, aged 56. James was affectionately known as Mac to all his Territorial Army Colleagues.

Mac was attested into No 1 (Suffolk) Coy, 5th Bn, The Royal Anglian Regiment on 2 Aug 1982 having joining at Lowestoft Outstation. Unsure of what was expected of him in his application form, his reply to the question: ‘Are you prepared to have your hair cut?’ was ‘Within Reason’. In those days, it would have given the recruiting sergeant a bit of a shock.

From the outset Mac was a committed Part-Time Soldier and became involved in all aspects of TA life, in a variety of sub units and roles including: Recce Platoon, Rifle Platoon, Recruit Training, Armourer and Recruiting. He diligently kept his Platoon Commander informed when he would be absent from training. He wrote on one occasion that he would not be able to attend the training weekend as the Co-op Pea Season had started and he would be working shifts at weekends.

During Mac’s Long TA career he took part in exercises in Cyprus, Belgium, Germany and the USA. He was always keen to lend a hand wherever he could and was passionate about maintaining a photographic archive of life in the TA and particularly of the Lowestoft Platoon.

Mac was always a welcome sight at the end of an 8 mile Combat Fitness Test, standing there with an urn of fresh brewed tea on a frosty Sunday morning when he had woken early and cooked bacon rolls for the Recruit Training Staff.

He was a tireless worker who has never sought promotion, but carried the respect of all those that worked with him.

In 1995 he was awarded the Territorial Efficiency Medal for 12 years’ service and in 2005 he was awarded the Volunteer Reserve Service Medal after a further 10 years’ service. It was a pleasure to see Mac awarded the Lord Lieutenants Certificate of Meritorious Conduct in April 2010.

Mac’s Territorial Army career came to an end in 2010 when he reached discharge age, but he continued his military work by joining Suffolk Army Cadets. He maintained his contact with the TA and proudly continued to wear his 3 Royal Anglian Flash.

St Marks Church in Oulton Broad was packed to overflowing for his funeral. He will always be remembered as Mac and be greatly missed by past and present TA and his Army Cadet colleagues alike.

GR and JR