J. Murray

Drummer Sergeant J. Murray was a non-commissioned officer serving with the North Lincolnshire Regiment of Foot when the Regiment was posted to the Eastern Frontier of the Cape Colony between 1860 and 1863, shortly after the Xhosa cattle-killing movement and famine (1857-1858). At first, the Regiment was posted to Grahamstown but was later transferred to Keiskama Hoek (Keiskammahoek) in 1862.

Contribution to SA theatre

Drummer Sergeant J. Murray acted in five productions with the Sergeants of the Regiment. In two of the productions, he played female roles.

October 8, 1860: Acted in the Sergeants of the Regiment’s performance of Mark Lemon's one-act farce, The Camp at Chobham. (Jones).

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, No 3, Grahamstown, November 1, 1860, page 30.)

October 12, 1860: Acted multiple roles in the Sergeants of the Regiment’s production of William Shakespeare's tragedy of Macbeth. (Donaldbain, Duncan’s son), (Caithness) (Fleance, son to Banquo) & (the Second Murderer).

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, No 3, November 1, 1860. Page 31.)

Christmas 1860: Acted in "a grand Balletical (sic) Introduction" entitled The Rivals. (Saulo-solo-darnell, an officious porter in the service of Lord Westawiney Province)

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, No 4, Christmas Supplement, 1860. Page 51.)

May 27, 1861: Acted in the Sergeants of the Regiment’s Dramatic Club two-act drama production of Talfourd’s of Macbeth Travestie. (Donaldbain).

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, No 7, June 13, 1861. Page 92.)

August 30, September 11 & 19, 1862: Acted under the stage name of Mademiselle Claudine Saint_Germain in the adaptation to the stage from Mrs Moodie’s beautiful tale in a three-act drama by members of the Dramatic Club, 2nd Battalion 10th Regiment and presented for the first time, The Royal Quixote. (Countess Aurora).

(North Lincoln Sphinx, Vol 1, No 14, December 10, 1862, page 261.)