I Confess

I Confess is an intimate portrayal of command in the crucible of war. Major General John Joseph Murray fought in the AIF in both the First and Second World Wars. He won the Military Cross as a company commander during the disastrous Battle of Fromelles, and in the Second World War he commanded the Australian 20th Brigade during the siege of Tobruk, that grinding, tortuous desert defence that saw the German forces label his men 'rats', a badge they have worn since with pride and honour. I Confess is a carefully crafted analysis of leadership under pressure, a very personal reflection on its stresses, its tragedies and its lifelong rewards.

Major General John Murray was born at The Rocks in Sydney in 1892, the fourth of seven children of Irish immigrants. He was educated at St Patrick's and went to work at Anthony Horderns in 1910. At the same time he joined the Citizen Military Force, in which he remained between the wars. He enlisted in the AIF in 1915 and fought in the AIF in both the First and Second World Wars. He ended the war as General Officer Commanding the Northern Territory Force. Major General Murray died in 1951 after a short diplomatic career. His hobbies were family, motoring and military art.