Michael Murphy (VC)
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Michael Murphy, born (Cahir, County Tipperary September 5, 1831- Darlington April 4, 1893) was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. Army records indicate a date of birth of about 1831-1832; the parish records indicate a birth / baptism of September 5, 1831 and his marriage in 1854. However, in later life, Michael Murphy underreported his age, eg 40 in the 1881 census; 53 at his death in 1893, indicating a date of birth of 1840.
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[edit] Early life
Michael Murphy was born about September 5, 1831 in Cahir, County Tipperary to John Murphy and Hanora Sheehan. He had at least one sibling — a younger sister, Mary (born circa 1846). Little is known about his early life until 1854 when he married Mary Anne Walsh in Cahir. After this marriage, he joined the army.
[edit] Army career
On August 27, 1855, Michael Murphy enlisted in the 17th Lancers at Cork. Since the 17th Lancers were in India at the time, he started training four days later with the 16th Lancers at the Portobello Barracks, Dublin. On May 22, 1856, he joined the 17th Lancers who had returned from Ismid. However, on October 18, 1856, he joined the 2nd Battalion Military Train (later the Royal Army Service Corps). In March 1857, he left the Curragh Camp and boarded the Calypso steamer at Dublin for Woolwich. On April 28, he embarked for Hong Kong. On reaching Indonesia, the Battalion was diverted on the Blervic Castle to Calcutta because of the Indian Mutiny, arriving on August 27. Quartering at Fort William, they moved to Dum dum then to Allahabad, ready for the Relief of Lucknow. On November 25, they moved to Alum Bagh — a fort outside Lucknow. On March 29, 1858 the Battalion was subsumed into the Azimghur Field Force.
[edit] The deed
In 1858, during the Indian Mutiny, Michael Murphy was a Private (Farrier) in the 2nd Battalion, Military Train, of the British Army fighting at Nathupur, near Azimgurh or Azamgarh, when the following deed took place for which he and Samuel Morley were awarded the VC.
- On April 15, 1858 near Azimgurh, India, when Koer Singh's army was being pursued, the adjutant of the 3rd Sikh Cavalry was wounded, dismounted and surrounded by the enemy. Farrier Murphy, together with a private (Samuel Morley), immediately went to his aid. The farrier cut down several of the enemy and although he himself was severely wounded the two men never left the wounded officer, until further assistance arrived thereby saving him from being killed on the spot.
Lieutenant Hamilton, adjutant of the 3rd Sikh Cavalry, died of his injuries the following night.
On May 27, 1859, Murphy's VC was announced in the London Gazette.
On January 4, 1860, Queen Victoria presented Michael Murphy with his Victoria Cross at the Quadrangle, Windsor Castle.
[edit] Return to army life
After his injuries at Nathupur, Murphy was invalided to Calcutta and returned to the UK and the Invalid Depot, Great Yarmouth. On May 14, 1859 he resumed his duties at the Depot, at Aldershot, and returned to the 2nd Battalion on October 1, 1859. In 1860, his wife was brought onto establishment and he was soon promoted to Farrier Sergeant. In January 1862, he was attached to the 1st Battalion and later served 5 months in Canada, returning on June 14, 1862 to Woolwich and then onto Aldershot. On March 21, 1865, he transferred to the 6th Battalion and moved to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. On September 6 the following year, he reattached to the Military Train at the Curragh in Ireland, reengaging on March 21, 1867. By 1868, he was back at Woolwich with his wife and two children. By the time the Military Train became the Army Service Corps in 1869, he had achieved the rank of Farrier-Major and was stationed in Aldershot. On July 1, 1871, he transferred from the Army Service Corps to the 7th Hussars. He was therefore still at Aldershot when an incident occurred that affected the remainder of his life.
[edit] The forfeiture
On January 26, 1872, a civilian, James Green, was stopped by Farrier-Major Knott at Aldershot with a wagon containing two sacks - one of 6 bushels of oats; the other of 12lb of hay. Green stated that Michael Murphy had given him permission to remove these goods. Murphy and Green were then arrested for the theft of these goods. At the trial at Winchester, Green was acquitted and released; but Murphy was convicted and sentenced to nine months' hard labour at the House of Correction for the county of Hampshire. On March 5, an order was issued for the forfeit of his VC. Mary Anne Murphy and his remaining child disappeared from the Married Establishment.
He was one of only eight men whose VCs were forfeited — the rules were later changed to avoid further forfeiture.
On November 30, 1872, Michael Murphy was released from prison and returned to his regiment at Hounslow.
[edit] Later army career
During April 1873, his battalion marched to Wimbledon and back. In September 1873, his battalion marched to Maidstone and back. By December that year, his wife and child (aged 9yrs 11m) were back on married establishment.
Michael Murphy spent June 1874 in hospital while his troop marched to Norwich. On December 7 1874, he was attached to the 9th Lancers. In January 1875, the 9th Lancers were sent to Bombay, but Michael Murphy reattached to the 5th Lancers returning from India. On February 1, 1875, he was discharged from the Army at Colchester with train fare to enable him to reside in Bellingham, Northumberland. The whereabouts of his wife were unknown but one child was recorded. However, a Mary Murphy had died in Bellingham in 1873 aged 37.
[edit] Later life
From Bellingham, Michael Murphy moved to Scotswood, Northumberland, Murton, County Durham, and, by 1881, Heworth. After this time his family either died or separated. Before 1891, he moved on his own to a cottage in Blackwell, outside Darlington (owned by Sir Henry Havelock-Allan - another Victoria Cross recipient) and then on to Darlington.
On April 4, 1893, Michael Murphy died at 22 Vulcan Street, Darlington, and was buried in the North Road Municipal Cemetery, Darlington. His sole heir was Bridget Mary Anne Dobson, a niece.
A gravestone was erected by Sir Henry Havelock-Allan and comrades from the India campaign.
[edit] The medal
Although Michael Murphy had worn his Victoria Cross during his trial in 1872, the VC could not be found after the forfeiture order in March 1872. The medal resurfaced in June 1898, when it was bought at auction by Master Sergeant Masterman on behalf of the Royal Army Service Corps. This medal was presented to the regiment and has moved from Aldershot to the Princess Royal Barracks, Deepcut, Surrey.
Michael Murphy's Victoria Cross can be viewed, but only by prior arrangement with the Royal Logistic Corps Museum.
[edit] Family
Michael Murphy married:
Mary Walsh (1836?? - 18??) at Cahir, County Tipperary, on February 26, 1854, probably with issue:
- (Michael?) Murphy, born 1855, probably in Cork
By 1864 and possibly earlier, Michael married Mary Fox, who bore him the following children
- (Thomas?) Murphy, born 1859, probably in Bellingham, Northumberland
- John Murphy, born 1861, in Bellingham
- Edward John Murphy, born January 1864 in Aldershot
- George Murphy, born 1876 Scotswood
- Mary Ann Murphy, born 1878 Murton
His epitaph records that three of his sons were killed in action and the fourth was serving abroad at the time of his death. These three sons were:
- A colour-sergeant of the 24th Foot who was killed at Isandula (or the Battle of Isandlwana) on January 22, 1879
- A sergeant of artillery who was killed at Tel-el-Kebir in 1882
- A corporal of the Durham Light Infantry who died on the Nile in 1885
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Lieutenant-Colonel D J Owen MBE, Regimental Treasurer, The Royal Logistic Corps
- 1871 UK Census - Staff Sergeant, Army Service Corps, aged 40, of Aldershot - RG10/819 f.118 p.5
- 1881 UK Census - Horsekeeper, aged 40 (50?), of 8 Double Row West, Heworth, County Durham - RG11/5030 f.47 p.33
- 1891 UK Census - Blacksmith, aged 51 (60?), of Blackwell, Darlington, County Durham - RG12/2043 f.61 p.14
- General Register Office, Register of Deaths, JUN 1893 10a 1 DARLINGTON - Death of Michael Murphy, aged 53 (62?), at 22 Vulcan Street, Darlington
[edit] Bibliography
Listed in order of publication year
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (1981, 1988 and 1997)
- The Irish Sword (Brian Clarke 1986)
- Irelands VCs ISBN 1-899243-00-3 (Dept of Economic Development 1995)
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)
[edit] External links
This page has been migrated from the Victoria Cross Reference with permission.
