Michael Murphy (VC)
With permission from Iain Stewart www.victoriacross.org.uk |
For other people with the same name, see Michael Murphy
Michael Murphy (Cahir, County Tipperary September 5 1831- Darlington April 4 1893) was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. Army records indicate that Michael Murphy was born in 1832; Michael Murphy's own civilian records (1881 Census, death certificate) indicate a date of birth of 1840. Since Murphy's gravestone was erected by his former comrades, the 1832 date appears there.
In 1858, Michael Murphy was a Farrier in the 2nd Bn., Military Train (later Royal Army Service Corps), British Army during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place for which he was 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.
On May 27 1859, his VC was announced in the London Gazette. Michael Murphy later achieved the rank of Farrier-Major. In 1871, he transferred from the Military Train to the 7th Hussars.
In January 1872, he was arrested for the theft of 6 bushels of oats and 10lbs of hay. He was sentenced to 9 months hard labour. On March 5, an order was issued for the forfeit of his VC. On February 1 1875, he was discharged from the Army and worked subsequently as a Labourer at an Iron works in Darlington. He died in Darlington on April 4 1893 and was buried in the North Road Municipal Cemetery, Darlington.
He was one of only eight men whose VCs were forfeited - the rules were later changed to avoid further forfeiture.
The medal
His Victoria Cross can be viewed by prior arrangement only with:
Family
Michael Murphy married twice
First to Mary Walsh in 1854, with several children including
- Ann Murphy, born 1868
Secondly to Julia (possibly Power?), d. 1888, probably in the early 1870s, and had at least three children:
- Michael Murphy, born 1874 Scotland
- Patrick Murphy, born 1878 Darlington
- Mary Ann Murphy, born September 1880 Darlington
See also
Reference
- Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)
- Monuments To Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- 1881 UK Census - Labourer at Iron Works, aged 40, of 48 Killinghall Street, Darlington, County Durham - RG11/4885 f.134 p.30
- General Register Office, Register of Deaths, DEC 1888 10a 9 DARLINGTON - Death of Julia Murphy, aged 37
- General Register Office, Register of Deaths, JUN 1893 10a 1 DARLINGTON - Death of Michael Murphy, aged 53, at 22 Vulcan Street, Darlington.
External links
This page has been migrated from the Victoria Cross Reference with permission.