William Murphy
Member of the 2nd Nottingham Company Boys' Brigade (Dakeyne Street Lads' Club)
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
William Murphy was born in 1898 in Nottingham and was the son of John William Flinders Murphy a general post office engineer and Charlotte Murphy nee Cleaver of 36, St. Matthias Rd., Nottingham
His father John William Flinders Murphy was born in 1868 in Nottingham and his mother Charlotte Cleaver in 1870 also in Nottingham, they were marriedon 31st May 1888 at St Matthias Church, Sneinton, Nottingham they went on to have 6 children, sadly 3 were to die in infancy or early childhood.
In the 1911 census the family are living at 31 Seymour Strret, Nottingham, John 43 yrs is a wireman for the genral post office, he is living with his wife Charlotte an embroidery had and their children, Thomas 21 yrs a general labourer, Mable 17 yrs a box hand and William 12 yrs a scholar.
Private William Murphy enlisted at Nottingham he initially served with the service number 4610 in the Sherwood Foresters Regiment he transferred to the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. He was killed in action on 3rd May 1917, having no known grave his name is commemorated on the Arras Memorial.
In memoriam published 22nd January 1918 in the Nottingham Evening Post :-
“MURPHY. – Reported missing May 3rd, 1917, now reported killed, Pte. W. Murphy (Billy), Royal Warwicks (late Sherwoods), aged 19, dearly beloved son of Mr. and Mrs. Murphy, 36 St. Matthias-road. Deeply mourned. – From his sorrowing mother, father, brother Tom (in France), and sisters Mabel and Alice.
“MURPHY. – Missing May 3rd, now official reported killed, Pte. W. Murphy, Royal Warwicks. – From sorrowing Aunt Lizzie, Uncle Tom, and cousins Maggie, Bertha, & Bonnie.
“MURPHY. – Reported missing May 3rd, now reported killed, Pte. W. Murphy (Billy), Royal Warwicks (late Sherwoods). He bravely answered duty's call, he gave his young life for one and all. – From his sorrowing grandma and granddad Cleaver, Aunt Harriett, cousins and Uncle Joe (in France).”
Above in memoriam are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
It would appear that Williams father, John William Flinders Murphy enlisted into the Army following his sons death as an army service record exists for him, he attested on 18th April 1918 in Nottingham and was posted to the reserves , he was 50 yrs and 5 months old, he gave his wife Charlotte as his next of kin and his address as 36 St Matthias Road, Nottingham, he was a GPO engineer, he was called up on 20th June 1918 and the following day once again put into the reserves, he was discharged on 14th December 1918 being surplus to requirements.
Photo of William Murphy
Arras Memorial courtesy of the cwgc