Researching Thomas Murphy

The Cross was awarded not for bravery in action against the enemy, but for bravery at sea in saving life in a storm off Andaman Islands. Born in Dublin, he was about 28 years old and a private in the 2nd Battalion, 24th Regiment of Foot (later The South Wales Borderers), British Army during the Andaman Islands Expedition when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 7 May 1867 at the island of Little Andaman, eastern India, in the Bay of Bengal, Private Murphy was one of a party of five (David Bell, James Cooper, Campbell Mellis Douglas and William Griffiths) of the 2/24th Regiment, who risked their lives in manning a boat and proceeding through dangerous surf to rescue some of their comrades who had been sent to the island to find out the fate of the commander and seven of the crew, who had landed from the ship Assam Valley and were feared murdered by the cannibalistic islanders.

The citation was gazetted on 17 December 1867:

THE Queen has been graciously pleased to signify Her intention to confer the decoration of the Victoria Cross on the undermentioned Officer and Private Soldiers of Her Majesty's Army, whose claims to the same have been submitted for Her Majesty's approval, for their gallant conduct at the Little Andaman Island, as recorded against their names, viz. :—
2nd Battalion, 24th Regiment: Assistant-Surgeon Campbell Millis Douglas, M.D, Private Thomas Murphy, Private James Cooper, Private David Bell, Private William Griffiths.
For the very gallant and daring manner in which, on the 7th of May, 1867, they risked their lives in manning a boat and proceeding through a dangerous surf to the rescue of some of their comrades, who formed part of an expedition which had been sent to the Island of Little Andaman, by order of the Chief Commissioner of British Burmah, with the view of ascertaining the fate of the Commander and seven of the crew of the ship " Assam Valley," who had landed there, and were supposed to have been murdered by thenatives.
The officer who commanded the troops on the occasion reports : About an hour later in the day Dr. Douglas, 2nd Battalion, 24th."Regiment, and the four Privates referred" to, gallantly manning the second gig, made their way through the surf almost to the shore, but finding their boat was half filled with water, they retired. A second attempt made by Dr. Douglas and party proved successful, five of us being safely passed through the surf to the boats outside. A third and last trip got the whole of the party left on shore safe to the boats. It is stated that Dr. Douglas accomplished these trips through the surf to the shore by no ordinary exertion. He stood in the bows of the boat, and worked her in an intrepid and seamanlike manner, cool to a degree, asif what he was then doing was an ordinary act of every-day life. The four Privates behaved in an equally cool and collected manner, rowing through the roughest surf when the slightest hesitation or want of pluck on the part of any one of them would have beenattended by the gravest results. It is reported that seventeen officers and men were thus saved from what must otherwise have been a fearful risk, if not certainty of death.

Murphy died in Philadelphia, USA.

Born in Northumberland County, Ontario, he was a pharmacist before being elected to the House of Commons of Canada representing the Manitoba riding of Neepawa in the 1925 federal election. A Conservative, he was defeated in the 1926 election by Progressive Robert Milne. He defeated Milne in the 1930 federal election to return to Parliament and was appointed to the Cabinet of R.B. Bennett. He was defeated in the 1935 and 1940 elections. From 1930 to 1935, he was the Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs and Minister of the Interior.

Murphy was the son of a railway worker and was educated in Patrician Brothers schools in rural NSW. He worked as a clerk in the New South Wales Government Railways between 1923 and 1953. During World War Two he served in the Middle East with the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps of the Second Australian Imperial Force and reached the rank of sergeant. Following demobilization, Murphy settled in Concord in the western suburbs of Sydney and became involved in community organizations including the Returned and Services League of Australia and the Hibernian Australian Catholic Benefits Society, a provider of health and other insurance.

After an unsuccessful attempt to win the seat in 1950, Murphy was elected to parliament as the Labor member for Concord at the 1953 state election. He defeated the incumbent Liberal member John Adamson. The 1953 election saw Labor make significant gains in marginal seats, particularly in the western suburbs. The seat of Concord was highly marginal but Murphy was able to retain it for Labor at the next 4 elections, usually by less than 1000 votes and in 1956 and 1965 by less than 100 votes (approximately 0.2% of the total votes cast). Murphy was appointed to the minor government post of Assistant Minister between 30 April 1964 and 13 May 1965 but he held no other party, parliamentary or ministerial office. The seat of Concord was abolished at the 1968 election and Murphy unsuccessfully stood for the new seat of Yaralla. He retired from public life after his defeat but became a successful businessman with investments in motels and the wholesale shoe business.

He was born in Lurgan and was educated in Toronto. He worked for the Water Works Department for the city of Toronto from 1906 to 1923. In 1911, Murphy married Sarah Allister Kirkpatrick. He was chair of the Ontario Athletic Commission and president of the Canadian Association of Oarsmen. Murphy also served as vice-president of the National Boxing Association; he was defeated when he ran for reelection in 1928, which led to the Ontario Boxing Federation withdrawing from the National Boxing Association.

Murphy was defeated by Reid Scott when he ran for reelection to the Ontario assembly in 1948. He died in Toronto in 1966 at the age of 80.