Private 25B/662 John Murphey 2/24th Regiment Rorke's Drift survivor

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Western Mail - Friday 29 July 1927

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Western Mail - Wednesday 03 August 1927

MURPHY John (real name James) – Private – 25B/662 – 2nd/24th B Company
Believed to have been born in Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, Wales c.1858.
Married Alice Lilian Mary Ann Thrash (also known as Margaret) 23/12/1905 at the Cardiff Registry Office.
Trade General Labourer and Railway Guard on the Great Western Railway.
Received payments from the Regimental Benevolent Fund.
Attested Tredegar for 25th Brigade 22/11/1875.
Posted to the 2nd/24th Foot 6/1/1876.
Embarked aboard H.M.S.Himalaya for the Cape Colony, South Africa 1/2/1878.
Confined to the cells and sentenced to receive 25 lashes 11/2/1878 while aboard the Himalaya.
Served in the Kaffir (sic) & Zulu Wars 1877-8-9.
Present during the defence of Rorke’s Drift Mission Station, Natal, South Africa 22-23/1/1879.
Served at Casemate Barracks Gibraltar in the Mediterranean 12/2/1880 – 11/8/1880.
Posted to India 12/8/1880.
Service continued with the South Wales Borderers but did not transfer 1/7/1881.
At the Depot Brecon 1/4/1882 – 30/9/1882.
Transferred to 1st South Wales Borderers 11/11/1882.
Returned to England from India 28/10/1883.
Discharged 3/11/1887.
Re-enlisted into the South Wales Borderers 29/9/1914 at Barry No.9/14850. Description: Aged 42, height 5’8”, weight 150lbs, chest 38”, hazel eyes, black hair, fresh complexion, religion Roman Catholic and his previous service as being in the 24th Foot and South Wales Borderers. Next of kin: Mrs. Murphy 30 Bell Street, Barry.
Home service 30/9/1914 – 5/5/1916 total of 228 days.
Posted to the South Wales Borderers Depot 3/10/1914.
Promoted to Corporal 3/10/1914.
Posted to the 9th Battalion South Wales Borderers 6/11/1914.
Promoted to Sergeant 6/11/1914.
Discharged from the 9th Battalion South Wales Borderers 14/5/1916 as no longer physically fit for war service, Fara 392 (XV1) KR.
Honours/awards: South Africa Medal 1877-8-9 with clasp 1877-8-9.
British War Medal 1914-20.
Victory Medal 1918.
Death: 81 Witham Street, Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales 28/7/1927 aged 70 years. His occupation was given as General Labourer and Army Pensioner. The cause of death was given as Senile Myocarditis.
Buried St. Woolos Cemetery, Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales 2/8/1927. Entry No.71248. RCD. Block.28. Grave.136. This was a new grave paid for by his wife who received £10 towards funeral costs 5/8/1927 from the Regimental Benevolent Fund file M10.
Memorials: St. Woolos Cemetery, Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales. On the 5th May 1996 the Anglo-Zulu War Research Society, South Wales Branch, had a stone tablet added to his grave during a re-dedication service.